<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Craig Hill is mobilising tens of thousands of Australians to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/trump-tower-on-gold-coast-australia-petitions-launched-in-response/83f92312-b767-4d78-8530-7c6e87046dc0" rel="" target="_blank" title="oppose Donald Trump's luxury Gold Coast hotel."><span>oppose Donald Trump's luxury Gold Coast hotel.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Queenslander and Legalise Cannabis candidate launched a petition urging the local council and state government to block the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="_blank" title="US president's"><span>US president's</span></a><span> plans to erect a $1.5 billion tower, claiming it will cast a long shadow </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/surfers-paradise" rel="" target="_blank" title="over the Surfers Paradise region."><span>over the Surfers Paradise region.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At the time of writing, the Change.org petition against Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower Gold Coast has surpassed 70,000 signatures – and Hill hopes the US president and his team notice the growing movement.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-passport-scheme-how-dual-citizens-have-been-impacted/884e44d6-d134-48f5-9281-b46e2c1818ca" rel="" target="_blank" title="Panicked expats and 'ten pound poms': People impacted by passport rule"><strong><span>Panicked expats and 'ten pound poms': People impacted by passport rule</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hill doesn't fear retaliation from the president.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I've been a prison officer and I've been in politics for 15 years," he said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/trump-tower-gold-coast-craig-hill-petition-organiser-explains-why-locals-oppose-development/0ded570b-ea23-42e8-b1dc-12f4d033f24f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They can do their worst."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hill and his fellow opposers say Trump's association isn't the only issue they have with the proposed $1.5 billion development, warning of the economic and environmental impacts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's going to put housing prices up right across Gold Coast and probably south-east Brisbane as well... it'll put rates up," he claimed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I estimate around $50-150 million of taxpayer and ratepayer money will have to go into developing the infrastructure like sewerage, water supply, electricity, internet and expanding the roadways."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hill acknowledged the fierce opposition also has to do with the branding.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Trump name is a big part of it," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't think it aligns with our Australian values and the fact that he's a convicted criminal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't think he should be allowed to do business in Australia."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump became the first president in US history to be convicted of a crime in 2024 after being found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While the conviction stood, the president was not sentenced to any jail time nor any immediate penalties.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hill is aware it will likely shape up to be a David versus Goliath fight, but maintained he was in the right.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/harrisville-pub-queensland-owner-plea-as-country-pubs-struggle-to-stay-afload/53d3c499-0b0c-4818-bba1-9373c9b14286" rel="" target="_blank" title="Queensland pub owner's plea after being forced to raise menu prices"><strong><span>Queensland pub owner's plea after being forced to raise menu prices</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We do have say over who does business in Australia and who makes investment," Hill said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hill merged his petition with another anti-Trump petition in the hours after the announcement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The second organiser did not want to be identified due to fear of repercussions from the US president.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, a smaller contingent of Trump fans has launched a counter-petition in favour of the tower.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The petition states the building "holds immense potential to transform the local economic landscape and propel the region into a thriving hub of activity and opportunity".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This second petition has attracted 3300 signatures.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXCLUSIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pokemon-card-trading-how-lucy-makes-six-figures-buying-selling-cards-online/fa14a3d5-4369-46d6-b8e5-7f298be950cb" target="_blank"><strong><span>Lucy works a 9 to 5, but she makes more money trading Pokémon cards</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower will be 340 metres and 91 storeys high, Altus Property Group Pty Ltd said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Altus chief executive David Young said he signed the deal on February 14 at Trump's Florida home but that the development had been 20 years in the making.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are now deeply into a process of design, engineering, construction and fit-out that will cost a shade under $1.5 billion and bring the world's preeminent hotel-resort brand to our shores," Young said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hill said he was surprised to hear </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/trump-tower-gold-coast-us-president-donald-trump-meets-mayor-tom-tate/b9afc0c4-9789-416c-ba78-edab125d3cce" rel="" target="" title="Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate's"><span>Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate's</span></a><span> support for the proposal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When asked about the hotel, Tate said he believed "it will be very popular and will put us on the map".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Gold Coast mayor's office confirmed to </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/?rf=true" rel="" target="_blank" title="nine.com.au"><span>nine.com.au</span></a><span> that no development application has been lodged for the tower.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Any development application is assessed by city officers on its merits and in accordance with the Planning Act 2016," a spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queensland Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the developers must abide by the city's planning laws.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It doesn't matter who they are. It's a matter for council," Bleijie said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Obviously, it will go through a council approvals process."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>