Gold Coast Light rail: Anti-tram camp divided after Coast LNP MP Michael Hart calls them Labor stooges
The southern anti-light rail protest campaign is divided after a shock Facebook post by Burleigh MP Michael Hart accusing a new group of being Labor stooges.
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THE southern anti-light rail protest campaign is divided after a shock Facebook post by Burleigh MP Michael Hart accusing a new group of being Labor stooges.
THE southern anti-light rail protest campaign is divided after a shock Facebook post by Burleigh MP Michael Hart accusing a new group of being Labor stooges.
Mr Hart, on his Facebook page, revealed he was “suspicious” of the new Save Our Southern Gold Coast group, and he accused its leader Kath Down along with strategist Andrew McKinnon of being linked to the Australian Labor Party (ALP).
Ms Down and Mr McKinnon through their surf environmental work are close friends with Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew who stood for Labor in a tough campaign against Mr Hart during the 2020 State election.
Mr Hart, who has long opposed light rail going south via a coastal route and instead diverting inland along the M1, posted: “The only MPs and councillors this group won’t attack are all aligned to the Labor Government who are bringing Light Rail to Palm Beach.”
He added “miraculously this group will be able to organise a meeting” with Transport Minister Mark Bailey and convince Labor to appear to change its position on the eve of the 2024 poll.
“Miraculously a Labor candidate will emerge from this group to run at the next State election and maybe council. If Labor win the 2024 election, Light Rail stage four will be back on track through Palm Beach. Colour me cynical but this is classic Labor playbook at work,” he wrote.
Mr McKinnon, who had a recent medical scare, in a post on Mr Hart’s page wrote: “Hi Michael, what are you trying to do, give me another heart attack lol (sic) no politics let’s stick to the point of No (sic) light rail on GC (sic) Highway.”
He later added that SOSGC was a “non-for-profit, apolitical organisation” advised by highly qualified environmental scientists and planners and it supported a rapid bus system using solar energy rather than outdated trams along the Gold Coast Highway to the airport.
Ms Down told the Bulletin: “Definitely I’m not affiliated (with Labor) and have no intention of being affiliated with any political party. Rabbit is a friend of mine, he lives in this area, he loves this area. I trust that he (if elected as the MP) would do the right thing with the area. Pure and simple.”
She said it was “utter garbage” for her to be branded “a Labor Party person” and her involvement in the new group was to help preserve the southern Coast’s special lifestyle.
But Mr Hart is convinced Ms Down and Mr McKinnon will get an audience with Mr Bailey because they both had helped manage Mr Bartholomew’s election campaign.
“They may well have more luck getting to Bailey. Bailey has refused to talk to me and the community. I’ll work with anybody,” Mr Hart told the Bulletin.
“I’m not worried about somebody from that group running against me, there will be a candidate one way or another. My concern is that the Labor Party might be using this group as a front to promote a candidate by making them look more effective than they actually are.”
Anti-light rail petitioner Karen Rowles on Mr Hart’s Facebook also posted, saying Ms Down had confirmed she would not be running against the MP or Cr Daphne McDonald.
“So I supported her SOSGC launch yesterday. I’m praying we are all working together to divert light rail from Jellurgal and Tallebudgera Creek, and not for political ambitions,” she wrote.
Ms Rowles said she had received a personal invitation from Ms Down to attend the group’s launch and was “asked to bring with me my supporters and our Trams Outta Palmy corflutes”.
Tram crash: New lobby group slams Mayor’s claims
A NEW anti-light rail group has dismissed claims by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate they are “disingenuous” at their official launch on Thursday.
More than 50 people attended the launch of Save Our Southern Gold Coast, the latest anti-tram group to launch in the city’s south.
The group packed the Tallebudgera beachfront, all armed with ‘TRAMS OUTTA PALMY’ placards and corflutes. SOSGC President Kath Down quit another anti-light rail group – Southern Transport Alternative Routes (STAR) – on Monday before deciding to launch her own campaign.
“I really believe we’ve got a different message but we’re all aiming for the same outcome,” she said.
“Hopefully with all of us working together as a community there’s not going to be fracturing, we can all run parallel.”
Cr Tate told the Bulletin he found it “bemusing” to see other groups known for social media attacks rallying attendees for the launch.
Ms Down said: “It’s absolute garbage.
“We don’t want to muddy the waters (between groups),” she said.
“We have a very clear message, and we will be sticking with it.
“It’s not to do with sending the rail through someone else’s backyard.”
EARLIER:
MAYOR Tom Tate is questioning the motives of new anti-light rail group and whether it will avoid playing grubby politics.
The Bulletin in a report said the Save Our Southern Gold Coast Group indicated it would focus on lobbying and research about “outdated” trams – not trashing politicians – in a bid to change the coastal route.
Save Our Southern Gold Coast is to have its launch on Thursday at 11am at the Tallebudgera Leisure Centre.
Anti-light rail supporters overnight on Facebook have been organising core flutes for the launch which included the suggestions “NO MORE CONCRETE NO MORE TATE”.
Cr Tate told the Bulletin: “I welcome healthy debate on any matter close to people’s hearts. I applaud comments that this new light rail community group claims it wants to avoid political or personal attacks, which are the hallmark of an existing anti-light rail lobby group.
“I find it bemusing that the group famous for making the most vile and hate-filled comments about politicians was last night busy using its social media to ‘rally’ as many ‘placard carriers’ as possible to the first public rally of the new group.
“My question is: who’s wagging the tail. Most fair-minded residents would find this disingenuous to make one claim publicly, but to then effectively use the second group to rally support so the turnout looks impressive. That said, I remain positive so let’s see where this new group takes us.’’
EARLIER:
A NEW anti-light rail group is about to launch but their campaign will focus on lobbying and research about “outdated” trams – not trashing politicians – in a bid to change the coastal route.
Save Our Southern Gold Coast on Thursday will outline plans to stop the State Government giving a green light to trams travelling south from Burleigh past Palm Beach to the Gold Coast Airport.
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The Bulletin understands the group of academics, environmental scientists and community leaders would run a campaign “gathering factual evidence rather than attacking anyone”.
The fight against the light rail on the city’s southern zone has been a political war zone with Burleigh MP Michael Hart and city councillor Daphne McDonald backed by outspoken petitioners targeting Transport Minister Mark Bailey.
SOSGC president Kath Down said her group aimed to “persuade the Government” that the environmental, economic, and social impact of the light rail would be at a heavy cost for the local community and visitors.
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“There are at least 10 reasons why we oppose the light rail and seek to convince the State Government to rethink stage four and opt for modern modes of public transport such as hydrogen electric buses rather than outdated tram technology,” Ms Down said.
“We needed to make a clear choice on the modes of public transport over light rail based on factual information and researched data, than design alternate light rail routes that don’t properly connect.
“Using modern public transport and continue the extension of the heavy rail is our clear-cut message.”
The group’s three main objectives are:
* stopping trams on the southern Gold Coast Highway and instead using modern technology
like solar electric and hydrogen buses;
* preserve and protecting environmental and cultural heritage assets unique to the area like the sacred sites of Tallebudgera Creek and 5000-year-old fish traps;
* convincing both Federal and State Government to invest in extending heavy rail on the M1 corridor from Varsity to the airport;
“All the groups fighting this agree on one common cause and that is to oppose the light rail going down the Gold Coast Highway to Coolangatta,” Ms Down said.
The former marketing and business manager said the latest survey from the office of McPherson MP Karen Andrews suggested 81 per cent of her electorate favoured heavy rail over light rail.
“The M1 has been earmarked for the continuation of the heavy rail and the (Department of Main Roads) have conceded you can’t have the heavy rail and light rail together,” Ms Down said.
“It would seem obvious to most that heavy rail would offer far greater services including freight and would have a greater benefit to the local economy and tourism.”
The launch of the new group at 11am on Thursday at the Tallebudgera Leisure Centre occurs before Monday’s first round of community consultation sessions.
Originally published as Gold Coast Light rail: Anti-tram camp divided after Coast LNP MP Michael Hart calls them Labor stooges
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