Redcliffe candidate debate hears of anger at disgraced MP

The spectre of Scott Driscoll is set to loom large at next week’s Redcliffe state byelection, with anger towards the disgraced former MP prominent at a candidates’ forum on the peninsula on Saturday.

The forum, arranged by the local Redcliffe & Bayside Herald newspaper, attracted seven of the nine candidates in a crowded and stiflingly-hot CWA hall overlooking Moreton Bay.

Disgraced former Redcliffe MP Scott Driscoll.Credit: Amy Remeikis

Mr Driscoll, who resigned from Parliament in disgrace last year and was fined $90,000 for contempt and misleading the house, was not in the room. But his presence was still felt.

In her pitch to voters, former federal Petrie MP Yvette D’Ath, who lost her seat as the Abbott government was swept to power last year, took aim at the former Liberal National Party MP.

The ALP candidate for the Redcliffe state byelection, Yvette D'Ath, speaks at the candidates' forum.Credit: Michelle Smith

“The fact is, for the past few years, we have been completely neglected in this community,” she said.

“This is not about Scott Driscoll – and he was a scumbag and I’m happy to say that because he was – at the end of the day he let this community down … (and) there’s people who are still hurting because of his actions.

“This is about much more about that. This is about the actions (the Newman) government has taken.”

LNP candidate Kerri-Anne Dooley tried to distance herself from the former member.

The LNP's Kerri-Anne Dooley distanced herself from the former state MP at the Redcliffe candidates' forum.Credit: Michelle Smith

“I know the people of Redcliffe and I understand that you’re angry – I’m angry too,” she said.

“I could have sat back and complained like you, but I actually wanted to put my hand up and stand up for this community that I love.

Independent candidate Gabriel Buckley.Credit: Michelle Smith

“This is not the time for a protest vote and it is not the time for a wasted vote.”

Echoing LNP Griffith candidate Bill Glasson, who lost his federal byelection last week, Ms Dooley said Redcliffe would have a more effective voice from within the government.

Redcliffe residents listen to candidates speak ahead of next week's state byelection.Credit: Michelle Smith

“On the 22nd of February, there’s one choice that needs to be uppermost in your mind – which candidate can actually deliver for the people of Redcliffe,” she said.

Redcliffe voters have had more than their fair share of political scandal to contend with in recent memory.

Prior to the Driscoll saga, former Labor MP Ray Hollis retired from politics after a travel expenses scandal that occurred when he was Speaker almost a decade ago.

As such, voter satisfaction with both major parties appeared low at the Redcliffe forum.

Independent candidate Gabriel Buckley, wearing a pink T-shirt, said next week’s ballot would be Redcliffe’s most important in living memory.

“We have a government, aided and abetted by the Opposition, that has declared war on democracy and freedom in this state,” he said, citing the Newman government’s controversial anti-bikie legislation.

“People are being locked up for having a drink with their mates and, to cap it off, Campbell Newman thinks the best way to humiliate the toughest of men is to dress them in pink overalls.

“Well I’ve got a message for Campbell Newman: real men aren’t afraid to wear pink. I will associate with who I like – you don’t have enough jail cells to hold all of us.”

Fellow independent candidate Len Thomas also received enthusiastic support when he called both Ms D’Ath and Ms Dooley “wishy-washy puppets on strings”.

“Mr Driscoll was the lowest of scum, I believe, but he was just a person,” he said

“It was the party that let us down”

Every candidate present bar one said they would take a “just vote 1” strategy into the byelection, taking advantage of Queensland’s optional preferential voting system.

Family First candidate Sally Vincent was the only one to buck the trend, with her how-to-vote cards suggesting voters preference Ms Dooley.

“I believe she actually advocates and cares,” she said, to some derision from the audience.

“I know who she is and I believe that she cares for this state and this seat of Redcliffe.”

Ms Dooley ran against the Campbell Newman-led LNP in the 2012 state election as a Family First candidate.