Glitter Strip Bare: Gold Coast news and gossip

AS a Federal MP faces a grilling from a CCC inquiry over his alleged involvement in last year’s council elections, questions are also being raised about his influence on the looming Queensland poll.

Federal MP Stuart Robert faces a grilling.

AS Gold Coast Federal MP Stuart Robert today faces a grilling from a Crime and Corruption Commission inquiry over his alleged involvement in last year’s council elections, questions are also being raised about his influence on the looming Queensland poll.

Glitter Strip Bare can reveal his press secretary Sam O’Connor has officially nominated for a tilt at State Parliament.

Mr O’Connor has already written to LNP members on the Coast informing them of his status as a candidate for the new seat of Bonney.

In the letter, Mr O’Connor tells would-be voters he is a local ‘through and through’ even though he grew up in Ipswich.

He tells members to vote for him as he is the best candidate to stop Labor from taking the new seat.

Last year, while working for Mr Robert, he orchestrated a coup to take over the presidency of the LNP’s Broadwater branch, ousting respected member Richard Towson.

Mr Towson has also nominated for Bonney.

LNP insiders fear it is a bad look for Mr Robert to have his own media manager running for State Parliament while he is forced to defend himself over allegations he tried to influence the result of last year’s council elections.

It was alleged Mr Robert channelled tens of thousands of dollars from his Federal Liberal National Party campaign fund, the Fadden Forum, to council candidates who stood as independents.

Mr Robert has confirmed he gave candidates Kristyn Boulton and Felicity Stevenson – both former staffers from Mr Robert’s office, $30,000 each from the Fadden Forum to run their campaigns.

He denied he was trying to influence the make-up of the council, but admitted he wanted to stop any potential Labor candidates winning seats on the council.

With Mr O’Connor now confirmed as a candidate for the next state election, party insiders are concerned at perceptions Mr Robert could be trying to influence state politics as well.

Mr O’Connor is prevented from speaking to the media about his candidacy until after the pre-selection ballot on May 13.

Jann Stuckey will face a challenge in pre-selection.

COAST POLLIES IN PRE-ELECTION STOUSH

STILL on the pre-selection battles, incumbent MPs Jann Stuckey and Rob Molhoek will face challengers at branch meetings this week on the Glittter Strip.

Ms Stuckey, the member for Currumbin, is expected to beat a challenge from retired engineer and failed council candidate Peter McKean for a tilt at what would most likely be her last election campaign.

Further north, Mr Molhoek will also face a pre-selection challenge but is expected to be endorsed as the preferred candidate for the seat of Southport.

No more spiderman for Surfers.

CAPED CRUSADERS FLY OUT OF SURFERS

HEROES might wear still helmets, but they no longer wear capes in Surfers Paradise.

The colourful superhero costumes of rickshaw riders in Surfers have been banished - replaced by a ‘more professional’ uniform after a decision by management of operator Green Cabs.

The sight of Spider-Man or Wonder Woman peddling down the streets of Surfers with a family on the back of a rickshaw had quickly become a hit with visitors since its inception last year, but after only a few months management has reverted to traditional uniforms for riders.

Green Cabs director David Burgin said it was about presenting a more professional image.

“We know they were popular with the riders and we permitted it for a while but we would rather maintain the more professional looking uniform,” he said.

However, he conceded another Superhero stint could take place in the future.

“It was a hit with the kids who wanted to get a ride with Spider-Man or whoever, so we would probably review it for the Christmas holidays.”