LNP sacks second candidate, Cameron Caldwell, in seat of Broadwater on Gold Coast over swingers club visit

THE Liberal National Party has been left red-faced after being forced to sack a Gold Coast candidate following revelations he visited a swingers' club.

Cameron Caldwel

THE Liberal National Party has been left red-faced after being forced to sack a Gold Coast candidate following revelations he visited a swingers' club.

The LNP yesterday said Broadwater candidate Cameron Caldwell had been disendorsed over a matter that was "at conflict with the standards of the LNP".

He was dumped after images emerged of him at a pirate-themed swingers' party, Pirates of Broadwater.

The invitation to the $60-a-head event in September 2010 touts a boat cruise with "dancing and DJ entertainment" followed by an after-party at the Utopia club "where Cruise Utopia couples pay just $25".

LNP state director Michael O'Dwyer said the decision to sack Mr Caldwell "arose following a complaint made by a member of the public".

"Mr Caldwell was offered the chance to put forward his version of events, however the nature of these matters were at conflict with the standards of the LNP," he said.

"The LNP believes that its candidates should uphold high standards of behaviour in line with community expectations and on this occasion those standards have not been met."

Late yesterday, Mr Caldwell confirmed he and his wife had visited Utopia but insisted it was "on one occasion only three to four years ago . . . as guests".

"At no stage was there any impropriety whilst there. We had a social drink and then we left," he said.

Mr Caldwell said he was given the opportunity to address the allegations and to resign but did not believe it was warranted.

"The party felt that my conduct was not consistent with the standards of behaviour expected," he said.

"Suffice to say, there was little story that could be made factually, but the party had reservations to the headline-grabbing distractions that would be caused regardless. I am disappointed with the outcome and I wish the party every success in the upcoming election."

Broadwater is one of the state's most marginal seats, held by Labor's Peta-Kaye Croft by 2 per cent.

Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke will announce on Monday whether he will run in the seat as an Independent.

Mr Caldwell was only recently endorsed after the LNP forced out its previous Broadwater candidate, Richard Towson, who allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.07 during an early morning random breath test.

Premier Anna Bligh seized on the LNP's third candidate change for the Gold Coast seat of Broadwater as a sign her rival party was not taking the marginal electorate seriously.

Peta-Kaye Croft holds the seat by a margin of just 2.2 per cent and is tipped to lose that seat to the LNP on March 24, with polls suggesting swings of up to nine per cent away from the ALP.

"I don't think that they are treating the people of Broadwater with the respect they deserve," Ms Bligh said.

"This is the third LNP candidate for Broadwater in as many months."

She said Ms Croft had worked hard for the electorate and should not be written off just yet.

"Peta-Kaye Croft has defied all of the critics year in and year out. She is someone who is very connected to her electorate and they know that she goes the distance for them," Ms Bligh said.

"Anyone who writes off Peta-Kaye Croft, I wouldn't be putting money on that bet."

Labor candidate Peter Watson, 19, standing for Southern Downs, also was forced to resign this week after being linked to online homophobic rants.