Former Sunrise reporter Bianca Stone wins LNP preselection for Gold Coast seat of Gaven

Former Sunrise reporter Bianca Stone has convincingly won an LNP preselection contest to run in Meaghan Scanlon’s Gold Coast seat, an electorate she says has been “ignored for too long”.

Former Sunrise reporter Bianca Stone will take on Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon in this year’s state election after winning LNP preselection for the Gold Coast seat of Gaven.

Ms Stone, who worked as a reporter for Channel 7 for 18 years, convincingly won an LNP preselection contest on Saturday.

She beat Gaven LNP branch secretary Lisa Smith and fellow long-time conservative party member Kirsten Jackson in the first round of the ballot held at the Hinterland Hotel at Nerang.

Ms Scanlon, Labor’s only Gold Coast MP, had accused the LNP of “parachuting” Ms Stone — a long-time Glitter Strip local — into the seat.

Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates with the LNP’s candidate for Gaven Bianca Stone. Picture: David Clark

LNP sources said she was the “captain’s pick” by party leader David Crisafulli.

But Ms Stone said she was “absolutely thrilled to be the LNP candidate for Gaven”.

“This is a passion of mine, it’s something that I have long dreamed of - representing a community that I truly believe deserves good representation.

“It’s day one of a big battle but really, we need to win Gaven back.”

Ms Stone, a 44-year-old mother of three who is married to Gold Coast CIB boss Inspector Mark Mooney, said crime would be a major issue in the October election.

She said reporting on the deaths of Kate Leadbetter, Matthew Fields and their unborn baby in a horror car crash at Alexandra Hills in 2021 had been the turning point in her career switch to politics.

“That was the trigger,” she said.

“Youth criminals have been running riot in this state for far too long.

“I’ve been reporting on youth crime for years and years and years before the Palaszczuk-Miles government knew it was a problem.

“I want better for Queensland and I know we can do that.”

Bianca Stone pictured with Mark Mooney and daughters Matilda and Bronte. Picture: David Clark

Ms Stone, who also nominated cost of living and traffic as major issues, said Ms Scanlon was “very visible” in Gaven and would be a “formidable opponent”.

“But basically this electorate has been ignored for far too long,” she said.

“I believe that Meaghan Scanlon has been busy doing other things and has ignored this electorate.

“People in this community want a voice, they want someone who will ask the tough questions, they want someone who will stand up for them - and I will stand up for the people in this community.”

Ms Scanlon, who won Gaven from the LNP in 2017 to become Queensland’s youngest-ever female MP, gained a 7 per cent swing at the 2020 election and holds the seat with a 7.8 per cent margin.

Ms Stone said it would “no doubt be a difficult task” to win the seat “and I will not be taking it lightly”. “There are 20 weeks until the state election and I’ll be working on the ground every day,” she said.

LNP frontbencher Ros Bates said Ms Stone had been holding politicians to account for “decades” in her role as a journalist.

She said Ms Stone had decided to nominate “after witnessing the chaos and crisis” of the Labor government and she was proud to have her as the LNP candidate.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon addressing parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Speaking before Ms Stone was selected, Premier Steven Miles said Ms Scanlon was “an excellent local member”.

“She is also a fantastic member of our ministerial team. She’s a very very strong minister, and I certainly wouldn’t want to be going up against her,” he said.

Mr Crisafulli said he was proud to have Ms Stone join the team.

“As a journalist for more than two decades, Bianca has shown her passion for people, communities and the things most important to them,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Bianca is also a mum of three, and like so many Queenslanders, she knows what it takes to juggle family and work in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“Today she has chosen to put a successful career to one side and stand with us as we show Queenslanders there is a better way for our state, instead of the constant chaos and crisis from Labor.

“Bianca knows her community and I am confident she will work tirelessly to earn Gaven’s trust and be part of changing government in this state.

Of the result, Ms Scanlon said: “While the LNP have chosen a TV personality, I’m a long- time local who cares about the community I grew up in.”

“While the LNP are fighting amongst themselves, I’m doing what matters for this community,” she said.

“I’m out doorknocking talking to people about cost of living relief that’s available.”

Among those attending the preselection ballot were controversial former Morrison government minister Stuart Robert, Gold Coast-based federal MP Cameron Caldwell, state MPs Ros Bates and Sam O’Connor and Gold Coast City councillor Bob La Castra.

Sources said Ms Stone won comfortably.

“She was very impressive - she hit all the questions out of the park,” one LNP figure said.