Currumbin by-election: Labor candidate under no illusions

It’s a seat Labor hasn’t held for 16 years, and the party’s state secretary says the battle is akin to climbing Mt Everest. But recent developments mean they might have their best shot yet.

LABOR’S state secretary has compared winning the seat of Currumbin to climbing Mt Everest, conceding the party and its candidate were under no illusions about the struggle ahead.

But Julie-Ann Campbell said both the party and Currumbin candidate Kaylee Campradt were up for the fight. 

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“It has been 16 years since Labor held Currumbin, but we are up for the fight with a truly local candidate who is dedicated to her community and passionate about true local representation for the Gold Coast,” Ms Campbell said. 

Kaylee Campradt

Julie-Ann Campbell

“This will be a local choice for the people of Currumbin who have a clear choice between a dedicated local in Kaylee Campradt or a divided LNP who are currently fighting over who their candidate will be.”

It comes after Member Currumbin Jann Stuckey’s shock resignation on Wednesday night, when she revealed her battle with depression. She had been planning to retire at the election.

The LNP stalwart will officially bow out on February 1.

The LNP does not yet have a candidate, with one expected to be finalised in coming days. 

Ms Campradt, who has lived most of her life in the Currumbin area, was the president of the Parents and Citizens Association Queensland until recently and was a board member of the Queensland College of Teachers.

She is currently president of the Currumbin State School P&C Association and is part of the executive of the Palm Beach Currumbin State High School P&C .

She also works part time as a campaign officer for the Queensland Council of Unions.

Ms Campradt said she was determined to see all Queensland kids receive a world-class education and was committed to fighting for health funding for the coast.