The battle over Brisbane’s most marginal seat has begun with the LNP endorsing Amanda Cooper
A former Brisbane City councillor has been officially endorsed as the LNP’s candidate in a marginal northside seat. It comes as the Premier warns she will have some candidate announcements of her own very soon.
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THE contest for Brisbane’s most marginal State seat has officially begun with the LNP formally picking former councillor Amanda Cooper to challenge Labor’s sitting Aspley MP Bart Mellish.
LNP’s Amanda Cooper looks to contest state seat of Aspley
Amanda Cooper resigns from Brisbane City Council
The seat is held by Mr Mellish with a margin of 1.2 per cent. It is considered must-win for the LNP and must-hold for Labor at the October 31, 2020 election.
Ms Cooper officially resigned as the Bracken Ridge ward councillor last week — a ward she has held since 2007 — to run for preselection to contest the Aspley electorate for the LNP.
She was this afternoon endorsed unchallenged.
The Courier-Mail initially revealed she was in the running to contest the seat for the LNP in August.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said she was proud to have Ms Cooper as her candidate in the crucial seat.
“We know there is only 376 days before the next election and we will be fielding outstanding candidates like Amanda Cooper all across this great state.”
Ms Cooper said she was excited to be running for a state seat before taking aim at Mr Mellish, accusing him and Labor of starving the Aspley electorate.
“It’s certainly a real disgrace to see what has happened under the Australian Labor Party,” she said.
“The lack of investment in our local community, the shameful ignorance about dealing with the issues that are facing our community … this has to stop.”
Mr Mellish hit back, accusing Ms Cooper of “fleeing her failures” in Brisbane City Council.
“I can only keep working hard and getting results locally,” he said of his competition.
Mr Mellish pointed to funding secured for local roads to counter Ms Cooper’s attacks.
“We have got a few good local wins.
“We’ve got a new home for basketball on the northside, we’ve got some new sporting facilities going into Carseldine and the northern transit way is getting under way.”
He was backed by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk who said she was confident Mr Mellish would hold the seat at the State Election in just over 12 months time.
“I know how hard-working Bart is. He is an outstanding local member for Aspley and I have every confidence he will retain that seat no matter who the LNP puts against him,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“And I will have a few candidates of my own that will be ready to announce over the coming weeks as well.”
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