Steven Miles forgets Kawana candidate, Jarrod Bleijie vague on heavy rail promise

The Labor leader forgot another candidate’s name on the Sunshine Coast, while across town the deputy opposition leader refused to reveal a key detail in his heavy rail promise.

Premier Steven Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman speaking at a press conference at the Birtinya Ambulance Station on the Sunshine Coast. Pics Adam Head.

The premier has been caught out forgetting another candidate’s name on the Sunshine Coast, while across town the deputy opposition leader refused to reveal a key detail in his heavy rail promise.

Premier Steven Miles visited the Birtinya Ambulance Station on Friday morning to announce an additional $20m in funding for women’s health.

Mr Miles attempted to dodge questions over the absence of Labor’s Kawana candidate Jim Dawson at the press conference before sifting through papers to find his name.

Mr Dawson, who previously worked as a senior policy advisor, did not respond to this publication’s request for comment on the incident.

Jim Dawson, Labor candidate for Kawana.

Deputy opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Elsewhere in Caloundra, speaking at a brewery in Baringa, deputy opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie announced a $6.8m investment into the food and beverage manufacturing Turbine project, if the LNP was elected at the end of the month.

During the announcement, the LNP’s deputy leader was questioned on the LNP’s key election promise to deliver heavy rail into Maroochydore.

Mr Bleijie was repeatedly asked about the “industry experts” who had assured the LNP the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line could be delivered to Maroochydore in time for 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as per his prior comments on Wednesday.

“Everybody knows this is achievable,” Mr Bleijie said.

When pressed on exactly who the LNP had spoken to, Mr Bleijie responded “lots of people, everybody, lots of industry”.

The abortion saga continued to plague Mr Bleijie on Friday as he was confronted with questions over his vote against decriminalising abortion in 2018.

When asked whether his stance had changed, Mr Bleijie replied repealing the legislation was “not part of our plan”.

“I was asked these questions two days ago when I was standing in Maroochydore making the announcement for rail corridor right the way through to Maroochydore, it is not part of our plan and we’ve ruled out changes,” Mr Bleijie said.