David Crisafulli makes Bundaberg his first stop on Qld election trail

Queensland’s most marginal election seat has been priority number one for the LNP’s leader as the 2024 election campaign fires up.

LNP leader David Crisafulli made the state’s most marginal election seat his first stop on the campaign trail to announce more help for small businesses impacted by crime.

LNP leader David Crisafulli made the state’s most marginal election seat his first stop on the campaign trail to announce more help for small businesses affected by crime.

Mr Crisafulli flew into Bundaberg Tuesday morning to announce his party’s new policy at Network Car and Truck Rentals, the site of a shocking crime in February in which the owner was allegedly threatened with a knife and vehicles were torched.

The LNP’s $40m package, if elected on October 26, promises to deliver a series of grants to shop owners to help upgrade security.

The Bundaberg seat was won by Labor’s Tom Smith by .01 per cent, a total of nine votes after preferences.

Mr Crisafulli said it was for governments to “work with business”, and finding ways forward “with less regulation”.

“We are the party of small family business,” he said.

LNP leader David Crisafulli made the state’s most marginal election seat his first stop on the campaign trail to announce more help for small businesses impacted by crime.

He said the party “always backed short-term, immediate relief” when it came to issues like electricity prices and rising overheads.

“Our focus long term is to let Queenslanders know we do have respect for your money, and we do have a vision to deal with that,” Mr Crisafulli said.

He said the battle lines for the election were drawn on “crime, enough housing and cost of living”.

“I’ve been talking about it relentlessly for four years,” he said.

“If we were to win this election … they will be the markers for success in four years time.”

Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce president Tim Sayer welcomed the announcement, saying he knew local businesses were struggling with power prices and insurance.

Cha Cha Chocolate’s Melanice Jacobsen said her shop had “experienced (crime) first hand”.

“Any sort of funding towards small business would be good,” Ms Jacobsen said.

“We do see it in the shop, on a more younger level.”

Cha Cha Chocolate owner Melanice Jacobsen said her shop had “experienced (crime) first hand” and shoppers were reluctant to go to the city’s main street businesses as a result.

Police had urged her to charge anyone they caught attempting to steal from the shop, she said.

“I think a lot of people don’t shop locally due to the presence and fear on the main street,” Ms Jacobsen said.

La Sarina Boutique had its front glass window damaged last Christmas by a man who ran barefoot into the glass, smashing it and knocking himself out.

The boutique took the man to court however, he had no money to cover the costs of the damage he had caused and no reimbursement was provided to the business.

La Sarina Boutique business owner Jamie Straker said Bundaberg’s businesses needed the support.

“The bigger problem is in the fact of helping people who feel the need to do that,” Mr Straker said.

“Cameras are great but I think fixing the underlying problem would be better.”

“Mental health is a very broad, very deep hole but having proper support, more access to it, and more people being aware. If he was in trouble where was he meant to go?”

“The man was obviously struggling so he needed help, not cameras.”

Bundaberg LNP candidate Bree Watson has been asked for an interview on Mr Criasfulli’s announcement.