Labor heavyweight Bill Shorten backs Toowoomba candidate Gen Allpass at federal election to make Groom seat marginal

One of Labor’s most high-profile members dropped into Toowoomba for the first time in seven years to support the party’s Groom candidate. He believes the seat can be made marginal at the upcoming election.

Former Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has backed the ALP’s Groom candidate to make the long-held LNP seat marginal, arguing no electorate was “safe” anymore.

Mr Shorten was the special guest at a major fundraiser for Ms Allpass on Tuesday night, as she gears up to try and topple first-term incumbent Garth Hamilton at the upcoming federal election.

Groom is among the safest seats across the country for any party, with the ALP requiring a swing of 14 per cent to make it marginal based on the Australian Electoral Commission’s definition (majority of six per cent or less).

But Mr Shorten said he sensed Groom residents were dissatisfied with the Coalition, labelling the party “lazy landlords”.

“It’s a big mountain to climb (for Ms Allpass), but the only vote you won’t get is the one you don’t ask for,” he said.

“There are clearly a lot of unhappy conservatives out there, you’ve got two independents running and I think the LNP has frankly been taking the voters for granted.

“The LNP are lazy political landlords, they’re driven by their own political arguments, and for a region it needs leadership to be dynamic and invested in its future.

“There’s no doubt that while the LNP thinks it’s a safe seat, they’re not going to try to get votes in Groom.”

Bill Shorten, opposition spokesman for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, visits Phat Burgers in Toowoomba. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Mr Shorten was also introduced to Wagner Corporation’s plan to build a major sports and entertainment precinct at Wellcamp, which requires $40m in federal funding to get off the ground.

While he wouldn’t be ready to endorse the plan, the senior Labor member and NDIS opposition spokesman said he supported the concept in principle.

“I’m impressed by the go-ahead nature of the city,” Mr Shorten said.

“The vision of making Toowoomba an events city and enhancing Toowoomba’s reputation as an events city is crucial.

“These days we live in a competitive world and nation, and you’ve got to give people reasons to visit cities.

“This is the first I’ve heard about it and when you talk about taxpayers’ money you’ve got to go and measure it all, but I was very impressed by the proposal.”

Ms Allpass, who has yet to formally launch her campaign due to no date being set for the election, used her speech to slam Mr Hamilton for his lack of support for action on climate change.

“We have to change this government, (and) we need to work together to make this seat ours for the first time in over 100 years,” she said.

“We need to make some noise to let voters know it’s time to vote smart and vote well.”

Originally published as Labor heavyweight Bill Shorten backs Toowoomba candidate Gen Allpass at federal election to make Groom seat marginal