Queensland state election 2024: Labor target opponents on abortion rights and health as polling kicks off

Labor has targeted rivals on health cuts and abortion rights as pre-polling gets underway on the Gold Coast for the October 26 state election. FIND OUT MORE

Labor has targeted rivals on health cuts and abortion rights as pre-polling gets underway on the Gold Coast ahead of the state election.

The ALP was the only party or candidate in the hotly contested seat of Gaven, where Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon has a 7.8 per cent margin, to have political messaging outside pre-polling booths in the north.

Signage at their Pacific Pines and Gaven booths fully highlighted Labor’s concerns the LNP, if it wins government, will cut health services and change abortion laws.

Labor signage in Gaven about health cuts.

Ms Scanlon said she was pleased with the response after a steady line-up of voters.

“It has actually felt really positive here but of course there are a lot of days to go,” she said.

On the strong political messaging, she said Labor was running on its policies while the LNP had decided to “make itself a small target”.

“There is a real risk at this election that the LNP and some of the minor parties wind back a woman’s right to choose, and that they deliver cuts.”

Ms Scanlon was the only Coast MP in 2018 to support the parliamentary vote on laws to decriminalise abortion.

“I think people have the right to know what their representatives actually believe in and I’ll never be shy about backing a woman’s right to choose,” she said.

“The fact is this will come to a vote in the next parliament and people are going to vote this week completely blind about what their local LNP candidate believes.”

Housing Minister and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon at Nerang.

Gaven One Nation candidate Sandy Roach believes the poll for the seat will be a very tight contest.

“I believe it will be an extremely close outcome. A lot of people are fed up with Labor and what’s gone on over the past few years, they’ve had enough, not a lot has changed. I think it’s time for a change,” she said.

LNP Gaven candidate Bianca Stone at the Nerang pre-polling booth in Gaven.

Ms Roach said she believed the Gaven electorate was “up for grabs”.

“One Nation did quite well at the last election. We got nearly 10 per cent of the vote. I think it’s going to be a really close call,” she said.

LNP Gaven candidate Bianca Stone said she was “surprised” at the amount of people voting on day one of the pre-polls.

“People have really made up their minds – they’re going in there as decided voters and from what I can see they really want change,” she said.

Ms Stone, who was the Gold Coast Sunrise reporter for 18 years, said it was “great to get to this point” after a fortnight of campaigning.

“We’ve worked really hard to get to this point, we’ve spoken to so many people in the community. I’ve been out there every single day door knocking, roadsiding, letter boxing, making phone calls – we’re only a couple of hours in, but so far it’s been a wonderful experience.”

The newspaper had provided a full list of pre-polling centres.

Our election coverage includes full details on all candidates.

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Originally published as Queensland state election 2024: Labor target opponents on abortion rights and health as polling kicks off