Labor reveal its Gold Coast poll plan: target the seats in the north and south away from Glitter Strip

Names of candidates revealed as Labor makes clear its plans to wrest control of key Gold Coast seats from LNP at upcoming election.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Jerad Williams.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk today will announce three candidates for the Gold Coast which show Labor is to target the north and deep south rather than the Glitter Strip at the 2020 poll.

Kaylee Campradt, the president of the Queensland Parents and Citizens Association, has been preselected in Currumbin.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on the Gold Coast at Arundel State School voting booth during the last poll. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Coast nurse Chris Johnson, who works in the mental health acute care team at the Gold Coast University Hospital, is the party’s Coomera candidate.

Early education centre director Tracey Bell, who built a profile as a candidate in Moncrieff in the federal poll, has been preselected in Theodore which includes the growing Oxenford area.

The announcements show Labor is less focused about the marginal seat of Bonney, where the LNP’s Sam O’Connor has built up a personal profile in his first term, and regaining Southport and Burleigh.

Tracey Bell, the Labor candidate for the seat of Theodore in the northern Gold Coast for the 2020 State poll.

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Party sources suggest the standard of candidate and decision to nominate shows Labor is serious about winning the north and south at the October 31 election next year.

Gaven’s Meaghan Scanlon is the party’s only Coast representative and retaining her marginal seat is Labor’s first priority.

“They’re been good people who have been around for a long time and yet to run. For someone like Kaylee has put their hand up, it’s a good sign for the party making inroads,” the party source said

Ms Palaszczuk told the Bulletin: “I’m delighted to have a strong and dynamic group of community champions joining my team. The fact is the LNP have taken the Gold Coast for granted for far too long.

“The Gold Coast is a growing area with growing needs that needs strong representation locally. The region deserves better then what the LNP are providing. That’s exactly what Tracey, Kaylee and Chris will provide.”

Kaylee Campradt, the Labor candidate for Currumbin on the Gold Coast for the 2020 State poll.

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Ms Scanlon said Labor has a proven track record of delivering the infrastructure

upgrades our community needs.

“Whether it’s building the Gold Coast University Hospital upgrading Robina Hospital, Constructing new schools, building the light rail stage 1 and 2 or busting congestion on the M1.

“When the LNP were last in government, they held every seat on the Gold Coast and

still didn’t deliver the infrastructure we needed and the M1 upgrades locals were

crying out for.”

Ms Bell said she would push for better conditions for workers.

“I care about creating local jobs and fighting for fair pay for local workers,” she said.

Ms Campradt, who has lived on the southern Coast for most of her life, said she was committed to helping schools capitalise on Labor’s strong focus on education.

“As a local mum, it’s great to see Labor’s investment in local schools, with $12.1

million for the learning centre at Palm Beach Currumbin State High School. This is a project which is close to my own heart — I studied there and it’s where my daughter attends school now,” she said.

Mr Johnson contrasted Labor’s record spend on health care compared to the cutbacks under the former LNP Government.

Chris Johnson, the Labor candidate for Coomera, in the northern Gold Coast seat for the 2020 State poll.

“Labor has delivered a record health budget on the Gold Coast with almost $1.6 billion being invested into health care in 2019-20 and a new surgical ward opening at the Gold Coast University Hospital,” he said.

“I saw first-hand how devastating the LNP cuts were to our local health care sector, with cuts to local doctors and nurses. Taking care of people when they’re most in need of help is part of Labor’s DNA. The Gold Coast needs fresh faces in Queensland’s Parliament. If we’re to fire on all cylinders in the next decade, it’s crucial that we have stronger voices representing our region’s interests.”