Behind Meaghan Scanlon promotion is Labor’s promise to make good on the Gold Coast

NEWLY elected MP Meaghan Scanlon has been promoted even before stepping inside Parliament House. The appointment says everything about Labor’s plans for the Gold Coast.

Labor's Meaghan Scanlon after the election win. Photo by Richard Gosling

NEWLY elected MP Meaghan Scanlon has been promoted even before stepping inside Parliament House. The appointment says everything about Labor’s plans for the Gold Coast.

The 24-year-old Gaven MP, Queensland’s youngest ever female politician, will be Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development.

Ms Scanlon is due to be sworn in this morning with the rest of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s new look ministry which will see Deputy Premier Jackie Trad become Treasurer, replacing Curtis Pitt.

ALP Bonney candidate Rowan Holzberger, Kate Jones MP and Meaghan Scanlon during the election campaign. Picture: Jerad Williams

Later today, after 2pm, the LNP will vote on its leadership team with experienced Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek one of three contenders for leader.

Just more than two weeks after Queenslanders went to the polls, the close results on the Coast signal big changes for the city during this term of Government.

More seats are now marginal and both sides of politics will focus more on the Glitter Strip and the fast growing north because to win the next election means getting seats here.

Ms Scanlon’s outer ministry appointment is the perfect fit, placing her under the tutelage of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones.

Gold Coast-based Labor Senator Murray Watt getting a selfie with ALP candidates and members, Rowan Holzberger, Georgi Leader, Meaghan Scanlon, Christopher Johnson, Kate Jones MP, Judy Searle, at the 2017 Queensland Australian Labor Party campaign launch. Ms Scanlon worked for Senator Watt. Picture: Jerad Williams

The announcement signals Labor is serious about maintaining its first Coast seat and sets up a big future for Ms Scanlon.

“I guess more than anything it recognises the importance of our only MP on the Gold Coast,” a Labor insider told the Bulletin.

“The party sees a lot of promise in Meaghan. You don’t get these positions if you are an idiot.

“Kate is a good fit for Meaghan. It will be good for her to be her apprentice. We expect she will be attending tourism board meetings and be the first pick if the Minister is not available.”