Poll shock: what the retirement of Kate Jones means for Labor on the Gold Coast and Meaghan Scanlon

THE shock departure of Tourism MInister Kate Jones has opened the door for Labor Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon to be promoted and become the go-to government person for the Gold Coast.

THE shock departure of Kate Jones has opened the door for Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon to be promoted and become the go-to government person for the Gold Coast, according to senior party sources.

Ms Scanlon, the Assistant Minister for Tourism, is no guarantee to gain a ministerial role if Labor retains Government at the October 31 poll given a handful of other candidates with more experience will put their hand up as part of a ministerial reshuffle.

Meaghan Scanlon and Tourism Minister Kate Jones, MP, talking at the media launch of the 2018 Flight Centre Burleigh Pro Surf Festival at Burleigh Heads. Picture: Jerad Williams

Labor factions will play a role but on performance alone, many in the party believe the Coast MP deserves a chance on the front bench.

A party source told the Bulletin: “Her first job is to hold her seat. I think she’s widely perceived as doing a good job as a local member and advocate for the Gold Coast.

“She would be pretty well placed for a promotion if the government returned. The fact that she was made an Assistant Minister in her first term was a bit of an indication of the party recognising her ability. She has only confirmed that in the way she’s operated.

“The reality while ever there was someone like Kate as a senior Minister, she was always going to be the go-to person for people in the industry. But people in the industry hold Meaghan in high regard as well.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT.

Another George Street source said: “She’s achieved so much already. The current government is investing more in the Gold Coast than any government in the state’s history — that’s largely up to Meaghan. She’s a gun.”

Gold Coast Labor-based Senator Murray Watt, a strong supporter of Ms Scanlon, believes the focus must be first on Ms Scanlon retaining her seat.

In the 2017 poll, Ms Scanlon, then 24, obtained 43.07 per cent of the primary vote, compared to 46.11 for then sitting member, the LNP’s Sid Cramp. On a two-party preferred basis, the ALP hold Gaven with 50.7 per cent

Senator Murray Watt told the Bulletin: “Kate’s departure makes Meaghan Scanlon an even more important voice for the Gold Coast in the State Government.

“Meaghan has earned wide respect on the Gold Coast in her own right. And I’m confident that Gold Coasters will see her as the natural voice for the Gold Coast in State Government.”

Meaghan Scanlon, labor's sole Gold Coast MP with Kate Jones at council chambers. Photo by Richard Gosling.

Senator Watt remains confident Ms Scanlon could hold her seat given she had been “working the house down for three years to do that”

“Provided she holds her seat and the Government is returned, then I think she would be in with a good chance of promotion,” he said.

Ms Jones had been a strong mentor and Ms Scanlon was “ready to step up”.

“She’s become a voice for the Gold Coast as a whole, not just her electorate. It’s important that the Gold Coast has strong voices in State Government, Meaghan has proven herself to be one.”

EARLIER:

NEW polling shows the seat of Currumbin on the Gold Coast will be a cliffhanger with the result in the October State poll to be determined by preferences from One Nation and the Greens.

The Australian Conservation Foundation has funded surveying of residents in the marginal southern Coast seat along with two other marginal electorates — Aspley in Brisbane and Mansfield in Victoria.

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The Central Chamber of Commerce 2020 election candidates breakfast at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. Currumbin candidates Peter Burgoyne (greens) Laura Gerber (LNP) and Kaylee Campradt (ALP). Picture Glenn Hampson

Research company YouGov has surveyed voters about attitudes toward the State’s economic recovery from Covid and of the relevance of climate change and investment in renewable energy.

“The upcoming state election is looking close,” the report to the ACF said.

In Currumbin, the voting intention is 37 per cent for Labor, 37 per cent for the LNP, the Greens on 10 per cent and One Nation on 4 per cent.

The two party-preferred vote is 50.8 per cent Labor to 49.2 per cent LNP, a 2 per cent swing to Labor.

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This is the first publicly released data on Coast seats released in the campaign in the lead-up to the October 31 election.

In March at a by-election, after the retirement of Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey, the LNP’s Laura Gerber won on a two-party preferred vote polling 51.48 per cent compared to 48.52 for Labor’s Kaylee Campradt.

A map showing the State electorate of Currumbin on the Gold Coast.

Ms Gerber secured 43.7 per cent of the primary vote, Ms Campradt polled 38.3 per cent. Sally Spain from the Greens polled 10.9 with Nicholas Bettany from One Nation received 6.9 per cent.

But researchers for ACP warned the two party preferred figure in their polling should be taken with caution and excludes the 10 per cent who answered don’t know.

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The Central Chamber of Commerce 2020 election candidates breakfast at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. Currumbin Candidate Kaylee Campradt (ALP) Picture Glenn Hampson

The key findings were:

• Almost half of Currumbin voters (47 per cent) say Queensland is not doing enough to combat climate change.

* A quarter (21 per cent) say Queensland is doing enough and a fifth (20 per cent) believe that climate change is exaggerated.

• 54 per cent across the three seats agree that they would be thinking about climate change when they vote, with just over a quarter strongly agreeing (28 per cent).

* Younger voters (18-39) are more likely to list climate change unprompted (25 per cent).

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LNP Leader Deb Frecklington and LNP Member for Currumbin Laura Gerber hold a media conference after visiting Currumbin businesses. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

As voters reflect on the economic recovery from COVID-19, almost three quarters agree that Queensland should focus on creating jobs in climate change solutions.

Two thirds of voters agree that transitioning Queensland to a clean energy economy will help reduce household energy bills.

ACF campaigner Jason Lyddieth said climate change remained a “top concern” for voters despite economic downturn and the coronavirus crisis.

“A significant number of Queenslanders believe the state is not doing enough on climate change and want the government to prioritise new renewable projects,” he said.

“Two-thirds of voters support an economic recovery plan that creates jobs in climate solutions.

“ACF’s recent report ‘Renewable Energy and Jobs in Queensland’ shows there is huge opportunity to create jobs for Queenslanders while acting on climate change.”