Fadden By-election: Frontrunners to replace outgoing MP Stuart Robert in Gold Coast seat revealed
One of the Gold Coast’s most celebrated residents and Queensland’s first quadriplegic doctor is understood be considering a move to politics.
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One of the Gold Coast’s most celebrated residents is reportedly considering a run for LNP preselection to replace outgoing Fadden MP Stuart Robert.
According to The Australian, quadriplegic doctor and former Queenslander of the Year Dinesh Palipana is understood to be considering a tilt for the safe conservative federal seat.
The Liberal National Party opened nominations at the weekend after Mr Robert announced he would resign from federal parliament in the coming weeks.
The shock news from the Turnbull and Morrison government minister will force a by-election in the seat.
Dr Palipana was contacted for comment.
The Hope Island resident lives in the Fadden electorate and is the vice-chair of the Southport LNP branch.
“Dinesh is a high-profile guy with an incredibly inspiring story, he is exactly the kind of candidate the party should be going for,” one party source said.
“He is a bit of an unknown and his support hasn’t been tested, but he is a really high-calibre candidate.”
Dr Palipana suffered a cervical spinal cord injury during a car crash while halfway through medical school.
He went on to become the first quadriplegic doctor in Queensland. Dr Palipana is also a lawyer, disability advocate, motivational speaker and researcher.
EARLIER: AN electoral earthquake is set to dramatically reshape Gold Coast politics, with a leading councillor planning a run for federal office.
Long-serving Gold Coast City Council planning chief Cr Cameron Caldwell will run for LNP preselection to replace the outgoing Stuart Robert as the Member for Fadden.
Mr Robert, who was a Minister in the Turnbull and Morrison governments, made the bombshell announcement on Saturday he would resign from federal parliament in the coming weeks, forcing a by-election for the safe conservative northern Gold Coast seat.
Mr Caldwell is one of several names being touted by LNP figures, including Fadden branch head Fran Ward and former senator turned right wing television commentator Amanda Stoker.
Mr Caldwell, 43, who has served as a councillor since April 2012, declined to comment on internal party matters on Sunday.
LNP sources said a field of several candidates were likely to contest the by-election, which is seen as a critical win after the Coalition lost the recent Aston by-election in Victoria.
“We cannot lose another by-election after what happened in Aston so we are going to have to choose a candidate who has the best chance of success because we cannot have a repeat of that,” they said.
“Caldwell is the obvious choice because he is a longstanding member of the party, is local and has deep connections with community groups and schools.
“No Labor candidate or other LNP member could produce those same positive relationships inside a six-week election campaign.
“There are pockets of support for Fran but if Caldwell is picked, there will be a massive spillover effect for the rest of the Gold Coast’s political landscape.”
The LNP hold the seat with a 10.6 per cent margin
If Mr Caldwell is successfully preselected, it will set of a chain reaction of political events, beginning with his required resignation from the council.
Because the next local government election is less than a year away, no by-election will be required for Division 4, with councillors simply appointing a new representative who would serve out the remaining 10 months of Mr Caldwell’s term.
It would be the first time such a situation has arisen since 2007 when current deputy mayor Donna Gates replaced the incumbent David Power.
It would also remove the only serious rival to Tom Tate at next year’s mayoral election, with Mr Caldwell long viewed as a likely contender.
Mr Caldwell previously attempted to move into federal politics in 2019 when he unsuccessfully nominated for the seat of Moncrieff, which was later won by Angie Bell.
The LNP on Saturday opened nominations for the seat on Saturday just hours after Mr Robert announced his retirement.
LNP state director Ben Riley said in his letter than nominations would close on May 19, while the timing of the by-election was yet to be determined.
Mr Robert said choosing his successor was a matter for the LNP but said he was “confident the party would find someone”.
“I would encourage them to pick someone local because the Gold Coast is very parochial,” he said.
“I want someone who will be parochial for the Gold Coast and stand up both for us and for small business.”
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