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Gold Coast electorate Wright targeted by conservative politicians

One Gold Coast electorate is being touted as one of the most ‘underrated’ election battle grounds in Queensland — and it’s now a target for conservative forces.

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TOUTED as one of the most ‘underrated’ election battle grounds in Queensland, the western Gold Coast electorate of Wright has become a target for conservative forces.

Katter’s Australian Party and Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party (CN) have both entered candidates to battle it out on the Gold Coast hinterland and Beaudesert region, with One Nation expecting to announce a candidate in the next week.

According to KAP candidate Matt Tomlinson the contest in Wright will unearth the dominant conservative force in Australian politics.

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Matt Tomlinson, a Beaudesert local and KAP Candidate for Wright.
Matt Tomlinson, a Beaudesert local and KAP Candidate for Wright.

“Wright is the most underrated battle grounds when it comes to conservatives,” Mr Tomlinson said.

“The battle isn’t between Labor and Liberal, it is between the LNP and the grassroots movements,” he said.

Mr Tomlinson announced in January, remains unconvinced the LNP’s incumbent Scott Buchholz will retain the seat, despite his 11.8 per cent margin and the possibility of a split conservative protest vote.

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Rod Smith candidate for Wright is standing for Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party.
Rod Smith candidate for Wright is standing for Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party.

“People have wildly underestimated how tired of the major parties we are here, it is one of the most disillusioned electorates out there because people are not getting heard,” the stockman said.

“I think fundamentally it will come down to who is supporting the community.”

Mr Tomlinson said his party will differentiate itself from CN and ONP by focusing on local infrastructure issues as opposed to broader policies like immigration.

“We have policies but really whet people care about is being taken for granted,” he said.

Anning’s fledgling conservative party yesterday announced their candidate for the seat as tradie and self described ‘avid shooter' Rod Smith.

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Katter's Australia Party candidate Matthew Tomlinson (front) and Traeger MP Robbie Katter.
Katter's Australia Party candidate Matthew Tomlinson (front) and Traeger MP Robbie Katter.

In 2016 Mr Smith ran for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and received 20.9 per cent of the vote, with only 1700 votes less than the Labor candidate.

The ALP is yet to announce a candidate.

Married with four adult children Mr Smith also said people were dissatisfied with the political status quo and ‘believes strongly in the right of everyday Aussies to own firearms.”

“Major party politicians have made promises for decades to fix the electorate’s chronic problems,” he said.

“The truth is, major party politicians can’t represent you in parliament, they must do what their party tells them, or else they lose their preselection. Rather they represent themselves and the government in your electorate. They are there to market to you unpopular decisions that have already been made elsewhere.”

Scott Buchholz. Photo Dany Weus
Scott Buchholz. Photo Dany Weus

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Incumbent Scott Buchholz would not weigh into the debate on voter dissatisfaction.

“People talk about marginal and safe seats, I don’t think about that. I’ve never taken Wright for granted and I’ll work for every vote, right up until election day.”

“It is still early in the election and we have to wait and see how many candidates come forward before nominations close.

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“I am delivering for our region with a plan to do more.

Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt said there was a potential of a split seat but the number of conservative breakaway parties was telling sign.

“I think always when you have multiple conservative parties running there is a potential of a split but the reality is it’s a pretty safe LNP seat,” Senator Watt said.

“I think the numbers of small conservatives just demonstrate the considerable number of voters are reacting to the non stop chaos they have seen from the LNP over the last few years.

“It has prompted people to walk away.”

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/council/gold-coast-electorate-wright-targeted-by-conservative-politicians/news-story/f55b4014f05ec17e4972348027d554e4