Main Beach’s Adrian ‘AJ’ Johnston standing for Division 10 in March 28 Gold Coast City Council poll
A former radio host who will contest Council’s new super-division is backing a Gold Coast cruise ship terminal for a very simple reason.
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A FORMER radio host who will contest Gold Coast City Council’s new super division says he will champion tourism – and he would be mad not to back a cruise ship terminal.
Adrian ‘AJ’ Johnston, known for his radio roles with Gold FM and 94.1, has announced he will stand for Division 10, covering Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Main Beach and parts of Bundall.
Retiring councillor Gary Baildon represents Surfers, while Broadbeach councillor Paul Taylor will not contest the March 28 poll for medical reasons.
Mr Johnston is set to square off against tourism boss Mike Winlaw, business leader and community worker Karen Phillips and businessman Darren Taylor, who is Cr Taylor’s son.
“I did a degree in political science years ago so I’ve always had a passion for learning and getting involved in politics in my own time. Now I’m at a stage in my life where I feel sensible enough and mature enough to get involved,” he said.
“I think it’s a pretty strong line-up. I’m a racehorse man and it’s shaping up as a Melbourne Cup field at the moment.”
Mr Johnston cautiously gave his thumbs up to a cruise ship terminal, but said he would only support the project if it was environmentally sound.
“It’s a bit early for me to be commenting on the state of the cruise ship terminal. If I’m standing on a platform for tourism, I’d be mad not to be a supporter of it, wouldn’t I?” he said.
“We have cruise ships floating past. Like millions and millions of dollars. All that money just floats past the Gold Coast.
“It’s a tourism town, we’ve got nothing else to rely on. It’s the only viable industry that we’ve got. It is what we hang our hat on. Preservation, revitalisation – that’s generally what I’m out to do.”
He “absolutely” supported extending the light rail south, which has also proved divisive, particularly in southern Coast communities.
Mr Johnston said he had been phoning friends and business contacts to rustle up campaign funding, but he would be “absolutely independent”.
The Main Beach resident said Mayor Tom Tate was “streets and streets ahead of any mayor we’ve ever had” and hoped to work well with him.
“I actually rang Tom (Thursday) and told him of my intention. He was very upbeat, he thought it was a good idea,” he said.
Mr Johnston explored his love of racehorses and worked as a truck driver, among other jobs, during a “sabbatical” from behind the mic.
He said if elected the community would find him easily accessible.
“My ears are open,” he said
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