Australian Federal Election 2019: Political experts say LNP ‘must be confident’ to snub more funding for light rail extension

The Coalition is confident of holding the Gold Coast’s only marginal seat despite ruling out additional funding to extend the light rail.

THE Coalition must be confident of holding the Gold Coast’s only marginal seat by ruling out additional funding to extend the light rail, political experts say.

Griffith University political commentator Professor Stephen Stockwell said Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s refusal to spend more than $112 million extending the trams to Burleigh was a sign he was comfortable he would keep Forde in the city’s north.

“That suggests that the government is confident they will hold Forde,” he said.

Prof Stockwell made the comments after the ALP was accused of “missing a free kick” to win the vital seat when they refused the funding.

Forde sits on a knife-edge with a margin of just 0.9 per cent and is considered a vital seat to wins next month’s election.

The additional light rail funding has been a major issue across the Gold Coast. Picture: Jerad Williams

Political commentator Paul Williams told the Bulletin on Saturday he could not understand why Opposition leader Bill Shorten had not backed an increase in light rail funding.

“I find that curious and questionable,” he said.

“In a marginal seat, it’s not the most sensitive tactic. It’s like a free kick.”

Prof Stockwell said either party’s failure to offer a light rail carrot was not surprising.

“There is a question over how much pork-barrelling works,” he said.

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“People are going to make decisions on national issues like health, education, climate change and tax.”

Despite the low margin in Forde, neither party has offered a large amount of incentives. The seat stretches south to Upper Coomera and up into the Logan City Council area.

“That suggests both sides are happy with the status quo and the battle has moved elsewhere,” Prof Stockwell said.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison must be feeling pretty confident in Forde, according to a political expert. Picture Gary Ramage

He said seats in southeast Queensland and Herbert in northern Queensland were the only ones in the state that could swing on election day, making it surprising not more was being done to shore up Forde.

The election campaign has so far been disjointed with the public holidays cutting up the first two weeks.

Prof Stockwell said parties were still feeling their way in the election.

“The next week will give some indication of where their polling numbers are at,” he said.

Prof Stockwell said any funding announcements were more likely to be towards the end of the week.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten missed a “free kick” by not support more light rail funding, experts say. Picture Kym Smith

Residents in Forde have been questioning what either side offers for them.

Ormeau Progress Association president Judy Hendrix said she “hadn’t heard much” from either major party.

“No one has come along to our meetings or given us information about what they are doing.”

Mrs Hendrix said the major issue for the area was congestion, particularly exits on the M1.

“In some spots people are waiting for up to 1km,” she said.

ALP candidate for Forde Des Hardman said in a statement: “Labor supports the continued expansion of light rail on the Gold Coast.”

He did not offer any additional funding than the $112 million already promised.

The State Government and Gold Coast City Council has been pushing for an additional $45 million in funding for the extension to Burleigh to bring the funding arrangements into line with what happened on stage 2.