Broadwater MP David Crisafulli slams appointment of former Labor minister Judy Spence to Gold Coast Waterways board

A Gold Coast LNP MP is up in arms over the appointment of a former Labor minister to a board overseeing waterways – but the new appointee has come out swinging.

A CITY LNP MP is making waves at an “anti-everything” ex-Labor Minister being added to a board overseeing waterways, saying it will upset boaties.

But Save Our Broadwater vice president Judy Spence, confirmed on the Gold Coast Waterways Authority board on Friday, hit back at criticism by Broadwater MP David Crisafulli.

Mr Crisafulli said it would annoy “every fisherman and boatie” and urged the Queensland Labor Government “to appoint people with boating and fishing interests” and lashed out at “another anti-everything appointment”.

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Broadwater MP David Crisafulli. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“My anger and shock is not a reflection on Judy Spence as an individual at all. It’s a reflection on what the Waterways Authority has become under this government,” he said.

“The people I represent are crying out for that board to get back to its charter, which is to enhance and promote the experiences on our waterway.”

He said a lack of dredging and dodgy houseboats were key issues.

Ex-police minister Ms Spence hit back: “I have plenty of fishing and boating experience. Last week I bought myself a jet ski. I’m also a frequent diver in the Broadwater and very in touch with the issues that concern the Waterways Authority,” she said. “It’s just a desperate attempt by Mr Crisafulli to have some relevance.

New GCWA board member Judy Spence. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I was nominated for this position by the president of Save Our Broadwater, Mr Alan Rickard, who is well-known as a former Liberal deputy mayor of this city.”

Ms Spence was unsure who she replaced and did not know who she would serve with on the seven-member board, which still had two vacancies.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, who signed off on it, said: “Mr Crisafulli’s embarrassing lack of local knowledge as a recent arrival from North Queensland is obvious, otherwise he would know Ms Spence regularly fishes, boats and dives.

“If Mr Crisafulli has any integrity, he should apologise to Ms Spence for his humiliating gaffe about her credentials,” he said, adding he defended the government’s dredging program.