Gold Coast State poll: Full list of 2020 Queensland election candidates
As you head to the polls on October 31, here’s everything you need to know about the 80 candidates contesting seats across the Gold Coast - who they are, what they stand for, and how to find out more. SEE THE FULL LIST
Council Election 2020
Don't miss out on the headlines from Council Election 2020. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A MELBOURNE Cup field of 80 candidates have nominated to stand for political parties in Gold Coast seats at the State election on October 31.
The figure, confirmed at the ballot draw on Sunday is double the number of candidates at the 2017 election.
As you prepare to vote on Saturday, this is your last chance to learn about every candidate running across the city.
MORE SPECIAL ELECTION COVERAGE ONLINE
■ Why a controversial party is entering the battle for Coast hotspot
■ Your ultimate guide on how to poll
■ Special comment revealing what you need to know
■ Who is leading the race to land key seats
WHAT CANDIDATES SPENT ON ELECTION BID REVEALED
GOLD COAST DEVELOPMENT: 10 MOST CONTROVERSIAL TOWERS
The LNP has MPs in all but one seat. In Gaven, its candidate, Kirsten Jackson, began campaigning last year.
Candidates can contact reporters Paul Weston at paul.weston@news.com.au and Brianna Morris-Grant at brianna.morris-grant@news.com.au.
Here is the full list with names listed as they will appear on the ballot paper:
GOLD COAST ELECTION CANDIDATES
COOMERA
- Lissy Gavranich (The Greens)
Lissy Gavranich is a full-time Operations Coordinator with a background in IT. Before that she worked in the music industry.
You can find more information about Lissy here.
- Chris Johnson (Australian Labor Party)
Chris Johnson works in the Mental Health Acute Care Team at Gold Coast University Hospital, and has worked in healthcare for almost 40 years.
You can find more information about Chris here.
- Heath Gallagher,(Clive Palmer’s UAP)
Heath Gallagher serves in the Royal Australian Navy as a marine technician and has worked around Australia as a boilermaker. He has also been employed in managerial roles in major oil, gas and mining projects.
You can find more information about Heath here.
- She D’Montford (Informed Medical Options Party (IMOP)
Shé D’Montford is a local activist. Her father was a Miami businessman who opened the second independent Australian vitamin company in the late 70s, starting her support for natural therapies.
You can find more information about Shé here.
- Michael Crandon (LNP)
Michael Crandon has been the MP for Coomera since 2009. He was a financial planner for more than 21 years before that, and is a member of the Beenleigh PCYC Committee, the North Gold Coast RSL Sub Branch and the Lions Club of Helensvale.
You can find more information about Michael here.
- Darryl Prout (Animal Justice Party)
Darryl is the state manager for an Australian owned wholesale business. He works in Coomera and is an active member of the community in business and animal protection advocacy, organising volunteers to “educate the public about the atrocities of animal exploitation and factory farming”.
You can find out more information about Darryl here.
- Kris Bourbon (Independent)
Kris Bourbon has lived on the Gold Coast for 25 years and describes himself as an independent tradesman. He ran for Gold Coast Mayor during the March local council elections.
You can find out more information about Kris here.
- Tabita Wilkinson, (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
Tabita Wilkinson grew up in Eastern Europe under an “oppressive communist regime” and is now a qualified nurse and mum to three teenage boys. She believes the hysteria surrounding COVID-19 is a “political agenda”.
You can find out more information about Tabita here.
BROADWATER
- Jesse Schneider (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
No information is available about Jesse Schneider. She does not feature on the party’s Queensland candidate list.
- Maureen Simpson (Australian Labor Party)
Maureen Simpson served in the Army Reserve and Australian Regular Army as a member of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corp. She retired as a Major and moved from a farm to Broadwater with her husband in 2002.
You can find out more information about Maureen here.
- April Broadbent (The Greens)
April Broadbent is an Asian Studies, journalism and Japanese graduate from Griffith University and was the first person in her family to go to university. She is now retraining as a high school teacher and is a volunteer organiser for climate justice on the Gold Coast.
You can find out more information about April here.
- Mara Krischker, (Clive Palmer’s UAP)
Mara Krischker ran for the seat of Fadden in the 2019 Federal election. Her information page from that election state she is a receptionist at Pro One Tennis Academy in Runaway Bay, and has also worked in real estate, beauty therapy and retail. Her information page for the 2020 election has no information.
You can find Mara’s candidate page here.
- David Crisafulli, (LNP)
David Crisafulli has been the Broadwater MP since 2017. He worked as a journalist across Queensland, including for The Australian and Sunday Mail, before working as a Federal Government advisor in Townsville. He was first elected to State Parliament in 2012.
You can find more information about David here.
- Natalie O’Donnell, Informed Medical Options Party (IMOP)
Natalie O’Donnell is a businesswoman, scientist and accountant who says she “has been concerned about what is happening to our environment and medical system”. She hopes to find a way to promote natural health practices and “end the censorship of big internet and social media companies”.
You can find more information about Natalie here.
BONNEY
- Leana Marquet (Independent)
Leana Marquet did not attend the Bonney election forum but provided a statement calling on residents to “speak up”. She does not have a website or social media page.
- Sam O’Connor (LNP)
Sam O’Connor has been the Bonney MP since 2017. Before then he worked in hospitality, as well as media and communications for a Federal MP. He is on the committee of the Labrador Community Garden, Meals on Wheels, Runaway Bay Rotary and the Institute for Glycomics at Griffith University.
You can find more information about Sam here.
- Ash Borg (Australian Labor Party)
Ash Borg is a union advocate who has worked in the Gold Cost hospitality and tourism sector. He has extensive experience in industrial relations and represents workers and their families as a Senior Legal and Industrial Officer for an aviation organisation.
You can find more information about Ash here.
- David Bark (Clive Palmer’s UAP)
David Bark works in project management with Hilton Surfers Paradise, and has previously been CEO of Tattersalls Club and general manager of various five star hotels both nationally and internationally.
You can find more information about David here.
- Michael Rix (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
No information is available about Michael Rix. He does not feature on the party’s Queensland candidate list.
- Amin Javanmard (The Greens)
Amin Javanmard runs a Gold Coast pharmacy, which has been owned and managed by his family for many years. He believes in making big corporations “pay their fair share”, as well as investing in world-class public healthcare and education to rebuild Queensland. He also ran for Division 7 in the March local council election.
You can find more information about Amin here.
THEODORE
- Tracey Bell (Australian Labor Party)
Tracey Bell worked for 20 years as an early childhood educator and advocate, and is the director of a local childcare centre. She worked three jobs to make ends meet while raising her two children. Since joining Labor’s team she has advocated for pay rises for early childhood educators and prioritises funding for schools.
You can find more information about Tracey here.
- Mark Boothman (LNP)
March Boothman has been the Theodore MP since the seat was created in 2017, having been MP in the now-abolished Albert electorate since being first elected in 2012. Before being elected he was a local mortgage broker. He is a member of the Lions Club, Rotary Club, the Men’s Shed and CWA, Helensvale RSL, Neighbourhood Watch and several sporting organisations.
You can find more information about Mark here.
- John Woodlock (The Greens)
John Woodlock worked in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Canberra before retiring and moving to the Gold Coast in 2015. He believes in ending privatisation of industries and establishing a “democratic, public authority responsible for all energy retail, network and generation”.
You can find more information about John here.
- Anita Holland (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
No information is available about Anita Holland. She does not feature on the party’s Queensland candidate list.
- Robert Marks (Clive Palmer’s UAP)
No information is provided for Robert Marks on his 2020 election information page. He ran for the party in the 2015 North Sydney by-election, and was described as a company director, auctioneer and licensed real estate agent.
You can find Robert’s candidate page here.
- Gale Oxenford (Independent)
Gale Oxenford is a 60-year-old retiree and former bank worker. Her husband’s great-great grandfather founded Oxenford more than 150 years ago. She does not have a website or social media page.
GAVEN
- Sharon Sewell (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
Sharon Sewell is the owner of a small printing business, which her family has run for more than 35 years. She wants to prioritise “the safety of the community” and “doesn’t want our Australian way of life to be taken away”.
You can find more information about Sharon here.
- Meaghan Scanlon (Australian Labor Party)
Meaghan Scanlon has been the only Labor MP on the Gold Coast since she was elected in 2017. She worked as a lawyer before being elected, and is committed to helping “the most vulnerable members of our community”. She is an active member of the tourism and sports industries, and currently serves as the Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development.
You can find more information about Meaghan here.
- Suzette Luyken,(Legalise Cannabis Qld Party)
Suzette Luyken was the co-owner of a cleaning business until chronic pain forced her to resign. She is now an advocate for legally prescribed cannabis and wants to see it made available for patients to grow at home. She believes every Queenslander should be allowed to use cannabis socially or medically.
You can find more information about Suzette here.
- Reyna Drake, (Civil Liberties & Motorists Party)
Reyna Drake is an author, leadership coach and business development strategist. She believes people’s rights and civil liberties have been overridden, and claimed during a Gold Coast Bulletin debate she did not believe COVID-19 is a genuine pandemic.
You can find more information about Reyna here.
- Garry Beck,(Clive Palmer’s UAP)
Garry Beck is a flight instructor and former pilot, most recently working for Fiji Airways. His priorities include: “stopping wasteful spending in government, supporting local businesses, boosting education, improving traffic conditions in Gaven and reducing crime rates”.
You can find more information about Garry here.
- Kirsten Jackson, (LNP)
Kirsten Jackson is a small business owner, and also volunteers for Nerang Meals on Wheels. She is a member of the Carrara Lions and volunteers with the Kiwanis Pacific Pines School Breakfast Club. She says she decided to run after becoming concerned about local roads, crime, surgery wait lists and education results.
You can find more information about Kirsten here.
- Sally Spain,(The Greens)
Sally Spain is an environmental activist who grew up on the Gold Coast hinterland. She has previously campaigned to preserve “Australia’s vanishing natural heritage”, protect animal rights and for Black Swan Lake.
You can find more information about Sally here.
CURRUMBIN
- Tracy Takacs-Thorne (Independent)
Tracy Takacs-Thorne is backed by the Australia One Party. She has been a small business owner for the last 15 years after founding Ashanti Furniture & Design in Burleigh.
You can find more information about Tracy here.
- Richard Stuckey (Independent)
Dr Richard Stuckey is the husband of former Currumbin LNP MP Jann Stuckey, and has named promoting voluntary assisted dying as his main reason for running in the election. He practiced as a GP for 40 years, focusing on mental health, autism and aged care.
You can find more information about Richard here.
- Peter Burgoyne (The Greens)
Peter Burgoyne has a doctorate in psychology and an honours degree in electrical and electronic engineering, and has worked as a computer designer, university lecturer, consultant to the United Nations, science researcher and policy advisor. He now runs his own small business.
You can find more information about Peter here.
- Kaylee Campradt,(Australian Labor Party)
Kaylee Campradt was the president of Parents and Citizen’s Association Queensland, a board member of the Queensland College of Teachers and is part of both the Currumbin State School P&C, the Palm Beach Currumbin State High School P&C, local environment groups and Tugun SLSC Nippers. She is also a former member of the Gold Coast Health and Hospital Network Community Advisory Group.
You can find more information about Kaylee here.
- Laura Gerber (LNP)
Laura Gerber has been the Currumbin MP since the March 2020 by-election. She was chosen to stand by party bosses after having worked as a Commonwealth prosecutor. She is a member of the Currumbin RSL, Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC and the National Trust of Australia.
You can find more information about Laura here.
- Glen Wadsworth (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
Glen Wadsworth is the industrial relations manager and founder of Wadsworth Construction, which has previously worked on major projects including the Robina Town Centre redevelopment, the Jewel Tower in Broadbeach and the Gold Coast Airport extension.
You can find more information about Glen here.
- Anna Palmer (Clive Palmer’s UAP)
Anna Palmer is the wife of billionaire mining tycoon Clive Palmer. Her candidate page on the party’s website does not feature any information.
You can find her candidate information page here.
- Ian Logan (Independent)
-Ian Logan has called on all politicians and senior civil servants to take a 25 per cent pay cut, and states this is his “primary objective” in running. He is a former airline pilot who decided to run on October 8th.
-You can find more information about Ian here.
MUDGEERABA
• Gary Pead (Independent)
Gary Pead previously worked in the property industry and was a board member of the Queensland’s Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He is passionate about the environment and sustainability issues. He has previously run as the ALP candidate for Mermaid Beach in 2015, and for Gold Coast Mayor in the March 2020 election.
You can find more information about Gary here.
• Brandon McMahon, (Clive Palmer’s UAP)
Brandon McMahon is a journalism student currently working in IT support. He is actively involved in the local community and has competed at state, national and international level in surf lifesaving.
You can find more information about Brandon here.
• Leith Erikson (Independent)
Leith Erikson is the head of the Australian Brotherhood of Father’s and a men’s rights activist. He has said he is not happy about the attitudes and behaviour of the major parties.
You can find more information about Leith here.
• Andrew Liddell (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
Andrew Liddell is a local business owner in the road maintenance industry, and also served in the Australian Defence Force Reserve on the Gold Coast. He has received a soldier’s medallion for exemplary service and several other awards.
You can find more information about Andrew here.
• Mark Pytellek,(Civil Liberties & Motorists Party)
Mark Pytellek worked in marketing and sales for 15 years and ran a convenience store in Nerang. He plans to “rejuvenate Australia” with focus on civil rights, reduced big business and bureaucracy and holding governments accountable.
ou can find more information about Mark here.
• Bill Sherwood (Independent)
Bill Sherwood is an engineer, scientist and inventor who worked as a pilot for 25 years. He has been actively involved in motorsport, designs and builds his own sports racing cars and is studying engineering at Griffith University.
You can find more information about Bill here.
• Maxim Otten-Kamp, (Australian Labor Party)
Maxim moved to the Gold Coast to study international relations and journalism at Griffith University. He joined the Australian Army Cadets while at school and rose to the rank of Cadet Under Officer in four years, organising training for 40 cadets, founding an Australian war history program and leading Australia Day marches.
You can find more information about Maxim here.
• Lindon Cox (Animal Justice Party)
Lindon Cox grew up in the Gold Coast hinterland and now works in compliance law. He is “fiercely opposed” to urban sprawl and environmental degradation and has previously volunteered in community campaigns, animal rescue and animal rights outreach.
You can find more information about Lindon here.
• Ros Bates (LNP)
Ros Bates has been the Mudgeeraba MP since 2009, and has been the Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services and Shadow Minister for Women since 2017. She has been awarded the Royal College of Nursing Queensland Distinguished Nursing Award, the Centenary Medal for Service in the Community through Health Care and is a former Queensland Telstra Businesswoman of the Year Award.
You can find more information about Ros here.
• Scott Turner (The Greens)
Scott Turner is a scientific researcher who has worked in administration in healthcare, crisis accommodation, mental health and education, as well as a customer service agent for TransLink. He is passionate about affordable social housing and climate change adaptation.
You can find more information about Scott here.
BURLEIGH
• Georgie Batty (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
Georgie Batty is a small business owner and advocate for religious freedom and free speech. She is a self-described conservative who is “concerned at high unemployment and devastating debt levels”. She is pro-life and will fight for reduction of crime and support for small business.
You can find more information about Georgie here.
• Scott Wallace (Animal Justice Party)
Scott Wallace is an environmental scientist, “passionate educator” and animal rights advocate with qualifications in law. He is passionate about ocean protection and conservation and has volunteered for environmental protection and not-for-profit organisations.
You can find more information about Scott here.
• Michael Hart (LNP)
Michael Hart has been the Burleigh MP since 2012, and is the Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works, for Energy and for Innovation and Digital Technology. Prior to his election he was involved in aviation, manufacturing and small business. He is a member of the Pacific SLSC, Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce, Burleigh Heads Liquor Accord and the Burleigh Heads Rotary Club.
You can find more information about Michael here.
• Ingrid Weber (Legalise Cannabis Qld (Party)
Ingrid Weber is a full-time carer for her son, who was struck down by aggressive seizures at a young age. She is an advocate for legalising cannabis and participated in the Medical Cannabis for the Sick and Dying movement. She is also concerned about public housing and specialist disability housing.
You can find more information about Ingrid here.
• Rachel Mebberson (The Greens)
Rachel Mebberson is an environmental science graduate who works two jobs on the Gold Coast. She is passionate about providing “a fairer society and economy” via improvements to public transport, social housing and more “deliberate and science-based action” on climate change.
You can find more information about Rachel here.
• Carlo Filingeri (Clive Palmer’s UAP)
No information is available about Carlo Filingeri. No photo is provided on his candidate’s page on the party website.
You can see his candidate page here.
• Wayne (Rabbit) Bartholomew (Australian Labor Party)
Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew is a three-time world surfing champion and “passionate conservationist”. He played a major role in securing the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve and has also been part of many local community campaigns. He plans to “take the next step in his advocacy” by running for the seat of Burleigh.
You can find more information about Rabbit here.
MERMAID BEACH
• Zai Harris, (The Greens)
Zai Harris will graduate from a law degree this year and is “passionate about fighting for accountability in government”. He plays rugby league locally and volunteers at a community legal centre.
You can find more information about Zai here.
• Rhett Holt (Independent)
Rhett Holt is the founder of the Watchdog Party, a political party which aims to “expose fraud, identify underhanded proceedings and introduce more balance into new legislation”.
You can find more information about Rhett here.
• Hristo Avdjiev (Clive Palmer’s UAP)
No information is available about Hristo Avdjiev on the party’s candidate page.
You can see his candidate page here.
• Nicholas Mcarthur-Williams (Independent)
Nicholas McArthur-Williams runs the BiPartisan Party Australia, who believes the public “wants their government to be invisible on a daily basis, getting on with the job and delivering inclusive national solutions”.
You can find more information about Nicholas here.
• Suphakan Somsriruen (Civil Liberties & Motorists Party)
Suphakan Somsriruen is a Business student at Griffith University, who previously ran for Gold Coast Mayor during the March 2020 local council election. His goals include “greater functionality of Australia” and improving standard of living.
You can find more information about Suphakan here.
• Carl Ungerer (Australian Labor Party)
Dr Carl Ungerer is a former international diplomat and international relations expert, who previously served as an advisor to then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. He now teaches at the University of Notre Dame and has previously taught at Bond University.
You can find more information about Carl here.
• Ray Stevens (LNP)
Ray Stevens has been the Mermaid Beach MP since 2006, and is also a member of the Ethics Committee and the Deputy Chair of the Economics and Governance Committee. He was previously a city councillor then Mayor of Albert Shire, and was the first Mayor of the Gold Coast.
You can find more information about Ray here.
• Deb Lynch Legalise Cannabis Qld (Party)
Deb Lynch, who dubs herself the “pot smoking granny” has been heavily involved in cannabis reform for around six years, and tours Queensland to educate seniors about the health benefits of the drug. She is an advocate for legalising cannabis for medicinal use.
You can find more information about Deb here.
• Stephen James (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
Stephen James has promised to advocate for water security, farmers’ rights, lowering the cost of living and reducing crime. He believes he can provide “a strong alternative to the two major parties”.
You can find more information about Stephen here.
• Tory Jones (Independent)
-Tory Jones is an outspoken advocate for the Gold Coast Oceanway as a solution to traffic congestion across the city, as swell as free bust travel for under-25s and a safe cycle network. She is also close friends with former mayoral candidate Mona Hecke, who has backed her in the lead up to election day.
You can find more information about Tory here.
SURFERS PARADISE
• Leeanne Schultz, (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
No information is available about Leanne Schultz. She does not feature on the party’s Queensland candidate list.
• Roger Mckay (Clive Palmer’s UAP)
Roger McKay served as a fighter pilot, instructor and staff officer in the Australian Air Force before transferring to Reserves in 1995 and returning to Australia in 2000. He has since worked as a corporate pilot and an Air Force Reserve Officer.
You can find more information about Roger here.
• Brianna Bailey (Australian Labor Party)
Brianna Bailey is a business and government student at Griffith University and part-time waitress at a major Surfers Paradise hotel. She believes in attracting tourism to the Gold Coast, backing “region changing infrastructure” including the second M1 and light rail, and supporting small business.
You can find more information about Brianna here.
• John-Paul Langbroek, (LNP)
John-Paul Langbroek has been the Surfers Paradise MP since 2004, and is the Shadow Minister for Sport and Racing and the Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Before turning to politics he was a dentist with his own practice in Surfers Paradise and Ashmore.
You can find more information about John-Paul here.
• Nelson Quinn (The Greens)
Nelson Quinn is a former New South Wales farmer who has also spent many years working on legal, environment and heritage issues with national, state and local governments, as well as international organisations and community groups.
You can find more information about Nelson here.
SOUTHPORT
• Alan Quinn (The Greens)
Alan Quinn is a software developer for a Gold Coast children’s education company. He believes in looking after the natural environment and wants to see the impact of big business money and “the power of corporate dollars” eliminated. He supports access to TAFE and universities for all Australians.
You can find more information about Alan here.
• Raphael Felix (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
Raphael Felix’s family runs MasterDerm Clinic and MasterCell Clinic in Broadbeach. He has also written a book on “the spiritual solution to a human condition”.
You can find more information about Raphael here.
• Brett Lambert (Independent)
Brett Lambert is a Gold Coast businessman who ran for mayor during the March 2020 local council election. His policies include pushing heavy rail through to the Gold Coast Airport and facilitating events for the city.
You can find more information about Brett here.
• Rob Molhoek (LNP)
Rob Molhoek has been the Southport MP since 2012 and is the Chief Opposition Whip in Queensland Parliament. He has also previously served as the Assistant Minister for Child Safety, Planning and Development and the Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works.
You can find more information about Rob here.
• Susie Gallagher (Australian Labor Party)
Susie Gallagher is the managing director of disability service provider Own2Feet, and is committed to M1 upgrades, job creation and the light rail. Her parents built and managed the Benowa Tavern, the Helensvale Tavern, the Mi Hi Tavern, the Pacific Hotel and the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle.
You can find more information about Susie here.
• Jack Drake (Civil Liberties & Motorists Party)
Jack Drake has worked in financial planning, currency trading and computer science. He says he turned to politics after “feeling deeply uncomfortable about working as a tax slave”, and believes in taking “a stand against tyranny”.
You can find more information about Jack here.
• Maria Avdjieva (Clive Palmer’s UAP)
Maria is a university teacher and researcher in strategic management. She is passionate about developing strategies for “adding value to multicultural communities”, and has experience in building the capacity of diverse engineering and business management.
You can find more information about Maria here.
Investigation into major fraud, GC council suffers $2.7m hit
Investigations are underway into a multi-million dollar fraud that has rocked Gold Coast City Council. Find out the details.
‘They hated me last week’: New councillor on divided city
Forget the light rail or Oceanway, the biggest priority for the Gold Coast’s new and returning councillors is to build bridges after a bruising local election.