Exclusive: Transport Minister Mark Bailey calls on LNP to dump MP Michael Hart from light rail planning
Transport Minister Mark Bailey has launched a stinging attack on Burleigh MP Michael Hart, demanding he step away from light rail planning because of two perceived conflicts of interest.
Gold Coast
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BURLEIGH MP Michael Hart has been asked to step away from light rail planning because he has two perceived conflicts — a property and share in a brewery on potential routes.
Labor has called on the LNP frontbencher to remove himself from his party’s future policy planning on the tram route heading south from Burleigh.
The Government’s favoured route for the trams is south which will pass Mr Hart’s new Palm Beach unit, while the LNP promises to launch a business case to explore a western path to Varsity Lakes that passes close to the MP’s brewery.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey told the Bulletin: “I’m calling on Deb Frecklington to remove Michael Hart from the LNP’s policy decision-making on light rail.
“It’s been publicly reported that not only did he buy a multimillion-dollar property which he didn’t declare for more than a year, which sits squarely on the current proposed light rail route, but his Burleigh brewery is a stone’s throw away from the LNP’s proposed light rail route.
“This is just another example of how the LNP can’t be trusted to manage public transport on the Gold Coast, in the interest of all Gold Coasters.
“Based on the public reporting, it’s clear the business Michael Hart owns could benefit significantly if the light rail goes past that brewery.”
Mr Hart told the Bulletin: “My business and property interests have been fully declared. I am proud to be a business owner, that employs locals and I am proud to call Palm Beach home with my wife.
“The alternative would be not investing in Queensland and not living in the electorate.
“The Labor Party have attacked me numerous times about part-owning a business in Burleigh and living in the electorate. I think this shows how out of touch they are with the community.
“When my interests have changed I have sought advice from Clerk of the parliament and the Integrity Commissioner and I have always acted in accordance with that advice.
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“It’s clear Labor doesn’t have a plan for heavy rail to the airport and are more interested in mud throwing than construction and jobs.”
Mr Bailey said the LNP would be treating Gold Coasters with contempt if it continued to ignore these public reports of conflicts of interest with his personal investments.
“They continue to take the Gold Coast for granted, after committing zero new dollars to upgrade the M1, cutting the Coomera Connector from planning, and crowing about cutting $1.6 billion from the road and transport budget when Ms Frecklington was Campbell Newman’s Assistant Minister.
“What Burleigh needs is strong, effective and honest representation and leadership,” he said.
A Bulletin report on Saturday revealed Mr Hart, who is fighting to stop light rail heading south creating more high rise along the Gold Coast had a secret — he owns and lives in a $1 million Palm Beach apartment on the tram route.
Property searches show Michael Hart and his wife Sally-Anne bought an apartment for $1,108,000 in August 2018.
He later went on social media to claim it’s “no secret” where he lives.
“Disappointing gutter politics from the Labor Party today aided by the local paper,” he wrote.
The experienced LNP MP and frontbencher has led the battle and been cast as the political hero against light rail by backing petitions to the parliament by the anti-tram protest group headed by Karen Rowles.
Group supporters are being asked to back Mr Hart in a tough battle against Labor candidate and surfing legend Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew” who supports the ALP’s policy of the trams heading south through Palm Beach to the Gold Coast Airport.
HART HITS OUT AT ‘GUTTER POLITICS’
A GOLD Coast MP has blamed “gutter politics” after it was revealed he owns and lives in a $1 million Palm Beach apartment on the proposed light rail route.
The Bulletin revealed on Saturday LNP Burleigh MP Michael Hart, who has long opposed the tram route moving south through the suburb, bought a $1,108,000 high-rise apartment in August 2018.
He has now taken to social media to claim it’s “no secret” where he lives.
“Disappointing gutter politics from the Labor Party today aided by the local paper,” he wrote.
“It’s no secret where I live. I have lived in Palm Beach with my family since 1986, with eight years in Burleigh in the middle.
“My position on light rail hasn’t shifted since I first started talking about it around 2008.
“The facts can’t be disputed but will be ignored by Labor and their supporters.
“Labor never let the truth get in the way of a good story, don’t have an economic plan for the state’s recovery, all they have is gutter politics.”
The Bulletin on Friday asked Mr Hart to provide examples of him stating on-record he lived in Palm Beach and was given a recording of a radio interview.
Bulletin reporters could not find an example of Mr Hart stating he lived on the proposed light rail route.
HOW WE BROKE THE STORY
THE MP fighting to stop light rail heading south creating more high rise along the Gold Coast has a secret — he owns and lives in a $1 million Palm Beach apartment on the tram route.
Property searches show Michael Hart and his wife Sally-Anne bought an apartment for $1,108,000 in August 2018.
The 150 sqm apartment, in a luxury tower with ocean views, “settled” in February this year once construction was completed, documents said.
Mr Hart, the Burleigh MP, on his register of interests with state parliament, has written that the unit at Palm Beach is his “residence”.
Mr Hart has provided to the Bulletin an audio recording of a radio interview where he defended being a part owner in a business, a brewery, on the potential western route of light rail from Burleigh.
“Also I live in Palm Beach. So I am affected by the route going either way,” he said.
Mr Hart told the Bulletin: “My business and property interests have been fully declared. I am proud to be a business owner, that employs locals and I am proud to call Palm Beach home with my wife.
“The alternative would be not investing in Queensland and not living in the electorate. The Labor Party have attacked me numerous times about part owning a business in Burleigh and living in the electorate, I think this shows just how out of touch they are with the community.
“When my interests have changed I have sought advice from Clerk of the parliament and the Integrity Commissioner and I have always acted in accordance with that advice.
“It’s clear Labor doesn’t have a plan for heavy rail to the airport and are more interested in mud throwing than construction and jobs.”
The experienced LNP MP and frontbencher has led the battle and cast as the political hero against light rail by backing petitions to the parliament by the anti-tram protest group headed by Karen Rowles.
Thousands of the group’s supporters are being asked to back Mr Hart in a tough battle against Labor candidate and surfing legend Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew” who supports the ALP’s policy of the trams heading south through Palm Beach to the Gold Coast Airport.
Despite light rail being the key issue being debated in the seat of Burleigh in the lead-up to the October poll, Mr Hart has never disclosed his property interests included a luxury, high-rise apartment.
A Labor source, aware of the MP’s potential conflict, told the Bulletin: “He hasn’t been truthful to the electorate about his potential conflict of interests. This asks questions about his motives for stopping light rail.
“He has some big questions to answer why he did this (remain silent). It is either utter stupidity or he’s intentionally deceived his electorate.”
The Harts live in a 13-storey apartment building which dwarfs neighbouring shops. All 63 two and three-bedroom apartments boast a large balcony and two car parks.
The building also features a “retreat inspired yoga deck”, lap pool, BBQ area and “exclusive resident dining area”.
A real estate listing for the property posted prior to its February 2020 completion reads: “Situated in the heart of the Palm Beach village atmosphere, offering unrivalled coastal living with popular restaurants, cafes and the beach moments from your doorstep.”
Mr Hart had endorsed a 2018 petition by Ms Rowles, which called for a feasibility study into alternate light rail routes.
On May 14 on Facebook, Mr Rowles who has more than 5000 “followers”, posted: “If you want to stop the light rail destroying Burleigh Hill, Tallebudgera, Palm Beach, Currumbin and Bilinga, as a community whether you are Liberal or Labor you must support Michael Hart MP for Burleigh.”
She added Mr Hart had always protested against the “coastal route” for light rail Stage 3 B,
The petition received a total 1599 signatures and was tabled in parliament in May 2018.
Construction of the tower where the Harts bought a unit began around October 2018 and was already 65 per cent sold just two months later.
Mr Hart only today at a media conference with LNP leader Deb Frecklington said the party’s plan for heavy rail would enable “all potential routes” for light rail to be considered.
“The LNP’s approach will deliver a plan that busts congestion, meets local needs and improves connectivity between the airport, the Gold Coast and Brisbane,” he said.
“More importantly, the LNP will guarantee that our transport plan includes genuine community consultation. Locals must have a say on the future of their communities.”
It’s not the first time Mr Hart has called for further scrutiny and community consultation or opposed the Palm Beach light rail route publicly.
He penned a March 2020 letter to Transport Minister Mark Bailey expressing his concerns and calling for more specific information on traffic modelling down the Gold Coast Hwy.
As early as March 2017 he wrote on Facebook: “I can tell you while ever I am the MP for Burleigh and Palm Beach the light rail WON’T be going down the Esplanade at Burleigh or around Burleigh Hill and down the Gold Coast Hwy at Palm Beach.”
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In a separate Facebook post in November 2017 he confirmed he supported the light rail to Burleigh, but not through Burleigh and Palm Beach.
In May 2020, he raised concerns about overdevelopment in Palm Beach, and called on locals to make submissions to council on City Plan changes to Jefferson Lane, close to his own property.
“The Gold Coast City Council is out of control, they will destroy Palm Beach and Burleigh with overdevelopment,” he wrote in April, referencing a Gold Coast Hwy tower near his apartment block.
“I wrote to the Planning Minister about this very thing happening a month ago and he assured me council can refuse these applications.
“But they aren’t and they aren’t listening to the people of the area.”
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