Community group Save Our Spit targets Burleigh LNP MP Michael Hart, Bonney’s Sam O’Connor over cruise ship terminal
The Gold Coast’s anti-cruise ship terminal movement has taken aim at another marginal LNP MP - just a week after targeting Bonney’s Sam O’Connor. READ THE FULL STORY
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AN ANTI-CRUISE ship terminal movement has taken aim at a second LNP MP just a week after targeting Bonney’s Sam O’Connor.
The Save Our Spit group has now set their sights on Burleigh MP Michael Hart, labelling him “deceptive” and “evasive” over his position on the terminal.
“Voters in the Burleigh electorate have to make some serious decisions in the next few days,” the group wrote on Facebook.
“Do they back beaches and public space OR do they back the Cruise Industry taking hold and hacing their sand sold out from under them?
“Most LNP members right now have suddenly gone into hiding and switched to a non-committal and non-answer position.
“Some would call it politically expedient and tactically smart, others have slammed it as deceptive and evasive.”
The group has called on Mr Hart to respond.
They last week blasted Sam O’Connor, accusing him of endorsing the terminal.
Asked his position on the cruise ship terminal, Mr Hart said: “I understand the Gold Coast council doesn’t have a cruise ship terminal in its forward planning presently.
“Post-COVID the Gold Coast needs jobs so I will support any job creating projects that stack up economically and environmentally.
“But the community needs to be fully consulted first.”
The post has drawn a number of comments from Gold Coast residents, including Save Our Spit campaigner Luke Sorensen.
“Three strikes and you’re gone,” he wrote.
“I’d vote for a potato ahead of this ‘Terminal’ MP.”
EARLIER:
A COMMUNITY group is attempting to sink the chances of a Gold Coast MP who stands by his party’s support for working with council on the planned offshore cruise ship terminal.
Save Our Spit on Facebook just before prepolling began on Monday took aim at the MP for Bonney, saying “a vote for Sam O’Connor is a vote for the cruise ship terminal”.
“We know the LNP have their sights set on The Spit. We know they will ignore the massive risks and problems,” SOS said.
“We know they will lay out the red carpet to developers. We know they’ll trash the community-driven master plan. We know the LNP cannot be trusted with The Spit.”
The commentary follows LNP leader Deb Frecklington on a recent visit to the Coast saying she would work with council on the project if it went ahead.
After the post was shared, Mr O’Connor wrote: “This shareable is a lie. Here’s what I actually said.” He then repeated his response sent to the Bulletin when all candidates were asked about the project.
“The council has indicated the project is on hold. There is no proposal to consider but if there was one it would have to meet a very high threshold, stacking up environmentally, economically and taking into account the views of the community,” he told the Bulletin.
Mr O’Connor then added: “It’s actually exactly what Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon said on the issue last week.
Will you be making a shareable up about her as well?”
Ms Scanlon told the Bulletin a number of proposals had been put forward in recent years for cruise ship terminals and cableways.
“If a serious, credible, proposal for each project is put forward, that is supported by local communities, we will assess them on their economic and environmental merits,” she said.
Almost 14,000 people “like” the Save Our Spit page on Facebook.
Bonney is the sixth most marginal LNP seat with the margin 1.69 per cent, and critical given the Opposition needs to retain all its seats and pick up nine to win at the October 31 poll.
The community group has also targeted LNP MP Kirsten Jackson in Gaven.
EARLIER:
BONNEY MP Sam O’Connor has described the State Government’s efforts to build the Coomera Connector “a joke” and their work on the second M1 amounting to dawdling.
“It’s a complete joke their plan on that road. All I’ve seen by the current government is doorknocking,” Mr O’Connor said.
In the first of the Bulletin’s forums in the lead-up to the State poll on October 31, Mr O’Connor was asked if the road’s route would impact on his vote.
Hundreds of residents, some in multi-million properties at The Surrounds and Arundel Springs, do not want the second M2 in the tight corridor which includes light and heavy rail through from Parkwood to Helensvale station.
Mr O’Connor confirmed the only route for the highway was next to the residential estates and it would have been built under a LNP Government.
“We need to have input from those residents it needs to have the best possible protection for those residents,” Mr O’Connor said.
Bonney is the sixth most marginal LNP seat with the margin 1.69 per cent, and critical given the Opposition needs to retain all its seats and pick up nine to win at the October 31 poll.
The Greens candidate Amin Javanmard and Independent Leana Marquet both declined to attend. One Nation did not respond to numerous requests for their candidate Michael Rix.
Labor candidate Ash Borg was asked about his previous work as an industrial advocate for the CFMEU and whether the union, despite fighting with the party, was providing him with funding.
Mr Borg said he was receiving “various forms of help from all kinds of organisations the length of breadth of this State and as well as from interstate”.
“Because people know that I stand up for workers, for better wages and conditions, better safety at work, better job security and I’m not like my opponent where I supported a party sacking 14,000 public sector workers,” he said.
Palmer United Party candidate David Bark was asked about directing preferences, given his party’s vote could determine the outcome and the minor party vote could cost Mr O’Connor his seat.
“Our preferences are going to Sam. We need a change of government. and we are there for that reason. We need to open these borders. We need to start creating an economy that is better for everybody,” he said.
The debate later fired up when Mr Bark challenged Mr Borg about what projects the Labor Government had delivered for the Coast, when questioned about the Health and Knowledge precinct at Parklands in the electorate.
“I put the question to you Labor, what have you done to try and attract any investment into that area. What companies have you talked to. All you want to do is focus on closing the borders and keeping everybody out,” he said.
The forum is one of five the Bulletin is conducting, with debates for Currumbin, Coomera, Burleigh and Gaven planned for next week.
News Corp is conducting forums in seats across the state.
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