Gold Coast Election 2020: Coomera’s LNP MP Michael Crandon answers electorate’s question

LNP MP Michael Crandon has defended a promise to deliver almost 100 new police officers for the city’s north - despite the law preventing him from deciding where they go. SEE THE REPLAY

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A GOLD Coast MP has revealed how he plans to deliver almost 100 new police officers for the city’s rapidly growing north – despite legislation preventing him from doing so.

Coomera LNP MP Michael Crandon previously promised 80 additional officers for the Coomera and Pimpama police station, with 40 of them being deployed to Pimpama Police Station in its November 2021 opening.

The rest he claimed would be deployed over the next term of government between Coomera and Pimpama stations on a 50-50 basis.

But the Police Service Administration Act means the State Government cannot interfere with the operation of the police force – including the number and deployment of staff.

Asked during Thursday night’s election forum how he could make this promise, Mr Crandon defended his claim.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon talking to students at a northern Gold Coast school.

“We have been under-resourced as far as police in the northern Gold Coast for the last four years,” he said.

“I believe we have 81 at the Coomera police station, that came about as a result of lobbying from myself and the LNP.

“The police listened to us, they took our advice that we needed additional police and they provided additional officers.

“We’ve committed 80 police to the northern Gold Coast because we know we need those additional police, we need to almost double the number of police in the next four years to catch up with population growth now.”

The Bulletin will host the last of its election debates for Gaven candidates from 12pm on Friday.

EARLIER:

IT’S one of the fastest growing areas in Australia, in desperate need of a hospital and $2.4 billion to build a second M1 – but its Labor candidate has gone AWOL.

Labor’s Coomera candidate Chris Johnson did not respond to repeated calls from the Bulletin during the last month to attend Thursday night’s election debate.

Campaign strategists were at a loss to explain his absence, or why he was the only Labor candidate to not attend.

State Member for Coomera, Michael Crandon. Picture: Jerad Williams

LNP MP Michael Crandon was the sole attendee of Thursday’s Bulletin online debate, after One Nation’s Tabita Wilkinson, The Greens’ Lissy Gavranich, the Animal Justice Party’s Darryl Prout, the United Australia Party’s Heath Gallagher and Independent Kris Bourbon all boycotted the 30 minute event.

Mr Crandon said the other candidates had abandoned the northern Coast, and he challenged them to another debate.

Asked about the Labor candidate not turning up to the debate, he said:”We have been left out for so long on the northern Gold Coast.”

He did not seem surprised that the other candidates had failed to surface, and agreed they did not appear serious about winning the poll or offering any solutions.

“Well I think you’ve said it all, they have taken so long to come back to you, to respond. I indicated my enthusiasm to come on board several weeks ago after I was first invited.

I will be pleased to debate all and sundry any time they like,” he said.

One Nation’s Ms Wilkinson was provided a briefing document on Tuesday but waited until just hours before the debate began to claim she had not received any information and decline.

The Greens also confirmed Thursday morning – after more repeated calls from the Bulletin team – their candidate Ms Gavranich would not attend.

Coomera is one of the state’s most marginal seats, with Mr Crandon holding it by just 3.5 per cent.

He has held the seat since 2009, when it was first created.

The debate was critical because residents and northern-based councillors like Mark Hammel asked the following questions:

Traffic at Exit 41, Yatala . Photo: Jerad Williams

* when is the actual construction date going to start on upgrades to four Pacific Motorway interchanges - exits 38, 41, 45 and 49.

*why is Main Roads and the government taking so long to determine the northern connection road for the Coomera Connector, with Foreshore Coomera estate residents furious it would be Oakey Creek Road and not Shipper Drive.

Mr Crandon was questioned about the LNP’s policing commitment for 80 additional officers in the north, given it was up to police to determine where officers were sent.

The Bulletin had sought to ask Labor’s Mr Johnson the following questions:

* When will Labor’s promised 150 officers arrive on the Coast.

* Has Labor chosen the wrong site for a new hospital and what is the timeline for it.

* Why hasn’t Labor committed to the full route for the six-lane Coomera Connector, instead opting for a first stage from Carrara to the Coomera Marine precinct.

In response to Cr Hammel’s question, Mr Crandon said his party, if elected, would start work on stage one the second M1 within the first six months.

“And we will complete that stage within the first term of the new government,” he said.

“That’s our commitment in relation to the second M1. Importantly, the bridge over the Coomera River is a big part of that.”

Asked about upgrades to the notorious M1 exits, he said: “(I feel) frustrated by the traffic congestion, the cost on our young families.

“We’ve got 21 schools in the electorate that have to cross the M1 every morning and they’re stuck in traffic every afternoon.

“As far as Exit 41 is concerned we now know the bunting is up that it’s about to get started, so we should be able to see the end of (that exit) towards the end of next year.”

Recaps of the Bonney, Currumbin and Burleigh debates are available on the Bulletin website.

Tomorrow from noon the Bulletin will host the last of its election debate series featuring candidates for the marginal seat of Gaven.

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