Labor announces two candidates for must-win Gold Coast seats ahead of election

LABOR has announced two candidates for Gold Coast seats which party insiders believe it could win at the State poll.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (AAP Image/Darren England)

LABOR has announced two candidates for Gold Coast seats which party insiders believe it could win at the State poll.

Gail Hislop has been endorsed as the Labor candidate for Burleigh and Dr Judy Searle as the ALP’s candidate for Southport for the November 25 poll.

ONE NATION HAUTS GOLD COAST POLL

A Bulletin report last week highlighted that the ALP had yet to fill candidates for six of the 11 seats on the Glitter Strip.

The focus of Labor’s campaign had been on resourcing the most marginal seats of Gaven and Bonney in the north along with Currumbin in the south.

Dr Judy Searle will stand for Labor in Southport. Pic Wayne Jones

The LNP’s Rob Molhoek has a 7.8 per cent margin in Southport. Colleague Michael Hart had his margin reduced from 6.2 per cent to 5.5 per cent after the boundary changes.

“We have a fantastic team on the Gold Coast who are proven fierce

advocates for their region,” Premier Palaszczuk said.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE POLL

“This election will be particularly important for the Gold Coast who have been

suffering under wall-to-wall LNP representation, I can confidently say they are

letting the Gold Coast down.”

Ms Hislop said she was ready to hit the ground running in the campaign for Burleigh.

“I have decided to run for the seat of Burleigh as I, like many in the

community, have seen the southern Gold Coast get taken for granted by the

LNP,” she said.

RED ARMY TO DESCEND ON GOLD COAST

Ms Hislop is a human resources and industrial relations consultant having worked for the

Industrial Relations Commission, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and the Industrial Court.

Labor candidate Gail Hislop will stand in Burleigh. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

“I care for my community and believe that people are your most important

asset and need to be looked after,” she said.

“I’m committed to ensuring we have a broad range of local jobs available right here on the Coast. I am also very passionate about our environment and was part of the team

that helped deliver the World Surfing Reserve from Burleigh Heads to Kirra

and renovated the Burleigh Headland walkway.”

WHY THIS ELECTION SIGN HAD TO COME DOWN

Dr Searle said she was humbled to have been given the opportunity to

represent people in her area of Southport.