The candidates' breakfast is now coming to a close.
Final statements will be made shortly after a raffle prize is drawn for attendees.
MP Stuart Robert warns against mandate, border frustrations as Gold Coast Federal Election candidates 2022 breakfast at The Star
Gold Coast voters have been warned not to take their frustrations over border closures and vaccine mandates with them to the ballot box next month. WATCH THE REPLAY
Gold Coast voters have been warned not to take their frustrations over border closures and vaccine mandates with them to the ballot box next month.
Candidates were given their first swing at discussing the major issues facing the city, including cost of living and tourism recovery, in front of state government officials, local councillors and industry leaders at a panel session hosted by the Gold Coast Bulletin and the Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce.
But constant references to border closures and vaccine mandates instituted during the country’s Covid-19 pandemic prompted Fadden MP Stuart Robert to issue a stern warning to both his opponents and the listening audience.
“Let’s start with the facts, and these facts are not in contention whether you find them convenient or not,” he said.
“The federal government did not mandate anything. Fact.
“The state government did the mandates.
“In terms of nursing and other staff who can’t work because they’re not vaccinated, that is a mandate of the state government.
“I understand people have got frustrations that they think the federal government didn’t do enough to somehow bludgeon the state government to open state borders or to remove mandates.
“But when it comes to mandates let’s be very clear. They are not from the federal government. If you have a truck, have it with the state Labor government.”
But for Mr Robert and the federal government it became abundantly clear that the minor parties were prepared to focus on this issue ahead of our day at the polls on May 21.
Candidates from the United Australia Party, the Informed Medical Options Party and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation cited vaccine mandates and “democratic freedom” as being their major concerns.
The state government repeatedly closed the Queensland border to interstate travellers over the last two years of the pandemic, most recently for almost six months in 2021.
The border officially reopened to vaccinated travellers on December 13.
Vaccination and check-in requirements, also put in place by the state governments, lifted on April 14.
Under Queensland government restrictions unvaccinated people are still barred from high-risk settings including hospitals, aged and disability care and prisons, with some exceptions.
United Australia Party candidate Joshua Berrigan said: “The first thing we will do when elected is introduce a bill of rights.
“We need to introduce our rights and freedoms.
“We shouldn’t be turning away customers, you shouldn’t be forced to police who you can and can’t let into your business.”
Candidates from Fadden, Moncrieff and McPherson also attended the event at the Star Casino.
The hot issue for the southern seat of McPherson was the transport corridor and light rail, another largely state government issue.
Multiple candidates told the crowd light rail Stage 4 needs to be “done better”.
Australian Values Party McPherson candidate Andy Cullen said he supported the project but it “needed to be fixed”.
“Public transport on the Gold Coast has been lacking for quite some time,” he said.
“I don’t have the insight on the planning but it’s certainly something that I support.”
Representatives from the Central, North and Southern chambers were all in attendance.
Australians will head to the polls for the 2022 federal election on May 21. Prepoll voting will begin three weeks earlier on May 9.
Follow our live coverage below.
brianna.morris-grant@news.com.au
Updates
Event closing
Audience Q&A
Stuart Robert has been asked by a member of the audience.
"Thousands of workers have been mandated out of the workforce. There's a lot of talk about bringing in students from overseas. Why are we not employing Australian workers?"
Mr Robert has told the audience the government "did not mandate anything".
"The state government did the mandating," he said.
"In terms of nursing and other staff who can't work, that is a mandate of the state government.
"I understand people have frustrations that the federal government didn't do enough to bludgeon state governments into opening borders and dropping mandates.
"What you saw as a national effort to see Australia come through Covid stronger than any other nation in the world.
"If you have a truck, have that with the state Labor government."
Fadden candidates' "elevator pitch"
Fadden candidates have given their "elevator pitch" for voters.
Labor's Letitia del Fabbro: "The inflation rate has not been this high since the GST was implemented.
"I'm a local mum, this is my first tilt at politics.
"I love my community and I want to be solid representation for them who doesn't go missing in action."
UAP's Nathan O'Brien: "Covid hasn't rendered Australia to its knees, our incumbent government has.
"Now I look at my two kids and a few years ago they were concerned to step outside their house and they shouldn't be."
One Nation's Sandy Roach: "I'm a mum (and) I've been living on the Gold Coast for years.
"I got quite upset last year when I had two children living in Sydney and the borders were shut so I couldn't visit them."
LNP MP Stuart Robert: "I'm a husband, father of three sons who live on the Gold Coast, the minister of a government that has done as good a job as possible.
"Have we made mistakes, of course we have.
"Importantly I stand up for the Gold Coast.
"As part of team Gold Coast we will continue to deliver for the GC."
The Greens' Sally Spain: "The Greens is a science-based and rational party.
"The science is clear. The Greens have policies to address this urgent issue of climate change.
"It was very handy for the federal government to close the national borders and eschew the closing of state borders."
How to fix 'untenable' cost of living
Candidates have been asked how they will improve an "untenable" cost of living, if it is possible to do anything at all.
Labor's Letitia del Fabbro said people have been "overwhelmingly" concerned about cost of living during her campaign trail.
"Labor has a plan to address these issues by making it cheaper to go see your doctor, making childcare more affordable," she said.
"Covid aside, the number of trainees that have completed their training has gone down by 40 per cent. We need that kicking up again."
UAP's Nathan O'Brien said: "There's a lot of policies we can affect some change with once we deal with inflation."
One Nation's Sandy Roach has told the audience the cost of rentals and homes has left "average mums and dads" unable to find somewhere to live.
"One Nation has said they want to stop overseas purchasing of our homes which is causing the increase," she said, adding the party has a "scheme for apprenticeships" in construction and hospitality.
LNP MP Stu Robert has taken a hit at Ms Roach.
"Respectfully motherhood statements (don't help) statement of fact."
He has listed a number of inflation issues across the world caused by conflict which are increasing cost of living.
"None of these are a surprise," he said.
Greens' Sally Spain said: "Not much trickling down is happening, and it's happening less and less.
"I have seen small businesses, the backbone of our nation, hard pressed.
"Small businesses today have even more to face as does the general population.
"How shocking that young Australians cannot afford to be housed."
What's the next step for the GC?
Candidates have been asked to state the "next step to boost the Gold Coast's economy".
Labor candidate Letitia del Fabbro said: "We really need to address these issues to help constituents on the Gold Coast.
"One of the things Labor's doing is moving into trading, offering fee-free TAFE placements to increase staff," she said.
UAP's Nathan O'Brien has told the crowd the debt levels are "the storm on the horizon".
"One of our key policies is we want to see all HECS debt forgiven," he said.
"The backbone of small businesses is off our own personal home loans and our expense."
One Nation's Sandy Roach has told the audience she "doesn't understand a lot of the politics that are going on".
"Normal people have got a huge amount of mortgage over their head and if interest rates go up it could be catastrophic for normal mums and dads," she said.
Current LNP MP Stuart Robert has called for a move beyond "just construction and tourism" to supercharge events and education.
"Wouldn't it be great to see that supercharge in the Broadwater and see it turned into a world class boating (area)?"
He has been asked to clarify on the need for more working Visas.
"18 per cent of all hospitality workers are Visa holders," he said.
"The Visa machine is cranked up, there is unlimited options for Visa holders from 90 countries."
The Greens' Sally Spain has accused the government of "playing Monopoly".
"If you look carefully at our platforms they have been consistent for many years."
Forde candidates take to stage
DEL FABBRO Letitia Australian Labor Party
O'BRIEN Nathan Grant United Australia Party
ROACH Sandy Pauline Hanson's One Nation
ROBERT Stuart Liberal National Party of Queensland
SPAIN Sally Queensland Greens
An audience member has asked what "minor parties" can do to help the city at a federal level that "has seemingly totally abandoned them".
LibDems' Dianne Demetre said: "We're running in various seats and our platform is on lower taxes, individual responsibility.
"Because we are a minor party (we don't) have a toe a party line, we don't waste time on party politics.
"As cross benchers we will be able to advocate and agitate for you better than anybody else."
Moncrieff candidates "elevator pitch"
Current MP Angie Bell has said she had "pulled together" industry leaders across the Gold Coast to form the "City Heart taskforce" during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have to make sure we diversify our city," she said.
One Nation's Leanne Schultz: "I am very passionate about manufacturing because as a 15yo I watched our industry get sold out to China.
"Now not only are they selling off our industries they're selling our land."
She has accused China of "moving in" on Australia to take over resources.
The Greens' April Broadbent has said rents are "skyrocketing out of control".
"We will build 1m homes across Australia, they will be affordable and sustainable," she said.
"That means thousands of construction jobs.
"We could be the front of a new face of manufacturing on the Gold Coast."
She added the party will fight for "practical benefits" on the cross bench.
LibDems' candidate Dianne Demetre said: "This election is a choice for more than jus the two major parties.
"It's a chance to strengthen democracy and secure our sovereignty."
IMOP's Timothy Cudmore said: "We believe you have the right to all information."
He has accused event organisers of "hiding" him from the event information.
Bulletin editor Ryan Keen has clarified Mr Cudmore did not respond to requests to attend as a candidate and only privately purchased a ticket.
Informed Medical Options party candidate Timothy Cudmore has claimed small businesses are being taken over by "American businesses".
Labor's Glenn Pyne has apologised to the audience and left the stage, citing health concerns.
Previous to this Mr Pyne had struggled to maintain his train of thought and repeatedly trailed off mid-sentence.
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