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.

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“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.

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