Wayne Swan defends ALP Burleigh candidate Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew

Wayne Swan has launched a strong defence of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s pick to be its Burleigh candidate following a two-hour closed branch meeting today. SUBSCRIBE TO READ MORE.

NATIONAL Labor Party president Wayne Swan has launched a strong defence of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s pick to be its Burleigh candidate following a two-hour closed branch meeting in the beachside suburb on Saturday.

It comes amid reports that the party’s frontrunner for preselection in Burleigh for the upcoming state election was axed to make way for Ms Palaszczuk’s pick of former surfer Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew.

It is understood Mr Batholomew would join the Right faction of the party and Saturday’s meeting was organised in an attempt to appease dissatisfied branch members.

Mr Swan joined more than 20 members at the ALP Burleigh branch meeting at Burleigh Surf Club today, which was closed to media.

The meeting was to discuss Mr Bartholomew’s candidacy.

Wayne Swan and Zac Beers, both who were at the Burleigh Surf Club meeting. Picture: Peter Wallis

The Bulletin approached numerous branch members exiting the meeting.

One said: “I think he’s a great candidate.”

However, some members were seen walking out of the two-hour meeting shaking their heads.

Another said: “I can’t believe what has gone on in there.”

Outside of the meeting, Mr Swan said he was “supportive of Rabbit more than any other candidate”.

“He’s going to be a great candidate for us in the campaign and everyone was very supportive in the meeting,” he said.

“We are now getting ready to knock over (Burleigh MP) Michael Hart.”

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Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Last Sunday, Ms Palaszczuk named Mr Bartholomew as the Labor candidate for Burleigh.

The seat has been held by the LNP’s Mr Hart since 2012 with a margin of five per cent.

Burleigh was last held by Labor’s Christine Smith from 2001 until the Newman landslide in 2012.

Ms Palaszczuk said last Sunday she was conscious the seat of Burleigh required “better representation and Rabbit had the enthusiasm to do this and serve the community”.

Wayne Bartholomew. Photo: Scott Powick.

Mr Bartholomew on Saturday said outside of the meeting it was “supportive”.

“I was able to meet a lot of branch members in a formal setting and I was able to put forward what I stand for,” he said.

“Now, I have a great team behind me and I can’t wait to hit the ground running.”