Leon Rebello: LNP McPherson candidate launches campaign for 2025 election
The LNP is pulling out all the stops to maintain its hold on the safe southern Gold Coast seat of McPherson, making millions of dollars worth of funding commitments as the federal election edges closer. FIND OUT MORE
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The LNP is pulling out all the stops to maintain its hold on the safe southern Gold Coast seat of McPherson as the federal election edges closer.
The Opposition has already splashed out nearly $7m in funding commitments in the seat in the past month, which retiring LNP MP Karen Andrews holds with a 9.3 per cent margin, in the hopes of electing new candidate Leon Rebello.
Mr Rebello, who launched his campaign on Sunday afternoon, is facing a challenge from both Labor and world record-holding marathon runner turned independent Erchana Murray-Bartlett.
However Mr Rebello told the party faithful that he was feeling confident ahead of the campaign’s official beginning.
“I think people are excited (because) we’re seeing generational change on the Gold Coast, and there’s a lot of opportunities to be part of a team that can deliver for the southern Gold Coast in particular,” he said.
“If you have a look at my record, even just as the candidate for McPherson, I stopped my job in May last year and I’ve been out, committed to the community.
“I’m from the community, McPherson’s my home.
“I’ve got the work ethic, the vigour and the support of teams around me as well but most importantly, I can be part of a broader LNP team that can actually deliver real results for the southern Gold Coast … for the issues that people are actually talking to me about every day.”
The LNP on Sunday committed $550,000 to install synthetic turf on the soccer fields at Robina Common.
The new turf will allow the fields – which are frequently left unusable because of flooding – to continue being used rain or shine.
“The funding announcement today is going to be game changing for the Robina City Football Club, which I’ve come to know quite well,” Mr Rebello said.
“When they’ve got bad weather, it’s very difficult for a lot of these games to go ahead [and] we are doing our part as the federal team, so it’ll be a cross-level of government effort I hope, to ensure that those kids can do what they do best and play.”
The campaign launch, held at Currumbin RSL, was attended by MPs Cameron Caldwell and Angie Bell, as well as former premier Rob Borbidge.
It comes just weeks after the Opposition also committed $6m to funding the creation of a new research and training centre at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.
The project also received a funding commitment from the state LNP ahead of the 2024 state election.
The project, which will cost $14.35m, is tipped to create 41 jobs and annually inject $6.7m into the economy.
“The Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Research and Education Campus will be an invaluable asset for our southern Gold Coast community, creating local jobs and benefiting the environment, tourism, and education sectors,” Mr Rebello said in January.
“Last year, the hospital had its busiest year ever. I know through my conversations with our community how important it was for Currumbin to get this funding. I am thrilled that, if a Dutton LNP Government is elected, this project will be delivered.”
Labor is yet to preselect a candidate in McPherson.
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