Paul Weston: Why so many Gold Coast MPs wear board shorts

A Gold Coast MP is retiring. The vacancy opens up the gender debate and need for MPs in board shorts.

A POLITICAL cyclone is headed towards the Gold Coast. Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey admits she does not care if a woman or bloke replaces her. The spotlight turns to gender.

Labor’s strategy for the state poll next October has been about retaining its only Coast MP, Meaghan Scanlon in the marginal northern seat of Gaven.

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Back in the day — Ray Stevens, Jann Stuckey and John-Paul Langbroek after an election win.

The State Budget focused on Pacific Motorway funding and building schools in the north. This week a new cop shop was announced at Pimpama.

But the focus, as LNP pre-selection starts on the Coast, will suddenly turn to Currumbin.

Financial planner and young mum Georgie Leader was the only other ALP Coast candidate to get serious resources in the last poll.

The southern seat will always be in play. The Green vote is growing and above 10 per cent, with preferences going to Labor.

Ms Stuckey announced her retirement in June. Since then she has been at RSL and surf clubs introducing lawyer Chris Crawford.

“Everyone is saying he’s become Jann’s handbag,” a clubbie says.

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Georgi Leader speaking at a Labor Community Cabinet Meeting at Currumbin RSL. Photo by Richard Gosling.

Labor operatives have done their homework. In 2009, Mr Crawford wrote a Bond University paper about Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s record on civil rights.

The most controversial moment during the protest years was the then Premier declaring a state of emergency so the South African rugby team could play at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground.

“Although the chosen method was unusual, it is hard to see why the Queensland Government should not have taken prompt action,” Mr Crawford wrote.

He also backed Sir Joh’s gerrymander. “In fact, Queensland’s electoral scheme was a lot fairer than the government’s opponents maintained,” he wrote.

A Labor insider who read the report and regards Mr Crawford as a National Party supporter, says: “Is that how you still have to act as a conservative on the Gold Coast to be preselected.”

In the Federal Parliament, 47 per cent of Labor’s representatives are women, compared to 23 per cent for the LNP. In Queensland, six of 39 state LNP MPs are females.

Leader Deb Frecklington promises to be an outstanding fresh shining light on the campaign trail, and unlike Tim Nicholls does not have the ghost of Campbell Newman on her shoulder. But her weak point, like Labor with crime statistics, is being accused of leading a boys’ club.

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LNP leader Deb Frecklington — offers a fresh start for the party on the campaign trail. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Back to Ms Stuckey, and a telephone call to get her response to Labor’s claims.

“Ha, ha, ha — tell them to get their nose out of my business,” she replies.

“They’re going to put one (Ms Leader) in who doesn’t live here and who does nothing since the last election except attend one or two breakfasts. Why don’t just they look after their own business and leave us to ours?”

But is Mr Crawford her preferred successor? “I don’t have those conversations with anyone,” she replies.

Ms Stuckey adds that her only preference is for a candidate to be nominated early in the campaign. “I’m very aware of my longevity here, and yeah I want to see somebody – whether they wear a skirt or not doesn’t bother me.

“What I’m concerned about is we find someone who is genuinely engaged with our community and sporting groups. That’s what matters to me. This gender thing has just run its day as far as I’m concerned.”

Whoever wins LNP pre-selection, put on your big shorts. Preferably boardies, because Labor believes it can win the battle for the southern beaches.