QLD Election 2020: Gaven debate sees sparks fly between Meaghan Scanlon, Kirsten Jackson about hoons and M1 upgrades

The election may be over but the fun never stops when it comes to landing the key seats on the Gold Coast. RELIVE HOW THE DEBATE PLAYED OUT

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THE state election may be over but the fun never stops when it comes to landing the key seats on the Gold Coast.

Before going to battle in the marginal seat of Gaven, ultimately held again by Meaghan Scanlon, Scanlon and LNP MP Kirsten Jackson were asked to make their election pitches in the lead-up to the October 31 poll during a debate the Bulletin’s website.

Ultimately Scanlon, Queensland’s youngest female politician, not only secured her marginal seat but set the foundations for Labor to assume control of city’s north.

HERE’S HOW THE DEBATE PLAYED OUT IN OCTOBER

HOONING is the biggest issue and the policies of each of the major parties on crime will determine the outcome of the Gold Coast’s marginal seat, a Sky News forum debate has been told.

Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon and LNP MP Kirsten Jackson were asked to make their election pitches in the lead-up to the October 31 poll.

Kirsten Jackson and Meaghan Scanlon.

Ms Jackson told moderator Peter Gleeson from Sky News that one of the major reasons she was running for office was community safety.

“I have doorknocked 8500 homes personally in Gaven. And the number one issue is hooning,” Ms Jackson said.

“People want to go to bed at night and sleep peacefully without hearing people racing around their streets all night, every night. They want to know their kids aren’t going to get hit when they play out in the street. And they want to know when these people are caught something is going to happen to them.”

The Central Chamber of Commerce 2020 election candidates breakfast at the Gold Coast Convention Centre — Kirsten Jackson (LNP). Picture Glenn Hampson.

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Ms Scanlon when asked about LNP leader Deb Frecklington’s proposed curfew on teenagers said she only supported “evidence based measures”.

“What I do support is investing in frontline services which exactly what our government is doing. We have committed to 2000 additional police personnel across Queensland. That’s the largest investment in police in the past 30 years,” Ms Scanlon said.

“That’s in stark contrast to Deb Frecklington and the LNP’s track record which was axing 300 police personnel positions including 100 senior police positions in Queensland. My dad was a Gold Coast police officer. So I have an incredible amount of respect for police officers.”

Ms Scanlon accused the LNP of having $26 billion unfunded election promises.

Sparks flew between the pair when the M1 upgrades were debated.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey at a press conference about the start of the Exit 41 upgrade at Yatala, part of more than $2.3 billion in M1 upgrades underway. (L to R) Meaghan Scanlon member for Gaven, Mark Bailey, Mel McMahon member Macalister, and Chris Johnson candidate for Coomera. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

Ms Jackson referred to the Labor party’s plan as a “unicorn”.

Meaghan Scanlon cut in, telling her opponent: “Have you been on the M1? There’s literally work happening right now, we’ve started and finished the first stage and there’s a second one underway.

“It was the Newman Government which didn’t add a single dollar to the M1 so it’s a bit rich for the LNP to be lecturing us when it comes to infrastructure.

“Talk to any business leader, they know it’s Labor governments that have delivered infrastructure for the Gold Coast, whether it’s the light rail, M1 upgrades, or transport services.”