Queensland state election 2024: Sam O’Connor and Meaghan Scanlon debate development and infrastructure
The Gold Coast’s state political young guns have crossed swords over key issues of infrastructure and housing in the city’s far north. SEE THE VIDEO
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The Gold Coast’s state political young guns have crossed swords over key issues of infrastructure and housing in the city’s far north.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor and Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon went head-to-head at Thursday’s Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce candidate’s debate.
They clashed on multiple policy areas, including Minister Scanlon’s intervention into progressing a rejected Arundel Hills Country Club development highlighting their differences on providing affordable housing.
Mr O’Connor criticised the Labor government for cost blowouts and delays on major projects, while Ms Scanlon pointed to the former LNP Newman government’s scarce infrastructure legacy and the LNP’s changing position on projects.
Ms Scanlon said she would “stand by my track record any day of the week”.
Mr O’Connor took aim at Labor’s handling of the $1.2bn first stage of the Coomera Connector, claiming the project would have already been completed had the LNP been elected in 2017.
“We’d be driving on it by now,” he said.
He also criticised Labor for pitching the project as six-lanes, while instead delivering a road which will have large sections which are only four-lanes.
Ms Scanlon hit back, pointing to the LNP’s 2014 decision, while in power, to dump the project.
“That’s the track record for the LNP, I’ve been a member for two terms and deliver funding for the second M1, one of the biggest road projects in the state’s history,” she said.
“There are sections of that road that are six lanes, it was the LNP which went to that election with four lanes, so if you’ve suddenly changed your mind you should have gone to that election with a different platform.
“I’ll stand by my track record any day of the week compared to the LNP. Even John-Paul Langbroek admitted you effectively did nothing, so why on Earth would anyone vote for you?”
Mr O’Connor defended the LNP, insisting it “had a plan”.
“We are putting forward a plan in every electorate of this city and across the state more broadly,” he said.
“If we are successful we will have a premier who is a Gold Coast MP but a number of us sitting around the Cabinet table.”
Ms Scanlon defended her use of Ministerial powers to approve both the Arundel project and a $1.2bn Robina housing development and questioned how the LNP would solve the city’s housing shortage.
Mr O’Connor talked up how the Opposition would take pressure off the city's housing supply if elected.
“While the Minister has been obsessed with this one sporting and recreation site across the city and wanting to go to war with the council, they have had some very sensible amendments to the City Plan sitting on the table waiting approval,” he said.
“That’s the way you do it, not by obsessing over one particular site and one particular area.
“We have to put forward bigger picture policies,” Mr O’Connor.
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