ALP breathing down LNP’s neck in Gold Coast seat of Burleigh as election countdown starts
Candidates are predicting a tight battle for the Gold Coast seat of Burleigh with both Labor and the LNP expecting a swing towards the opposition.
QLD Votes
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A LOT has changed in three years according to Burleigh candidates, with predictions of a close contest between the major parties at this Queensland election.
Christine Smith lost the seat in 2012 after 11 years as Burleigh MP when an LNP swing swept across the state.
Yesterday an upbeat Ms Smith said voters had a different outlook this election.
“I think there will be a swing back this time,” said Ms Smith, who has been volunteering outside the Burleigh pre-polling centre since it opened last Monday. “Things have a different feel.”
Ms Smith was unwilling to go as far as predicting a win for the party’s current candidate Gail Hislop, given the 11 per cent margin the LNP holds the seat by.
Ms Hislop, who owns a home in Runaway Bay, has temporarily moved to Burleigh Heads in the hope of convincing more locals to back her.
“I’ve done more standing up for Burleigh than the sitting member,” Ms Hislop said.
“I’m in Burleigh Heads and I’m living there full-time.
“I like it down here.
“And if elected I will absolutely be in Burleigh.”
Support for the World Surfing Reserve is one of Ms Hislop’s selling points with Burleigh voters.
This is since the LNP failed to get behind the surfing community’s proposal that would offer protection for the beaches.
First-term LNP MP Michael Hart was the first to admit he might have lost some ground to the ALP since the last election.
“I think it will be tight,” he said.
“But I am encouraged by the reaction of voters.
“I am getting a lot of pats on the backs at the pre-polling booth.”
Local issues might not play as big a part in the result at Burleigh as other Gold Coast seats according to Mr Hart, who said few voters were raising subjects like the Reedy Creek quarry.
“I am getting a few questions about asset leasing,” Mr Hart said.
“But there is not a lot of discussion about anything else.”
For Burleigh Heads waitress Tenetia Anderson there are two big issues going into this election campaign — parking and a need to help the local tourism industry.
The Fish Monger employee said she had been slugged with $400 worth of fines since working in the area.
“What we need is for someone to build a staff carpark for the businesses here to free up space for more shoppers,” she said.
“I have to park a fair bit away from the store and when I’m working nights it isn’t really safe walking by myself.
“It is a great area but we could make it even better.”
The 19-year-old, who is voting at her first state election this Saturday, said she would also like to see candidates bring more tourism into the area.
“Surfers Paradise gets smashed with tourism but I think Burleigh is way better for families so I’d like to see more of a focus here,” she said.
“There are always a few drunk people around so it would be good to see more police to deal with the popularity of the area.
“It is no worse than any suburb but I wouldn’t want to see it get out of hand.”
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