Gold Coast electorates Burleigh, Broadwater and Albert looming as election battleground for LNP

BURLEIGH, Broadwater and Albert loom as the battleground Gold Coast electorates for the January 31 poll.

Michael Hart

BURLEIGH, Broadwater and Albert loom as the battleground Gold Coast electorates as the LNP faces a statewide swing against them for the January 31 poll.

The city’s 10 sitting MPs coasted to victory in the LNP landslide of 2012 but recent statewide polling indicates government members cannot count on a similar sweep this year.

Two of the city’s most contentious projects lie in the risky seats — the integrated resort project in Broadwater and the Boral quarry proposal in Burleigh.

Political expert Paul Williams, from Griffith University, said a swing of between 8 and 11 per cent away from the LNP was expected — enough to see Broadwater and Burleigh fall.

And Albert — which is held with 12 per cent — but had a long history as an ALP seat, could be lost to the party as well.

Burleigh MP Michael Hart, who snagged 51.18 per cent of the vote last election, said key issues in his electorate were the cost of living, and ensuring criminal gangs were not allowed to regain a foothold.

“We’ve already got our campaign signs out on the road and I’ve been out there waving,” he said.

Gail Hislop is set to run for Labor in Burleigh against Mr Hart.

“I’ve been working very hard on Burleigh for the past three years and I hope the people of Burleigh can see how hard I’ve been working.

“People feel safer in the streets now than they ever did.”

Mr Hart faces dogged competition in ALP candidate Gail Hislop, who began her run for the southern Coast seat last year.

“There are so many issues — one of them is the (proposed Boral) quarry,” she said.

“The community is angry — Michael Hart signed a pledge to say he’d stop the quarry and he hasn’t done anything.

“I’d say I’m in the fight of my life, but I’m in with a chance (at being elected).”

Dr Williams said Broadwater MP Verity Barton had failed to make an impression in her first term as a politician and northern Gold Coast voters that backed her last time might not be willing to do so again.

“Her colleagues have a lack of confidence in her,” he said.

LNP Member for Broadwater Verity Barton has failed to make an impression in her first term according to Political expert Dr Paul Williams.

Ms Barton did not return the Bulletin’s calls yesterday.

Dr Williams said he expected the swing that was seen against the ALP in Albert — to Mark Boothman of the LNP — last election to go the other way this time.

“Albert has had a long ALP heritage,” he said.

“It could be vulnerable.”

With 49.59 per cent of the vote in 2012, Mr Boothman polled lower than any of his LNP Gold Coast counterparts.

“It was always going to be a tough campaign, but when it comes down to it, we have delivered a lot for our electorate,” he said from the roadside where he was waving a campaign placard.

The John Muntz Bridge is in place now — that was a good little win for us”

Mr Boothman faces police sergeant and former army officer Melissa McMahon of the ALP, who took leave from the police service academy where she works yesterday.

“We were prepared for a bit of a marathon, but I’m a bit of a sprinter myself,” she said of the short campaign period.

“I think (my chances) are pretty good — I get a feel from the people on the ground — the people who will put their hand on their heart and say they’re happy with the Newman Government are few and far between.”

Member for Albert Mark Boothman polled lower than any of his LNP Gold Coast counterparts in 2012.

Ms McMahon lives at Shailer Park with her two young children and husband Leigh — a current recruit at the police academy who is due to graduate in April.

While the PUP only has four candidates announced so far on the Gold Coast, party leader Clive Palmer indicated yesterday he could roll out several more before the cut off date.

“Gold Coast will have a full team of candidates ...,” he said, after explaining the party intended to run about 50 state wide.

Surfers Paradise MP John Paul Langbroek fancies himself as the next leader of the conservative party, according to political sources who said he would have competition from Transport Minister Scott Emerson and Health Minister Lawrence Springborg in a leadership battle if Premier Campbell Newman lost his seat.

An expected 10 per cent swing against the LNP in Surfers might not boost his leadership ambitions.