Labor stalwarts fear their party’s stance on bikie laws will cost them precious votes

GOLD Coast Labor stalwarts fear their party’s stance on bikies could harm their 2015 prospects — but don’t believe they should be written off.

23/3/12 Hells Angels bikies arrive on the Gold Coast as part of their national run. Bikies arrive at Tweed Heads.

GOLD Coast Labor stalwarts fear their party’s stance on bikies could harm their 2015 prospects — but they don’t believe they should be written off ahead of January 31.

Former Member for Burleigh Christine Smith tells people she “came in on the high tide and left it in a tsunami”.

When she rode a wave of Labor support to victory in 2001, she was the first non-conservative member to take the Burleigh electorate for more than a century.

She could not have foreseen the ruthless flood of 2012 that swept every trace of Gold Coast Labor from Parliament House.

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ALP candidate for Burleigh Christine Smith pictured at the Burleigh junior rugby league club after she conceded.

Ms Smith was this week organising volunteers for the ALP campaign.

She said her party’s announcement that they would repeal the bikie laws could hurt ALP candidates on the Gold Coast.

“I wish (Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller) had chosen different words,” she said.

“Repealing them is not quite right — but they do need a review.”

The Gold Coast has long been a conservative stronghold — but 2001 was a bumper year: Margaret Keech took Albert, Peta-Kaye Croft took Broadwater, Ms Smith took Burleigh and Peter Lawlor won Southport.

All were obliterated in 2012.

Quizzed on which seats he thought were Labor’s best chances at regaining a Gold Coast foothold, Mr Lawlor hesitates — then laughs, not wanting to offend ALP candidates he doesn’t name.

He settles on Gaven, where ex-LNP, ex-PUP, now-independent MP Alex Douglas will be challenged by Labor hopeful Michael Riordan, the LNP’s Sid Cramp and PUP’s Adam Marcinowski.

“I think we’ve got a chance in seats like Gaven — and with the issue of Wavebreak Island, I think we’ve got some chance in Southport and Broadwater — but it’s difficult.

“The Gold Coast, historically, has been very difficult for the ALP,” he said.

“It was only in 2001 there was a real breakthrough when we had the numbers where before we had none.

“It’s been hard going for the ALP and it will be hard going again.”

Labor’s stance on bikie laws could cost them dearly.

Mr Lawlor said he did not understand the city’s loyalty to conservative governments, which he said had taken the Coast for granted.

“Things like the Commonwealth Games, the light rail system, new hospital and the stadiums at Carrara and Robina, they were all built by Labor governments,” he said.

Ms Smith said the 2015 election would be won on smaller local issues rather than statewide — or even citywide — pledges.

“Becoming part of the community is really important,” she said.

“In 2012, many young people had never lived under any government except Labor, so they probably thought “let’s give the LNP a go”.

“But now you look at the unemployment rate for young people — they have no job and no prospects.”