Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens blames asset sales for Newman Government’s likely loss

MP Ray Stevens says the loss of close friend Campbell Newman is “devastating” as the future of his controversial cableway project hangs in the balance.

RETURNED Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens says the loss of his close friend, outgoing premier Campbell Newman has left him “devastated” as the future of his cableway project hangs in the balance.

The senior LNP MP, who became a statewide election celebrity after being videoed performing a chicken dance at a polling booth was re-elected to his safe blue ribbon seat despite suffering a 12.9 per cent swing to Labor.

Throughout the campaign and into election day, Mr Stevens declined to discuss his involvement in Gold Coast Skyride and said on Saturday night it did not play a role in the swing against the LNP.

LABOR CONCEDES IN NORTHERN GOLD COAST ELECTORATE OF ALBERT

LNP candidate Ray Stevens of Mermaid Beach with supporters at his post election party office in Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast. Picture: Regi Varghese

Instead he blamed a campaign against the Newman government’s planned asset sales.

“It has been a difficult campaign with some of the negligent media coverage however I believe there are 10 LNP members here on the Gold Coast,” he said.

“My feedback was that the asset sales were the main issue people dealt with right across the board.

“It resonated well with the public and took great effect in the north and this means a lot of good people have lost their jobs.”

Mr Stevens yesterday went to ground and declined to appear together with his fellow returned LNP members.

There is now speculation an incoming Labor government could release an integrity commissioner’s report into the project which Mr Stevens says backs his position.

Mr Newman, who was defeated in his own Brisbane seat of Ashgrove, has been a longtime supporter of Mr Stevens and defended his participation in the Skyride project despite being a sitting MP.

MP Ray Stevens has a meltdown when a reporter tries to interview him.

The former Gold Coast mayor last night paid tribute to Mr Newman.

“I am absolutely shattered that Campbell has lost his seat because I was close enough to see what a wonderful, dedicated politician he was,” he said.

“The energy, time and enthusiasm he put into the job was absolutely the best I have ever seen and for him to lose his job has shattered me and I believe the Australian public have lost a great politician.

“It is hard enough to get people of quality into politics and he was a great doer and now we have lost him to politics, probably forever, and that is a tragedy.’’

Mr Stevens said he had “no clue” about the future of the party’s leadership.

‘The dust has not even settled on who is alive and who is gone,” he said.

Mr Stevens was first elected to parliament in 2006 and was Leader of the House and an assistant minister in the Newman government.

His Labor opponent, Gary Pead, polled 5811 votes to Mr Stevens’ 12,050.