Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew: Celebrity election candidate divides Bulletin readers over light rail

Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew is the Gold Coast’s celeb candidate - but it’s his position on the light rail which has divided Bulletin readers.

HIGH profile election candidate Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew has divided Bulletin readers after declaring his support for the light rail extension.

The three-time surfing world champion has been recruited by Labor to take on third-term LNP incumbent Michael Hart in the technically marginal seat of Burleigh at October’s state election.

But it’s his position on the light rail - rather than his Coast celebrity status - which has sparked fierce debate among Gold Coast Bulletin readers.

Mr Bartholomew supported community consultation on Stage 4 of the tram, as well as supporting small businesses.

Some on social media have declared his stance “the end of his political career”.

“Very disappointed,” wrote Facebook user Sharon Kelly.

“I thought Rabbit would do the right thing for environmental reasons but he doesn’t care what people think either by the look of it.”

Ronnie Wilson wrote: “So now we have come to using local identities. Why not Mick Fanning, he would do just as good a job.

“And maybe get the stupid light rail proposal moved somewhere else. We don’t need it in Burleigh, we certainly don’t need it to cross and stuff up the beautiful (Tallebudgera) bridge.”

But others have praised his “good intentions” for the electorate.

Allan Laws wrote: “Hopefully Rabbit will do good things for the area.

“Extending the light rail creates jobs for Queenslanders and the Premier cares for Queensland and the people.

“That’s why I know Rabbit will do a good job for the Burleigh Heads area.”

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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew and Steven Miles. Picture: Scott Powick

The first shots of the Gold Coast election campaign were fired when Ms Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Steven Miles made the announcement, praising the “legend of the Gold Coast”.

“We are conscious that the seat of Burleigh needs better representation and I know Rabbit has the absolute enthusiasm to do this and serve the community,” the Premier said.

“I have known Rabbit for many, many years … I know he has delivered a lot for this area and can deliver more if he is elected as the Labor member for Burleigh.”

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Michael Hart pictured on June 8 in front of a billboard calling for borders to be reopened. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mr Miles took aim at Mr Hart’s record, saying the LNP had “taken the Gold Coast for granted”.

“The only thing Michael has done is that giant billboard calling for the borders to be opened and imagine if we had done that - we would not have another zero (COVID cases) day if we had listened to him and Deb Frecklington.

Run Rabbit run. Picture: Scott Powick.

“Rabbit has already done more for the Gold Coast than Michael Hart has in however many years he has been the member down here.”

Mr Hart, who was first elected in 2012, welcomed Mr Bartholemew to the race.

“I respect everyone who has a go at politics,” he said.

“The real issue is how we recover from the COVID crisis and the economic damage it has done.

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“Having a plan for the future is more important than who runs.”

Mr Bartholemew said he decided to contest the seat after meeting with Ms Palaszczuk in February at the Global Wave Conference.

Talks continued throughout the first half of the year before the surf champion was selected in late July, something he had to keep secret and did not even share with his wife.

The political debutant named his major priorities as supporting and simulating small business affected by COVID-19 and supporting the extension of the light rail.

The Burleigh Heads light rail station.

He said Mayor Tom Tate’s controversial proposal to take the tram into Palm Beach and west on Nineteenth Avenue “wouldn’t fly” and supported community consultation on Stage 4.

“The light rail is a big issue and I am here to listen to the community,” he said.

“(This campaign) is about getting small business back on its feet along this whole strip.

“It is about striking that balance between being Australia’s tourism capital and local business.

“When I was a kid there was no local business, no local jobs and people of my generation mourn the loss of 1970.

“It was a beautiful time back then but a lot of people have moved here and the secret is out - this is the best place in Australia so we have to adapt as we go.”

The election will be held in October. Picture: Scott Powick

Burleigh was last held by Labor’s Christine Smith from 2001 until the Newman landslide in 2012.

At the 2017 election, Mr Hart defeated serial candidate Gail Hislop by more than 4000 votes.

But Griffith University political expert Professor Paul Williams said Burleigh was now in play.

“Burleigh ordinarily shouldn’t have been on Labor’s radar but given the COVID situation and Deb Frecklington’s poor ratings, I think Labor will perform better than expectations,” he said.

“This election will hinge on two paradigms – the leadership issue and the economic one.

“Unless they have deep roots in the community, celebrity often does not count for much. It is the deep roots which count”.