ROLLING COVERAGE: The polls have closed on the Gold Coast after an epic day of voting
GOLD COASTERS have finished casting their votes at dozens of polling booths across the city for the Queensland election. The votes will now be tallied to decide the fate of the Gold Coast’s 10 seats.
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Follow the Queensland Election 2015 all day with our rolling coverage.
Our team of reporters will be out and about all day on the Gold Coast as Queensland votes, keeping you up-to-date with everything happening at the polling booths.
Scroll down for all the updates.
UPDATE 4PM: A wild storm has caused chaos at a major Hinterland booth causing voters to flee for cover and run to their cars.
Several volunteers from each party were struggling to clean up the carnage after the electric storm tore through Pacific Pines State School.
LNP and Labor booths were completely flattened but volunteers are trying to maintain order until the polls close at 6pm.
More to come soon.
UPDATE 3.35PM: Booth volunteers from all parties outnumbered voters in Southport this afternoon as a severe thunderstorm approached. A large number of people voted early to avoid the heat according to volunteers. The polls will still be open until 6pm across the city for those few forced to brave the torrential weather.
UPDATE 2.10PM: Gold Coast voters hungry for a traditional election day snag have been left with empty bellies after several polling booth organisers failed to host a sausage sizzle.
The citywide sausage fizzle enraged local voters who have labelled the lack of meat “un-Australian”.
Labrador voter James Lenton, 54, said he was disappointed to discover there were no barbecues at Labrador State School.
“It is a bit un-Australian isn’t it,” he said.
“Not even a single sausage around.
“Normally the whole place smells like barbecues but today there is nothing.”
A Bulletin investigation found more than a dozen polling booths had failed to host a barbecue for voters.
Reporters have so far only found three locations across the city which offer voters sausages.
UPDATE 1.20PM:
Voting continues out in the safe LNP seat of Mudgeeraba where incumbent Ros Bates is set to be returned. Despite having an unbeatable margin of 25.9 per cent, Ms Bates said she had been out in force since early this morning.
“It has been busy in the booths this morning and the response has been
positive for me,” she said.
“It has been really busy so far and everyone has just had their heads down.
“We had a lot of people out early voting to try and avoid the heat.”
Ms Bates has held the seat since 2009 and is facing Labor’s Georgi Leader.
Despite the tough campaign, Ms Bates said relations had been civil
between political rivals
“We have had no reports of incidents at the booths so everyone is
working side by side,” she said.
UPDATE 1PM: Save Our Broadwater members have lashed out at LNP candidates for failing to act on the Broadwater Marine Project sooner.
SOB spokesman Mark Barlow accused Broadwater incumbent Verity Barton of trying to gather last minute votes by objecting to the proposal.
“She says she opposes it because of its location but she has never said yes or no to the project,” he said.
“She had the opportunity to formally object in parliament and she didn't do anything.
“I urge everyone in the area who is against the cruise ship terminal to vote for Labor and put the LNP last.”
Earlier today Ms Barton said voters would reward her stance against the proposed broadwater development.
UPDATE 10.40am: Broadwater incumbent Verity Barton was tight-lipped about her run in with the law as she cast her vote at Labrador State School this morning.
The LNP candidate said she police had not finalised the investigation into her unlicensed driving offences but refused to detail at what stage the inquiries were at.
“I have been so focused on the campaign that I would not be able to tell you where it’s (the investigation) is at,” Ms Barton said.
“I haven’t followed it up to find out because I have been so focused on the election.
“I haven’t heard from them (the police).”
Ms Barton said she was confident she would retain her seat after receiving support for her stance on development in the broadwater.
“I am opposed to the proposed development at the broadwater because I do not think it is in the right place,” she said.
“People also want strong choices and plans to benefit health and education which the LNP government can deliver.”
UPDATE 10am: Southport LNP incumbent Rob Molhoek has cast his vote at Labrador State School with the support of his son David.
Mr Molhoek said he was not bothered about reports of a large swing towards Labor.
“It has been an epic few weeks and I’ve seen more people than ever come through the booths,” he said.
“I can only worry about my seat. I can’t campaign for Michael (Hart) or Verity (Barton) because I’ve just put my head down for my electorate.”
Mr Molhoek said he thought Campbell Newman would retain the seat of Ashgrove.
“I think Campbell will hold his seat because I don’t think the people of Ashgrove are that stupid.
“I think if Campbell loses we all lose.”
A WINDING line of voters has spilt on to the streets from Broadbeach State School as Gold Coasters rush to have their say.
Just 15 minutes after the polls opened at Mermaid Beach around 50 residents were patiently waiting to cast their ballot.
Greens voter Jeremy Peres and his LNP voting partner Brhi Stokes were among the first people in the state to have their say.
“I’m voting Liberal because I have a family history with them,” Ms Stokes said.
“No party really stands out to me this election but they are the lesser of two evils I guess.”
Mr Peres said he supported the Greens party but admitted he hadn’t been following the campaigns closely.
“I vote for the Greens but really I’m pretty uninformed this time around.
“The Greens are always good though.”
The pair lined up for nearly 20 minutes to vote in the Mermaid Beach electorate.
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