LNP’s Angie Bell preselected for Moncrieff

Marketing expert beats favoured candidate to win LNP spot in ultra-safe Queensland seat of Moncrieff.

Former Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo has vacated the seat of Moncrieff.

Marketing expert Angie Bell has claimed an upset victory to win Liberal National preselection for the ultra-safe Queensland seat of Moncrieff.

The LNP Women vice-president overcame eight others — including the purported frontrunner, career staffer Karly Abbott — in a ballot of the LNP rank-and-file on the Gold Coast this afternoon.

The seat was vacated by retiring Liberal MP Steven Ciobo, who had held the seat since 2001, and had employed Ms Abbott as a staffer since 2011.

Ms Bell’s other rivals included veteran Garth Callender, councillor Cameron Caldwell and preacher Bibe Roadley.

Comment was sought from LNP headquarters.

LNP acting president David Hutchinson praised Ms Bell as a “dynamic, professional” woman.

In a statement, Ms Bell said: “I’m looking forward to sharing my passion for the Coast with local residents and seeing the Morrison Government’s infrastructure plan completed.

“We’re committed to the fixing the M1 and building the next stage of light rail to help locals get home sooner and safer.

“This week’s Budget was very good for the Coast and we saw in response Bill Shorten’s great big new tax on everything. I’ll be doing everything I can to stop Bill Shorten becoming Prime Minister. The first task is to win the support of voters in Moncrieff.”