Groom by-election drama: Christian right come out in support of David van Gend
The Chronicle has obtained the candidate information booklets for several of the Groom LNP preselection hopefuls. Here is what they had to say.
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The Liberal National Party is playing down the impact a David van Gend preselection in Groom would have on its chances at the State election.
The Chronicle understands some party insiders are concerned if Dr van Gend is preselected by party members on Sunday it could hurt their chances at the state election just six days later.
This is because of controversial comments Dr van Gend has made relating to LGBT+ rights, abortion and other issues.
In the past, he has linked children of same-sex families to the stolen generation and said people could just stop being gay.
LNP acting president Cynthia Hardy said she would not comment on Mr van Gend’s views on those issues but said any of the seven candidates seeking preselection “would represent Groom very well”.
“We’ve got a preselection on Sunday afternoon,” she said.
“We’ve got seven fine candidates and nearly 600 party members in the Groom electorate.
“Members of our party generally select the right person to represent our seats and that’s what will happen.
“All of the candidates have been vetted.”
A pamphlet seen by The Chronicle features endorsements from a who’s who of Australia’s right wing media, including The Spectator editor Rowan Dean and columnist Miranda Devine.
“David is a happy warrior for all the right causes,” Ms Devine said in the pamphlet.
“Here’s someone who has taken on the ‘cancel culture’ barbarians and beaten them,” Mr Dean wrote.
Dr van Gend also received endorsements from LNP Senator’s Matt Canavan and Eric Abetz in the booklet.
Other notable figures to endorse Dr van Gend include former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, former Nationals senator Ron Boswell as well as Toowoomba’s influential right wing leaders such as Toowoomba City Women CEO Letitia Shelton and Australian Family Association Queensland president Angela Duff.
This is what @mirandadevine @rowandean and Matt Canavan had to say about @DavidvanGend in a candidate booklet passed around to LNP party members ahead of the Groom by-election. #auspol pic.twitter.com/0SJPAq4nEo
— Tobi Loftus (@tobiloftus) October 21, 2020
Toowoomba high school teacher Jess Godwin said she was supporting Dr van Gend due to “his concern for the politicisation of the curriculum”.
“He talks about the way children are being shamed by a black armband view of our nation’s history and left without hope by a green armband view of climate catastrophe”.
Dr van Gend lost preselection for the federal position to former MP John McVeigh in 2016.
The results at the time were reported to be very close.
Former Wellcamp Airport general manager Sara Hales, who is in the running for LNP preselection, has been endorsed by former Transport Minister and Federal MP Darren Chester.
“I worked with Sara on regional initiatives that were critical for the future of Wellcamp Airport and the broader region,” Mr Chester said.
“She was always highly professional, passionate and an effective advocate for her community.”
Toowoomba Regional Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff has been endorsed by former Groom MP Ian Macfarlane.
“Rebecca has the intellect, courage and determination to get positive outcomes for the people of Groom and will make an excellent representative for them in the Australian Parliament,” Mr Macfarlane said in Cr Vonhoff’s booklet.”
Other candidates include farmer Bryce Camm, businessman Garth Hamilton, race car driver Daniel Cassidy and rural agent Andrew Meara.
