Labor to target Burleigh and Currumbin marginal LNP seats after announcing five candidates
Labor has unveiled five candidates joining Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon on the Gold Coast in the state election. But it is targeting upsets in two key marginal seats. See which ones
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Labor has put a particular target on the southern seats of Burleigh and Currumbin after announcing five Gold Coast candidates to join Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon in the state October poll.
The candidates are events specialist Claire Carlin (Burleigh), former soldier and educator Nathan Fleury (Currumbin), early childhood leader Tamika Hicks (Broadwater), women’s rights advocate Rita Anwari (Theodore) and lawyer Sophie Lynch (Mudgeeraba).
ALP state secretary Kate Flanders said Labor would campaign on the back of its budget which saw a record capital works spend for the Coast with transport and health both priorities.
Treasurer Cameron Dick in the budget delivered last week vowed Labor “will not walk away from light rail” in the biggest sign yet the tram route will be built to the border.
The LNP is promising a “review” of the southern route through Palm Beach to the Gold Coast Airport, in a move which Mayor Tom Tate sees as playing politics to win two seats.
Labor senses the Opposition with Laura Gerber in Currumbin (0.5 per cent) and Michael Hart who is retiring in Burleigh (1.2 per cent) have marginal seats “in play” for a strong candidate.
Their Burleigh representative, Ms Carlin, has a strong local profile in events and the arts. Her opponent, in what will be a key match-up, is Hermann Vorster, the former city councillor.
“I think Currumbin is obviously very tight, and Burleigh as well,” Ms Flanders said.
“We have a retiring member there (Mr Hart) and Clare our candidate is really involved as a long term local. Our government has put so much investment into the Gold Coast.
“The LNP obviously are talking about cutting infrastructure. We are very concerned about (them) cutting health jobs as well. They have been really opposed to satellite hospitals. Our view is the Tugun Satellite Hospital is taking pressure of the Gold Coast Hospital.”
The other marginal LNP seats are in the north and include Michael Crandon in Coomera (1.1 per cent) and Mark Boothman in Theodore (3.3 per cent).
“The other seat that is interesting is Coomera, particularly because we are building a new hospital in Coomera, which is part of our health plan. That’s a significant investment from the Labor government,” Ms Flanders said.
Despite stunning swings against Labor of up to 18 per cent in by elections during March and YouGov poll results showing Opposition leader David Crisafulli will win the election, the ALP appeared buoyed by the positive voter response to their recent cost of living sweeteners.
Ms Scanlon holds Gaven with a 7.8 per cent margin but the LNP is confident their candidate, former Sunrise reporter Bianca Stone, can win creating a conservative “blue wave”.
Ms Scanlon has welcomed the announcement of the party’s new candidates saying the LNP had taken the Coast for granted for too long.
“Our new candidates are ready to hit the ground running and hold the LNP to account,” she said.
“They are all strong advocates for their communities, and I look forward to joining them on the campaign trail and having them be a part of our Miles government team.”
Labor intends to announce more candidates in the next few weeks. Here are the latest:
Burleigh: Claire Carlin
Has lived on the Gold Coast for nearly 20 years, having a diverse career spanning non-profits, small business, craft beer and the arts.
Ms Carlin says listening to and giving back to the community has always been at the centre of everything she does.
Focused on reducing cost-of-living pressures, delivering affordable housing, protecting the natural environment, preventing family and domestic violence, and ensuring a fair and equitable education system and childcare for all Queenslanders.
Currumbin: Nathan Fleury.
A local family man and former infantry soldier in the Australian Army.
As a vocational education and training specialist, Mr Fleury is a strong supporter of a free TAFE.
Will campaign on Labor delivering critical infrastructure like the Tugun Satellite Hospital and widening of the M1.
“I know we can do better for our youth, our environment and for those doing it tough,” he says.
Broadwater: Tamika Hicks
Worked in the early childhood sector for more than 20 years. Has been an educator, TAFE teacher, small business owner and community advocate.
Ms Hicks is the daughter of factory workers who grew up in social housing. She has been a single mother raising young children while working two jobs.
Her decision to stand for politics was the possibility of an LNP government “with their track record of sacking frontline workers, empty promises of better healthcare and the risk to women’s rights”.
Her focus is to maintain and extend the best health care services, well-resourced schools and nearby TAFE. Ms Hicks has vowed to fight for ongoing investment in local small business.
Theodore: Rita Anwari
With a background in operational strategies, originally from Afghanistan, Ms Anwari arrived in Australia in 1993.
Reflecting on her personal experiences in conflict zones, she believes it ignited a profound dedication to empowering women.
As the founder of Women Empowerment and Leadership (WEL), Ms Anwari has been an unwavering advocate for women’s rights and education.
She has been honoured with the International Women’s Day Award for Justice and Gender Equality and has received over 54 national awards, including a token from the federal Senate for her community work. She was recently appointed to Cricket Australia as a multicultural ambassador.
Sophie Lynch: Mudgeeraba
Ms Lynch is a Coast resident, lawyer and a strong campaigner for workers.
She now works as an advocate for our local firefighters, ensuring fair workplace rights for our first responders.
Her decision to stand for politics is motivated by protecting the Coast’s first responders who risk their lives to keep Queenslanders safe.
Labor campaign leaders say Ms Lynch “brings a fresh perspective and the energy to better represent our community” in Mudgeeraba.
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