ONE NATION ALL AT SEA

FOR SPIT DEVELOPMENT AND AGAINST IT

ONE Nation on the Gold Coast is divided over whether to support The Spit mega-resort and all at sea about who is its campaign leader.

Polling shows Pauline Hanson’s party has 18.5 per cent of the Coast primary vote on the back of Queensland leader Steve Dickson announcing One Nation opposed the ASF highrise towers and casino.

But the Bulletin can reveal the party’s Broadwater candidate Brenden Ball has been outed by Labor rivals and the Save Our Spit organisation for his support of development.

Mr Ball on his candidate Facebook page responded to a “build it now” post by replying, “Yes, but no second casino”.

Former Labor candidate Penny Toland then posted: “So you’re supporting highrise development on The Spit … just not a second casino licence.”

Ms Toland told the Bulletin: “Recently Steve Dickson came out and said he was against the casino on The Spit, then we see a poll giving a positive result for One Nation.

“In Parliament this past week Mr Dickson announced One Nation policy is development on public land needs to adhere to the (three-storey) City Plan (for The Spit).

“I was sceptical given the One Nation campaign manager for the Gold Coast is Ron Nightingale – the most prolific pro-development on The Spit supporter around.”

Mr Nightingale on One Nation Coomera candidate Ronald Pidgeon’s Facebook site has answered questions to the candidate explaining that he was “the campaign manager for the Gold Coast”.

On ASF’s Gold Coast Evolution website, Mr Nightingale has been vocal, trading insults with anti-development protesters.

He wrote that with a planned cruise ship terminal and the ASF project in the works, by 2020 The Spit would “truly be world class”.

When asked to explain his position, Mr Ball accused Ms Toland of putting words in his mouth.

“I am absolutely against a second casino, that’s our policy,” Mr Ball said, before admitting he was obtaining more information.

“I’m still trying to understand it all, to be perfectly honest. (Regarding my post) I was more talking about the whole precinct. We need a better plan for the area.”

Asked whether Mr Nightingale was his campaign manager and about his prodevelopment views, Mr Ball replied “it’s certainly not my understanding of the matter”, having regarded his political colleague as a volunteer.

“I don’t have a campaign manager as such in terms of a paid position. Nobody speaks for me but me.”

Reminded about Mr Nightingale’s continuing clash with Ms Toland and Save Our Spit, Mr Ball replied: “He’s a big boy and can fight his own battles. It’s best left for them to sort themselves out.”

Mr Nightingale last night clarified his position with One Nation.

“I am not a party member, I am a volunteer,” he said.

“I have decided to assist One Nation because I believe in the way they handle policy and it is not up to me to comment on policy.”