Cramp ’ready’ for battle
GAVEN MP Sid Cramp is expected to cruise through a preselection meeting on the Gold Coast tonight despite months of speculation that he will switch to One Nation.
Mr Cramp will the LNP’s final MP to be endorsed as the party locks in the majority of its candidates for an election expected before the end of the year.
The Gaven MP, who cannot talk about the preselection due to party rules, has repeatedly announced his loyalty to the LNP despite taunts from Government members in State Parliament.
Child Safety Minister and Waterford MP Shannon Fentiman on several occasions in the House has taken verbal shots at Mr Cramp following a dispute with his neighbours which he filmed.
“We know that the poor old member for Gaven was recently hauled up to Spring Hill in Brisbane to meet with the senior hierarchy of the LNP to talk about an alleged dispute with his neighbours,” Ms Fentiman said.
“It is understood that the selection committee had to view a video of this alleged unseemly incident with the member for Gaven’s neighbours.”
The Bulletin understands Mr Cramp took video footage as a protection for himself if neighbours raised the issue during the election campaign.
Senior LNP sources maintain the Gaven MP has not faced a challenger and had been working hard with colleague Mark Boothman in Albert.
“He will be fine. Sid is a hard-working member. He’s been out door-knocking and road-siding with Mark Boothman. He will be ready when the flag drops,” the LNP source said.
After the recent redistribution for State seats Gaven remains a close contest but has improved for the LNP, from a 2.2 per cent to 2.8 per cent margin.
But Mr Cramp will be buoyed by the changes to electoral boundaries which see the wealthy areas around Emerald Lakes added to his seat.
Neighbouring LNP MP Ros Bates won all of the booths in the luxury waterfront residential area in the last campaign.
Mr Cramp’s Facebook page shows he spent the weekend watching junior football, first at the Nerang Eagles soccer club followed by the Pacific Pines Junior Australian football Club where he is a club patron.