Labor’s election no show

Government yet to fill candidates for six seats

LABOR is yet to endorse candidates in six Gold Coast seats as a date for the State poll looms.

LNP rivals in some key Glitter Strip seats have been campaigning for six months without an ALP candidate on the ground.

In two key battles, Sam O’Connor, in the new electorate of Bonney, and David Crisafulli, in Broadwater, have been doorknocking and attending community meetings since May.

“It’s a good headstart,” an LNP strategist said. “More than 7500 homes have been doorknocked in Broadwater.”

Parties have up to eight days before the poll to lodge nominations and not more than 18 days after the writ is issued by the Governor or the Speaker.

After Parliament begins three days of sittings today, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk could call an election at week’s end.

Labor is focusing most of its resources in Gaven where lawyer Meaghan Scanlon is attempting to unseat LNP MP Sid Cramp.

ALP Bonney candidate Rowan Holzberger has been campaigning since June and colleague Georgi Leader similarly working hard to unseat Jann Stuckey in Currumbin.

“I’ve been knocking on doors and calling locals in Bonney who are sick at the lack of accountability that representatives get away with here on the Coast. It’s time to change,” Mr Holzberger said.

Bonney will be the Coast’s most marginal seat and includes the working areas of Labrador, Arundel and Parkwood, but is expected to favour Mr O’Connor with the LNP predicted to have a 2.2 per cent margin.

“We’ve been campaigning hard since mid-May,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Every vote will count — so I’ve been meeting and listening to as many people as possible.”

Electoral boundary changes in Gaven slightly improve the chances of Mr Cramp, his 2.2 per cent margin increasing to 2.8 per cent after picking up Emerald Lakes at Carrara. The boundary changes have also strengthened the LNP’s hold on Broadwater where the margin has increased from 7.2 per cent to 16.3 per cen t.

A former Local Government Minister, Mr Crisafulli beat sitting MP Verity Barton in a preelection contest in May.

Mr Crisafulli said he had spent six months “trying to show people new energy in the local area”. “I can’t control who else is running but I can control how often I get out and listen to the things that matter to local people,” he said.

A Labor spokesperson said hard-working candidates in Currumbin, Gaven, Bonney, Theodore and Coomera have been pounding the pavement and listening to locals.

Pre-selections in remaining seats of Burleigh, Mermaid Beach, Surfers Paradise, Mudgeeraba, Southport, Broadwater would be “finalised shortly”.

Labor says members have made over 17,000 phone calls and about 7000 door knocks.