Greens make thong and dance in Bonney
A THONG-CLAD pharmacist who has been canvassing the Bonney electorate in shorts and a T-shirt could be the key for Labor to gain a foothold on the Gold Coast – and he’s not even their man.
Greens candidate Amin Javanmard has kept a relatively low profile since he was endorsed in July, but he knows what he wants – or doesn’t want – for the city.
Public transport is high on the wish list for Mr Javanmard, but commuters can forget about a second M1. Buildings higher than three storeys are out on The Spit, too.
“Improving public transport is the quickest and probably most cost effective way to solve the problems of the M1,” Mr Javanmard said.
The Greens instead will be advocating for heavy rail south to Coolangatta, Stage 3A of the light rail and more bus services across the Gold Coast, particularly in the northern suburbs.
Mr Javanmard said he did not believe a second M1 was an option. “Part of the route is in a koala conservation area so we would not support that.”
On The Spit, the Greens would not be supportive of any development above three storeys and wanted the northern area turned into a central park.
He said he was supportive of development on the Gold Coast but only if it was sustainable, adequately serviced by public transport and met all requirements in the City Plan.
Griffith University political expert Associate Professor Stephen Stockwell said Mr Javanmard’s preferences would make all the difference for Labor in the marginal seat.
“The Labor Party is not without hope in Bonney and can expect the Green preferences to flow strongly to them. It could take a couple of days before we know the winner.”
Prof Stockwell said it would be a tough seat for both parties.
The Greens are yet to finalise preferences for Bonney but have said they would preference the ALP ahead of the LNP in all seats.
Voting trends suggest about 80 per cent of Greens voters give their preference to Labor compared to 10-15 per cent to the LNP. The Greens are the only minor party running in Bonney against LNP’s Sam O’Connor and ALP’s Rowan Holzberger. Independents, Ron Nightingale and Robert Buegge, are also running.
Bonney is a new seat with a predicted 2.2 per cent margin between the two major parties.
The seat was created by splitting the old Broadwater electorate where the Greens picked up 7.5 per cent of the vote at the 2015 election.
Mr Javanmard, who grew up in Labrador, said he would not work with the ALP during the campaign.