New PM unlikely to affect Gold Coast: expert

A NEW Prime Minister is unlikely to have an impact on the Gold Coast’s current political landscape.

Dr Paul Williams, a senior lecturer in politics and journalism at Griffith University, said it would take “a seismic shift” away from the LNP to see big changes in the traditionally blue-ribbon Gold Coast seats.

“The Liberal Party would have to tear itself apart violently, that’s the only way the Gold Coast would shift – it’s unlikely, but not impossible,” Dr Williams said.

“The Gold Coast is a unique place; it’s even really different from other cities like the Sunshine Coast,

“The Gold Coast is ... more brash, entrepreneurial and small government and, therefore, leaning to the dry end of the Liberal spectrum, while the hinterland areas are more old National Party.

“It would fit comfortably with a dryer agenda under Dutton. He is pro-development and doesn’t have much sympathy for green values.”

Dr Williams said a change of leader would also be unlikely to endear swing voters to the LNP.

“At the end of the day, in most seats, I don’t believe it will matter, but areas like Forde are certainly up for grabs.

“The Gold Coast will also hope to see a Cabinet minister again under Dutton.”

Dr Williams said voters should not feel let down by the Liberal turmoil.

“I don’t think this says anything about the two-party system or democracy,” he said.

“However, it does say a lot about the Liberal Party which, since 1909, has been two parties locked into one,” he said.

“It took leaders like Robert Menzies and John Howard to stop them beating each other to a pulp.

“I have been watching, reading and studying politics for close to 35 years and I have never seen a leadership challenge so clumsy, so ungainly and so ugly.”