Shock as Bell wins a tight race for GC seat
THE woman who is odds on to become the Gold Coast’s newest Federal MP says upgrading the Gold Coast’s transport infrastructure is her leading priority after a shock preselection win.
Marketing expert Angie Bell, 51, yesterday secured an upset over Karly Abbott to contest the seat of Moncrieff, being vacated by Steven Ciobo, for the Liberals.
She celebrated her win with family as Prime Minister Scott Morrison defied expectations on the weekend by not calling the federal election.
The PM decided to delay his visit to Government House by a week just hours after Ms Bell won the Liberal Party ballot to replace retiring Mr Ciobo.
Ms Bell beat out frontrunners Karly Abbott and Cr Cameron Caldwell in a marathon six-hour ballot, held at Carrara’s Emmanuel College on Saturday.
Ms Bell won on the final ballot 79-77 defeating Ms Abbott, a Ciobo staffer who the retiring MP had singled out in his valedictory speech on Thursday.
Cr Caldwell is understood to have come third.
Ms Bell has been a longstanding figure in conservative politics, previously serving as LNP Women president.
Ms Bell told the Bulletin yesterday she was looking forward to campaigning in the ultra-safe blue ribbon seat but insisted she would never take it for granted.
“I feel blessed, humbled and incredibly grateful to the preselectors and the people of Moncrieff who I hope will vote for me,” she said.
“Winning over the voters is the next challenge but I would never take the seat for granted.”
Ms Bell said solving the city’s transport woes, including the M1 upgrade and extension of the light rail south, were priorities.
“I am looking forward to the Morrison government delivering the infrastructure promises including the M1,” she said. “The infrastructure is the number one priority for the central Gold Coast, with the light rail and improved connectivity to the airport also very important.”
Moncrieff, which Mr Ciobo has held since 2001, has a near 15 per cent margin.
In a development that has some party figures concerned, Ms Bell’s chief rival for the seat shares the same surname – the ALP’s candidate is Tracey Bell.
Mr Ciobo paid tribute to Ms Bell, describing her as “a terrific Gold Coaster” who was “a smart, savvy businesswoman with a solid small business background”.
“I am confident she will work hard to earn the respect of the people of Moncreiff,” he said.
McPherson MP Karen Andrews said Ms Bell’s preselection was an “outstanding result for democracy”.
“She is very well regarded and has got both political experience from her work with the party and real world experience from her time in marketing,” Ms Andrews told the Bulletin.
The result has shocked some party figures who had expected Ms Abbott to win the preselection, having had Mr Ciobo’s endorsement and support from local branch members.
“Steve gave her the kiss of death by endorsing her – there were a lot of people in the room who were not fans of him and decided to vote the other way,” said one senior party figure.