Upbeat despite absent Ciobo

LIBERAL Party strategists are confident Moncrieff candidate Angie Bell will defy a projected national swing against the Conservatives at Saturday’s election.

Insiders were concerned about the retirement from politics of long-time MP Steve Ciobo and his controversial absence during the campaign.

However, party bosses believe Ms Bell’s strong campaign will offset those fears.

“We were initially expecting to see a big drop because of the loss of Steve’s personal vote as well as the national swing,” a party insider told the Bulletin yesterday.

“But in the past two weeks there’s been a greater focus on grassroots campaigning and that appears to have started to make a difference.

“I wouldn’t be surprised on Saturday if Angie manages to keep the party’s vote at a similar level to last election.”

Moncrieff is held with an unbeatable 14.6 per cent margin and is one of the safest Coalition seats in the state.

It has been a Liberal Party stronghold since it was created in 1984. Mr Ciobo was first elected in 2001.

The retiring MP was criticised for not going out on the hustings with Ms Bell and being overseas for much of the campaign.

Critics have linked Mr Ciobo’s lack of presence in the campaign to his endorsement of Karly Abbott, one of his staffers, who last month narrowly failed to win pre-selection.

Moncrieff takes in Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Mermaid Waters, Bundall, Benowa, Ashmore, Carrara and most of Nerang and Southport.

Major election issues in the area include small business and transport.

A Bulletin straw poll of 50 residents in Moncrieff late last week revealed 30 people did not know the incumbent MP. Twenty per cent could not name the Prime Minister and more than 25 per cent did not know that Bill Shorten was Opposition leader. (See results right)

Ms Bell told the Bulletin she would blitz pre-poll stations across the central Gold Coast seat in the final days of the campaign.

“I will be spending all my time at the polling booths with the support of my volunteers trying to shake every hand I can,” she said.

“There’s no such thing as a safe seat anymore, we all know that, and this seat will not be taken for granted.”

Ms Bell’s main rival, Labor candidate Tracey Bell said she had received a positive response from voters on the campaign trail.

“People know who I am and are excited and hopeful to see an end to this chaotic government, especially here in our community,” she said in a statement.