LABOR PULLS RABBIT OUT OF HAT
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk and deputy Steven Miles hit Burleigh to unveil their latest move to secure re-election come October. Southern Gold Coast stalwart and surf legend Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, to take on LNP incumbent Michael Hart, says he’ll focus on backing small local business. Mr Hart welcomed the challenge: “I respect everyone who has a go.”
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has pulled a “rabbit” out of her hat – picking a high-profile candidate she hopes will win back the Gold Coast seat of Burleigh.
Three-time surfing world champion Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew has been recruited by Labor to take on third-term LNP incumbent Michael Hart in the technically marginal seat at October’s state election.
The first shots of the Gold Coast election campaign were fired on Sunday morning when Ms Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Steven Miles made the announcement, praising the “legend of the Gold Coast”.
“We are conscious that the seat of Burleigh needs better representation and I know Rabbit has the absolute enthusiasm to do this and serve the community,” the Premier said. “I have known Rabbit for many, many years … I know he has delivered a lot for this area and can deliver more if he is elected as the Labor member for Burleigh.
Mr Miles took aim at Mr Hart’s record, saying the LNP had “taken the Gold Coast for granted”.
‘The only thing Michael has done is that giant billboard calling for the borders to be opened and imagine if we had done that — we would not have another zero (COVID cases) day if we had listened to him and Deb Frecklington.
“Rabbit has already done more for the Gold Coast than Michael Hart has in however many years he has been the member down here.”
Mr Hart, who was first elected in 2012, welcomed Mr Bartholemew to the race.
“I respect everyone who has a go at politics,” he said.
“The real issue is how we recover from the COVID crisis and the economic damage it has done.
“Having a plan for the future is more important than who runs.”
Mr Bartholemew said he decided to contest the seat after meeting with Ms Palaszczuk in February at the Global Wave Conference.
Talks continued throughout the first half of the year before the surf champion was selected in late July, something he had to keep secret and did not share even with his wife.
The political debutant named his major priorities as supporting and stimulating small businesses affected by COVID-19 and supporting the extension of the light rail.
He said mayor Tom Tate’s controversial proposal to take the tram into Palm Beach and west on Nineteenth Ave “wouldn’t fly” and supported community consultation on Stage 4.
“The light rail is a big issue and I am here to listen to the community,” he said.
“(This campaign) is about getting small business back on its feet along this whole strip.
“It is about striking that balance between being Australia’s tourism capital and local business.
“When I was a kid, there was no local business, no local jobs and people of my generation mourn the loss of 1970.
“It was a beautiful time back then but a lot of people have moved here and the secret is out – this is the best place in Australia so we have to adapt as we go.”
Burleigh was last held by Labor’s Christine Smith from 2001 until the Newman landslide in 2012.
At the 2017 election, Mr Hart defeated serial candidate Gail Hislop by more than 4000 votes.
Griffith University political expert Paul Williams said Burleigh was now in play, however.
“Burleigh ordinarily should not have been on Labor’s radar but given the COVID situation and Deb Frecklington’s poor ratings, I think Labor will perform better than expectations,” Professor Williams said.
“This election will hinge on two paradigms – the leadership issue and the economic one.
“Unless they have deep roots in the community, celebrity often does not count for much.
“It is the deep roots which count.”
THE SECRET IS OUT — THIS IS THE BEST PLACE IN AUSTRALIA SO WE HAVE TO ADAPT AS WE GO WAYNE ‘RABBIT’ BARTHOLOMEW