They can’t a Forde to lose

DES Hardman says Forde MP Bert van Mannen should be worried about retaining his seat in the next federal election.

The Logan hospital radiographer got within 1000 votes of winning the marginal northern Gold Coast seat at the last election and said he was buoyed by Labor’s strong showing at last weekend’s Super Saturday by-elections.

Facing his second political campaign Mr Hardman, 45, was confident he could grow the 3.72 per cent swing he gained last time.

“He should be worried,” said the ALP candidate for Forde said of his rival.

“In 2016, he won by a few hundred votes. No one ever expected I would get that close, and this time we are starting off a lot closer.

“The mood of the electorate is leaning towards Labor and I am going to back that up with a strong campaign.”

Forde is the only marginal

• The division of Forde takes in Gold Coast City and Logan City council areas.

• The seat was last held by Labor in 2010 by Brett Raguse.

• Population: 165,538.

• Median age: 34.

• Median weekly household income: $1463.

• Median rent: $360.

• Average number of children per family: 0.9.

seat in the Gold Coast strip and is considered pivotal to forming government.

The seat takes in some of the fastest-growing suburbs in region, including Pimpama, Upper Coomera, Ormeau and the Logan area.

The election is expected before May next year.

As a health professional, Mr Hardman said he was passionate about ensuring access to medical care, training and wage growth.

“I think we will be the point of difference. People are concerned about the government’s priorities because they really are doing it tough,” Mr Hardman said.

Mr van Manen said: “But we are focused on making lives better and are working hard on electricity pricing, and personal tax deductions at the moment.

“I don’t know how much impact the by-election had honestly, it didn’t change anything in terms of the nature of the government. They were Labor seats.

“Forde has been a marginal seat when I was first elected in 2010, and my feeling is people want us to succeed, people don’t want a Bill Shorten led government.”

The MP said he had always been for another campaign.

“I think my campaign started when I got re-elected two years ago,” he said.

“I don’t think you can start just start a campaign six months out from election, you need to work consistently through your term.”