Labor targets three crucial Coast seats
LABOR will target the city’s north and south at next year’s state election after announcing candidates in three crucial seats.
Kaylee Campradt, the president of the Queensland Parents and Citizens Association, has been preselected in Currumbin.
Coast nurse Chris Johnson, who works in the mental health acute care team at the Gold Coast University Hospital, is the party’s Coomera candidate.
Early education centre director Tracey Bell, who built a profile as a candidate in Moncrieff in the federal poll, has been preselected in Theodore, which includes the growing Oxenford area.
The announcements show Labor is less focused about the marginal seat of Bonney, where the LNP’s Sam O’Connor has built a personal profile in his first term, and regaining Southport and Burleigh.
Party sources suggest the standard of candidate and decision to nominate shows Labor is serious about winning the north and south at the October 31 election next year.
Gaven’s Meaghan Scanlon is the party’s only Coast representative and retaining her marginal seat is Labor’s first priority.
“They’re been good people who have been around for a long time and yet to run,” the party source said. “For someone like Kaylee to put their hand up, it’s a good sign for the party.”
Ms Palaszczuk said: “I’m delighted to have a strong and dynamic group of community champions joining my team. The fact is the LNP have taken the Gold Coast for granted for far too long.
“The Gold Coast is a growing area that needs strong representation. The region deserves better then what the LNP are providing. That’s exactly what Tracey, Kaylee and Chris will provide.”
Ms Bell said she would push for better conditions for workers.
“I care about creating local jobs and fighting for fair pay for local workers,” she said.
Ms Campradt, who has lived on the southern Coast for most of her life, said she was committed to helping schools capitalise on Labor’s strong focus on education.
“As a local mum, it’s great to see Labor’s investment in local schools, with $12.1 million for the learning centre at Palm Beach Currumbin State High School. This is a project which is close to my own heart – I studied there and it’s where my daughter attends school now,” she said.
Mr Johnson contrasted Labor’s record spend on health care compared to the cutbacks under the former LNP Government.