CANDIDATE’S POLL SHOCK
POTENTIAL State election kingmaker Ron Nightingale has branded revelations of his court record as a smear campaign to destroy him.
The independent candidate for the must-win seat of Bonney was found guilty in 2006 of impersonating a police officer and in 2014 a restraining order was placed against him following a dispute with a man.
Mr Nightingale yesterday agreed to speak about his past and said he was the victim of smear because he would influence the outcome in the marginal Gold Coast seat.
“The individuals behind this have been trying to destroy me for a number of years,” he said. “Yes, that was in my past, I’m not going to deny it.”
BONNEY ALP candidate Rowan Holzberger has accused the LNP of bowing to One Nation by delaying the Cross River Rail project.
LNP Leader Tim Nicholls yesterday announced the project would be delayed until at least 2026.
Mr Holzberger, during the Gold Coast Bulletin’s Bonney candidate forum last night, accused the LNP of making the move because of demands from One Nation.
“Already he is delivering for Pauline Hanson,” Mr Holzberger said.
One Nation have previously said they will not go into a minority government with a party which supports the Cross River Rail Project.
Mr Holzberger said the project was something that was vital for Gold Coasters, despite being a Brisbanebased project.
“The Cross River Rail means that Gold Coasters are going to get to Brisbane 15 minutes earlier,” he said.
“That's half an hour a day more to spend time with their families.”
He said it would mean new rail infrastructure.
LNP candidate Sam O’Connor said the Cross River Rail would not be needed until 2026.
Transport was a hot topic in the forum which was broadcast live from the Gold Coast Bulletin office.
Mr O’Connor said the ALP had not consulted the federal government on their planned M1 upgrade from Varsity Lakes to the border.
He said Labor would use a funding stoush as an excuse not to spend the money.
“It’s exactly what they did with the current deal, you just delayed and delayed and delayed,” Mr O’Connor said.
Mr Holzberger said the Palaszczuk Government had to drag Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull “kicking and screaming” to the current funding.
Other topics discussed included crime, the light rail extension to Burleigh and development.