HEART AND SOUL IN ’HOME’ ELECTORATE

ALP candidate Meaghan Scanlon knew before she signed up to run for the seat of Gaven she would have an advantage over most other candidates.

At just 24, the lawyer is poised to be the youngest female to ever sit in Queensland parliament – taking the title from Broadwater MP Verity Barton who entered parliament at 26.

Despite her young age, Miss Scanlon has an almost unparalleled understanding of what makes a unique city like the Gold Coast tick.

“This is the electorate I grew up in and I am really excited to see that Gold Coasters have sent a very clear message they are sick and tired of the wall to wall LNP MPs here,” she said.

Miss Scanlon is the daughter of a Surfers Paradise cop. She went Guardian Angels Primary School in Southport and Aquinas College.

While at Aquinas she made her mark in the performing arts, helping choreograph the school’s national win at the RAW challenge at the now defunct Rock Eisteddfod competition.

She even travelled to Japan at 15 to learn more about dance.

She did not move far from university, completing her law degree at Griffith University.

“I have never lived anywhere but the Gold Coast,” she said.

Miss Scanlon spent just a year as a lawyer before joining the office of Labor powerbroker Senator Murray Watt.

At last year’s state election she took on Fadden MP Stuart Robert and won just 26 per cent of the primary vote.

In her spare time Miss Scanlon helps support brother Callum, who has Down syndrome, by working with charities who supported him.