Stuckey plans to dodge Games
FORMER Commmonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey plans quitting the city and temporarily closing her Gold Coast office during the event.
LNP’s Currumbin member said yesterday she would leave the Coast for half the Games and is considering closing her office for a few days during it.
She will be attending her son’s birthday interstate during the Games but said she was becoming increasingly concerned about anger aimed at her staff from constituents frustrated by perceived looming Games impacts.
Ms Stuckey, who recently raised fears about Games planning and the fun being drained from the Games due to political correctness, revealed yesterday: “We’ll be leaving town for at least half the time. It’s our son’s birthday, he’s interstate.”
Asked if that is an excuse to get out of town because she thinks it’s going to be a drama to remain on the Coast, she replied: “Well I don’t particularly want to get the abuse we’ve been getting. My office is getting a lot of abuse, a lot.
“You almost want to close your office, because staff should not have to put up with it. I’m not leaving town because of it … but I do have concerns and it’s more my staff
“I do have concerns with the increasing anger that my staff are copping, we may consider closing our office for a couple a days during Games.”
She added it would be difficult for them to get to her Currumbin office anyway: “My staff won’t be able to get to work. What do you think – they will come in at 5am and leave at 6pm?”
Her criticism comes a day after Games Minister Kate Jones called for an end to LNP’s “sniping from the sidelines”. Ms Stuckey also met Games CEO Mark Peters this week to outline her concerns from a 300-strong survey she commissioned which showed 88 per cent of people didn’t feel informed or up to date with changes during Games time.
Ms Stuckey said Ms Jones needed to stop “prancing around at events, she is nothing but a figurehead enjoying the limelight”.
Ms Jones said what Ms Stuckey chose to do during the Games was her choice.
“It seems a shame to me Jann Stuckey would rather be interstate during the Commonwealth Games than here in her home town.”