SAFE SEAT JITTERS
LEAKED LNP contender warns Moncrieff a ‘battleground’
A LEADING contender to replace retiring Federal MP Steven Ciobo in the LNP stronghold of Moncrieff believes it cannot be taken for granted as a guaranteed party win.
In a startling leaked email, Karly Abbott warns party members the seat, along with the Gold Coast, is now a “battleground” at the core of national hopes.
A LEADING LNP candidate to replace Steven Ciobo in the party’s stronghold of Moncrieff warns in a leaked email the seat is a “battleground” and up for grabs.
Lawyer Karly Abbott, one of eight candidates in the running for pre-selection in the blue ribbon seat, makes the startling admission in an email to party members.
Ciobo, who will stand down at the election, has a 17 per cent margin in the seat he has held since 2001.
But Ms Abbott warns it should be considered a “battleground”, prompting Gold Coast Mayor and card-carrying LNP member Tom Tate to say the seat was ripe for an upset.
Abbott’s email, leaked to the Bulletin, says: “With the rise of populist politics and a left agenda being hyperventilated by the media, there has never been a more important time to be involved in the political process and ensure our city remains blue.
“There is no such thing as a safe seat anymore. If you don’t believe me, ask Greg Hunt, Josh Frydenberg, Dave Sharma or even Tony Abbott.
“Moncrieff and the Gold Coast has become a battleground. It is time we send a clear message to Labor – especially Meaghan Scanlon and Murray Watt – that our city is a conservative heartland, and not up for grabs.”
Moncrieff has been held by the Liberal Party since its creation in 1984. It is the third safest seat in Queensland and the Coalition’s ninth-safest in the country.
Ms Abbott, who did not return calls to the Bulletin yesterday, is understood to have backing from members of the branch who previously backed Mr Ciobo.
Mr Ciobo, when he revealed in the Bulletin this month he would retire, said a female candidate should be selected.
While the Liberal Party has held a lock on Moncrieff and other Coast seats for decades there are fears a last-minute campaign by a prominent independent could end conservative domination.
It comes after the Liberal Party lost the Sydney seat of Wentworth – previously held by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull – to high-profile independent Kerryn Phelps
Cr Tate said he believed Moncrieff as well as McPherson were ripe for a Wentworth-style upset.
“This city has been taken for granted as a blue city by conservative Liberals,” he said.
“It would not surprise me if there is a strong independent candidate who wants to run.
“Since Dr Phelps won Wentworth ... I think this will encourage other talented people to be independents and not be beholden to a party.”
Griffith University political scientist Dr Paul Williams agreed and said with the right candidates the Coast’s seats could become “battlegrounds”.
“There’s no doubt even a safe Liberal seat on the Gold Coast could be at risk under the current circumstances to a well-positioned and wellknown centrist independent candidate with a pre-established profile,” he said.
“Moncrieff, McPherson or Fadden are not like country NSW – they’re not going to fall to a right-wing populist but they could go to an independent who had a profile.”
Labor has pre-selected its candidates. Opposition leader Bill Shorten visited the city earlier this month and he talked up the party’s chances.
ALP senator Murray Watt said: “Ms Abbott’s email is an incredible admission of failure by the LNP.
“If the LNP delivered for the Gold Coast rather than feathering their own nest they would not be under pressure that Ms Abbott admits.”
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