EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT

GOLD Coast voters could prove pivotal in the looming Federal election.

Whether you are a party faithful, swing voter or bored to death of the political process, your decision at the ballot box will matter.

The marginal electorate of Forde looks set to go down to the wire and the Labor Party will campaign relentlessly to break the LNP’s vice grip across the city.

If Labor candidate Des Hardman does manage to send MP Bert van Manen packing on the back of a 0.6 per cent margin it will be a milestone moment for the party in the region.

Never mind the knock-on effect a Labor win in the electorate might have at a national level.

Of course, some voters will give the tick to a minor party – whether it’s the Greens, Katter’s Australian Party or United Australia. One Nation may even field a candidate in Fadden, if predictions come to pass.

It’s worth considering where preferences will flow.

Throwing your support behind the underdog may send something of a message to Labor and the LNP. Labor have long complained the LNP stronghold on the Coast leaves the latter taking the city somewhat for granted.

A decent battle in Forde forcing the LNP to take stock is no bad thing. After all, at state level Labor had a breakthrough win with Meaghan Scanlon snaring Gaven.

While both major parties pledge breathlessly to pump money into the Gold Coast and spruik you-beaut policies, it can boil down to a case of he-said she-said, backed by experts in each corner.

Will limiting negative gearing drive up property prices as LNP claims, or merely make it a bit easier for first home buyers to break into the market, as Labor asserts?

Depends who you ask and who you trust.