Bell puts tourism at top of agenda

MONCRIEFF

THE Gold Coast’s newest MP Angie Bell has, just hours into the role, set her sights on growing the Gold Coast as a major tourism hub.

Ms Bell, who was pre-selected as the LNP candidate for Moncrieff after long-serving MP Steve Ciobo retired, recorded a convincing win.

During her victory speech, Ms Bell – a business leader and former president of LNP Women – said she was eager to turn the region into Australia’s most popular tourism destination and hinted she may enter the controversial light rail debate.

“It is not about me, it’s about bringing Moncrieff home – with a wider margin and more votes for the LNP,” Ms Bell told supporters at the Broadbeach Bowls Club.

“We are going to finish the infrastructure on the Gold Coast, we are going to make sure there is connectivity to the airport. To the people of Nerang, Worongary and Carrara, we are going to give them some money so they can upgrade their sporting clubs.

“We are going to make sure we maintain our lifestyle here on the Gold Coast, make sure we can grow tourism and make this the number one destination in the country, which it deserves to be.

“It is the most beautiful place in the world and we are so proud to live here.”

Ms Bell had a first preference vote of 52.13 per cent as of last night with a 65.92 per cent share of the vote on a two-candidate preferred basis.

The celebration follows a fierce pre-selection battle in April, in which Ms Bell defeated Mr Ciobo’s pick and former staffer Karly Abbott.

With more than 400 LNP supporters at the booths, party sources told the Bulletin there were still sour grapes from the Ciobo camp about the pre-selection.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN OUR LIFESTYLE HERE ON THE GOLD COAST, MAKE SURE WE CAN GROW TOURISM AND MAKE THIS THE NUMBER ONE DESTINATION IN THE COUNTRY

“A number of people who are usually here are conveniently on overseas holidays or just couldn’t help today,” the Bulletin was told.

Another said Ms Bell had the ability to “bring people together – again”.

“She is a little more downto-earth than what we are used to here,” they said. THE Gold Coast has a new MP with the LNP’s Angie Bell claiming victory in this central Gold Coast seat.

The Coast business consultant secured almost 66 per cent of the vote on two-party preferred count. The swing to the LNP was 1.21 per cent. On the primary vote, the LNP recorded a swing of 6.38 per cent.

Labor’s Tracey Bell, after securing only 22 per cent of the vote, saw the ALP’s fortunes drop by 2.55 per cent.

The Greens with veteran candidate Sally Spain maintained its usual vote of just below 10 per cent.

One Nation obtained 6.18 per cent of the vote and United Australia Party achieved 3.67 per cent, below the Animal Justice Party on 3.72 per cent.