CURRUMBIN A BELLWETHER

THE real test for LNP leader Deb Frecklington will come well before the state election in October.

The battle lines will be at Currumbin in March, when newly minted candidate Laura Gerber will try to hold a seat her party has comfortably held since 2004.

Ms Gerber was endorsed by Ms Frecklington at a closely guarded party meeting at Currumbin RSL last night. She will be formally announced today.

The young lawyer’s first test is expected to be a by-election on March 28, following the sudden resignation last week of the longstanding member Jann Stuckey.

Ms Stuckey pulled the pin nine months earlier than expected, citing a battle with depression, insults and abuse.

Labor yesterday said the date for the by-election could not be announced until Ms Stuckey formally handed in her resignation. The Government says that has not happened.

Ms Stuckey held a 3.3 per cent margin at the 2017 election. However, Labor candidate Kaylee Campradt has been visible in the community since the Government got wind that Ms Stuckey was likely to resign in the new year.

The LNP has been caught on its heels and key party members on the Coast are furious.

Many did not know who had been selected to replace Ms Stuckey when contacted by the Bulletin yesterday morning.

They are not happy with Ms Frecklington’s handing of the situation, given Ms Stuckey said in June that she would not seek re-election in 2020.

Her replacement should have been the LNP leader’s first priority.

Now she is facing two battles to retain the seat.

Adding to Ms Frecklington’s plight has been the push for a female candidate to appease the gender balance.

Ms Stuckey said the Currumbin LNP branch and local residents believed Chris Crawford to be a true community champion and were behind him as a candidate.

“Disappointingly, it seems that the power and influence wielded by a few … want to deny him the opportunity to represent Currumbin,” she wrote to constituents.

The LNP could not find a high-profile candidate to replace Ms Stuckey.

Given voter resentment against governments at by-elections, only a 4-5 per cent swing for the LNP would be considered a win for Ms Frecklington. Labor could claim it has done well if it jagged a 2 per cent swing.

Backbenchers in the LNP are getting restless as the state poll nears. They are fearful of another term in opposition and believe Labor is on the ropes, given Bill Shorten’s performance at last year’s federal election.

Ms Frecklington must take responsibility for whatever happens in Currumbin at the by-election.

The Gold Coast is an LNP stronghold. The party was preparing to target northern and regional Queensland to wrest the seats needed to win power.

But its attention has been diverted by the need to retain a seat it has easily held for 16 years.