Bikies, Jann & driving
LNP candidate mum and lawyer with hands-on criminal justice experience
LAURA Gerber, the LNP’s candidate for Currumbin, started the byelection campaign in the fast lane – exposed for appearing on Australia’s Worst Driver after several crashes, and called a “skirt” by retiring MP Jann Stuckey who wanted a bloke to replace her. What is the real reality show here? Paul Weston talks to the young lawyer and mum who has fought against bikies, for kids’ rights and is the key to Deb Frecklington retaining LNP leadership and her party winning government.
Bulletin: You were born at Southport’s Allamanda Hospital and spent your summers at Rainbow Bay. Tell me about your early connections with Currumbin. Ms Gerber: I spent the first four years of my life in Carrara, then we moved to Tallebudgera Creek and lived in a rental there while the family home was being built out the back of Terranora. After school we would head down to Greenmount or Rainbow Beach almost every afternoon. They are some of my fondest memories.
B: You study to become a solicitor, progress to becoming a Crown prosecutor. What spurred you to become interested in the areas of child exploitation and public health and safety?
LG: I actually started out in the criminal confiscations unit, that is dealing with all the bikies and any organised crime, confiscating their assets that can be deemed proceeds of crime. Then I moved into a taskforce into the people smuggling team and child exploitation.
B: And what insight did you get into bikies from that role? LG: That they care a lot about their money. It’s very insidious, and we need to protect our community from it.
B: Did you learn of the bikie connection with the Gold Coast?
LG: There is a large connection here, yes. I have to be careful (about sharing insights into my work).
B: What about the bikie presence now?
LG: I think it has increased. And from when I’m doorknocking, talking to mums in schools, they are concerned about it and afraid. I think the softening of the bikie laws has had a lot to do with it. We need to be tougher and bring back those laws softened by Labor. We need to back our police with resources.
B: You’ve got a professional career, you are busy, you’re a mum. How did politics fall into place for you?
LG: I am not a career politician (laughs). It boils down to this – I’ve spent almost a decade of my life standing up for vulnerable people in our court system and I love my community, and I feel like I could do that for the people of Currumbin. Part of my job as a lawyer is to hear people’s stories and be able to defend that and prosecute that in court. That’s what I plan on doing if elected.
B: Your background with the LNP: When did you become involved?
LG: I don’t have a long background with the LNP. But my values and beliefs have always aligned with the LNP.
B: At the beginning of the campaign, Jann Stuckey – (in) her comments on the Alan Jones show, she said: “I feel sorry for the girl. She has no idea what she’s in for. I heard from my colleagues they wanted a skirt, any skirt will do.” How did you react to hearing those comments? LG: Oh ... I think it’s been well ventilated that Jann is not in a very well mental state right now (Ms Stuckey has spoken openly about dealing with depression), so I’m conscious of not being another person talking about this for her. I want to respect her privacy.
B: You said you were going to reach out to her. Have you? LG: I have reached out.
B: Has anything happened out of that?
LG: Again I really want to respect Jann’s privacy, and I want to respect her journey to wellness. I think I will keep that conversation private.
B: And then the publicity about being on Australia’s Worst Driver in 2003. The LNP knew about you being on a restricted licence back then, were they aware of the show?
LG: Yes, yes (laughs).
B: How is your driving now? LG: I’m an excellent driver. I learnt to drive off
Dick Johnson. So on the show, Dick Johnson was the instructor. And admittedly, as a 19-year-old I wasn’t a great driver, but I definitely am now.
B: So Chris Crawford is president of the LNP’s Currumbin branch. He was
Jann Stuckey’s favoured candidate. So how is your relationship with the branch, going into your campaign?
LG: I think it is good. I’ve been in telephone contact with Chris. I’m really confident moving forward I have a lot of support.
B: Ms Stuckey’s margin is 3.3 per cent. Labor is positioning itself as the underdog. How do you see things?
LG: I’m not a political commentator (laughs). In saying that I don’t take this electorate for granted one little bit. I am working hard to win people’s trust.