Poll’s lesson

Our polling reveals bad news for the Premier, but it points to an opportunity for Gold Coast

With a slew of safe Liberal seats, elections have a habit of passing the Gold Coast by. That was certainly the case in last year’s Federal Election. It has sometimes been the case at state elections too.

But polling results revealed in today’s paper suggest 2024 could be very different.

In LNP leader David Crisafulli, Labor faces a doughty opponent. The Broadwater MP, has been tirelessly criss-crossing the state since his election as leader in late 2020. The battering endured by the Liberal brand nationally appears to have done little to dent his progress. He may well be the toughest opponent Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has yet faced.

Ms Palaszcuk, meanwhile, is seeing her star fade among voters, with our polling showing her popularity at a record low. She will be nine years in the top job by the time Queenslanders cast their ballots in October next year, making her vulnerable to the everpresent temptation of jaded voters to take a punt on a new face.

The prevailing disgruntlement with the rental crisis, cost of living concerns and youth crime also make her highly vulnerable.

In relation to crime, the fear among Labor strategists must be that they will lose seats in hard-hit areas such as Queensland.

In Brisbane, the fear is yet more seats could be lost to the Greens.

This is where the opportunity for the Gold Coast lies. If Labor are to cling on, they may well need to pick up seats elsewhere. The Coast, where ten of 11 seats remain in Liberal hands, is the most obvious place for any such rearguard action. Labor strategists still harbour hope of picking off seats in the city’s north, and will feel their investments in the M1, Coomera Connector and light rail give them a fighting chance.

Mr Crisafulli, of course, will not wish to see his hopes of becoming Premier dashed by losses in his own back yard.

The scene could thus be set for a more lively election battle on the Gold Coast, one which may elicit promises of a better deal for the city.

A year is a very long time in politics, but the polling revealed today indicates we are headed for a closely contested state election, from which this city might ultimately benefit.

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