Article: Sunshine Coast snubbed by leaders in Queensland election lead-up

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Sunshine Coast snubbed by leaders in Queensland election lead-up

Sunshine Coast snubbed by leaders in Queensland election lead-up

   by: Peter Hall
   From: The Courier-Mail
   March 22, 2012 12:00AM

QUEENSLAND'S third-largest region - the Sunshine Coast - has been snubbed by the state's political leaders in the frenetic lead-up to Saturday's election.

Locals and business leaders are surprised at the lack of attention, given their area has 338,000 residents and is only a little over an hour's drive from Brisbane.

While Premier Anna Bligh yesterday had enough time for some fun and games in her hometown of the Gold Coast, the forgotten Sunshine Coast looks unlikely to factor in her 50-seat blitz. LNP leader Campbell Newman also has not been sighted during the campaign.

Independent Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington summed up why the heavyweights rarely grace the region with their presence.

"They both see it as a safe Liberal/National area that won't change," he said.

"But I certainly think they need to be fair with their representation. The Sunshine Coast is not far from Brisbane. Surely they could jump in a car and come and meet the people here and see what they want?"

Mr Wellington said a financial commitment to the duplication of the railway line to Nambour would be on top of the wish list.

Transport infrastructure is sadly lacking and the local economy is struggling with traditional pillars of retail, tourism and construction facing significant challenges.

Caloundra Chamber of Commerce president Alan Porter said the political leaders' lack of interest in the Coast was surprising given the growth, and growth potential, of the region.

Mr Porter said the business community would have welcomed more of an opportunity to hear what the Government had to say about their future.

The Coast had about 35,000 businesses, many of them smaller operations with a husband-and-wife team or two or three other staff, he said.

"They deserve more recognition and support for sure."

The Premier visited the Coast on October 28 last year for the Walk for Daniel Morcombe, while Mr Newman spoke at the LNP launch for Nicklin candidate and former Wallabies coach John Connolly on November 18.

Labor candidate for Caloundra Christine Anthony said Ms Bligh had "visited earlier in the campaign". She admitted the Sunshine Coast had seen little change in the past 12 years but said the new $2 billion University Hospital project promised an exciting future.

Mr Connolly said Mr Newman had visited for his launch and on a few other occasions.

"We would obviously like to see him more but are realistic in that we know how hard he is working," he said.

"He is spreading himself around as best he can and while no one is taking anything for granted, Campbell knows he has six very experienced MPs here, all shadow ministers, and the depth is strong."

The LNP stranglehold should result in some high-powered representation if the Bligh Government is toppled.

Likely to hold their seats are Mark McArdle (Caloundra), Steve Dickson (Buderim), Fiona Simpson (Maroochydore), Jarrod Bleijie (Kawana), Glen Elmes (Noosa) and Andrew Powell (Glass House).

The only wild card appears to be whether Mr Connolly can unseat Mr Wellington.

[Stillwater]

The LNP also holds Gympie, where the local member, David Gibson, has more than 60 per cent of the votes.  His 18-year-old ALP opponent has not stepped foot in the electorate since being nominated!  He was representated at a recent public meeting by a cardboard cutout effigy.  Mr Gibson is Opposition spokesperson for Local Government.  After the election, the most likely outcome will be seven government seats held from Landsborough to Gympie, with only Nambour and surrounds represented by an Independent.  Mr Newman will have seven people sitting around the ministerial table, every one of them in his ear about the SCL duplication (hopefully).