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Other Parliamentary SpeechesThis page is dedicated to Peter's speeches during parliament that do not fall under Questions or Questions without notice. They range from debating legislation, reporting on events or issues in his seat of Southport and his Ministerial Statements.
Fadden Electorate |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Mar 13 2004 |
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Mr LAWLOR (Southport-ALP) (10.16 a.m.): There has been a change in the opposition leadership and there may even be a new coalition, although that marriage has not yet been consummated and I am not sure who is the more reluctant-the bride or the groom. I am not too sure ifthey know which is which! But one thing never changes, and that is the single-minded determination of the ruling Liberal Party faction to undermine its state parliamentary leader, the member for Robina.
Recently, the Liberal and National Parties carved up the seats to be contested in the next state election. Just two years after the voters of the Gold Coast ejected the sitting National Party members for Albert, Broadwater, Southport and Burleigh and after the National Party scored a miserable eight per cent of the vote in the Surfers Paradise by-election, the ruling faction in the Liberal Party is allowing the discredited National Party to run in Broadwater, Burleigh and Southport on its own. It has also given the
Nationals a free run in Springwood and Redlands. As a result, every state seat located within the federal seat of Fadden, one of the Liberal's safest seats, will have only a National Party candidate.
Liberal Party voters, not to mention Liberal Party members, will be denied a vote for a Liberal candidate and they are in open revolt as a result. Who could blame them? When the Liberals and the Nationals last went head to head in Fadden it was at the last Senate election. The Liberal team scored 47 per cent of the vote and the Nationals, with their high-profile candidate Senator Ron Boswell heading the ticket, scored-wait for it-4.5 per cent of the vote, yet every Fadden seat in the state election will be contested by the Nationals.
Apart from undermining the member for Robina, there is an even more cogent reason for this situation. It just so happens that the ruling Santoro-Caltabiano faction does not have the numbers in Fadden. That is why Liberal voters are being denied a Liberal candidate and why the National Party, so overwhelming rejected just two years ago, is being allowed to contest every Fadden seat. With friends like that, Bob, you needn't worry about enemies on this side of the House.
Time expired. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 11:00 PM
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