QUEENSLAND ELECTION 2009

COOMERA Labor 8.3%
New electorate Region: Northern Gold Coast Federal divisions: Fadden/Forde
	MICHAEL CRANDON Liberal National (bottom) PETRINA MAIZEY Greens RUSSELL ANDERSON DS4SEQ LEEANNE ENOCH Labor (top)

Created to accommodate the ongoing Gold Coast population explosion, the new electorate of Coomera covers the northern end of the City of Gold Coast between the Pacific Motorway and the Broadwater as far south as Helensvale, along with the Logan City suburb of Eagleby at its northern extremity. The populous southern end was previously covered by Broadwater and Gaven, which respectively provide 36 per cent and 14 per cent of its voters, while the remaining half from the intermittently developed north and centre were in Albert. The electoral record of the area suggests Coomera to be a naturally conservative leaning seat that currently has a safe Labor margin due to Peter Beattie's extraordinary success on the Gold Coast.

Leeanne Enoch is a Red Cross community development manager of indigenous background, described by the Gold Coast Bulletin as “a proud Nunukul/Nughi woman from North Stradbroke Island”. She was hand-picked as candidate by Anna Bligh, and stands to become the state's first ever female indigenous MP if elected. Liberal National Party candidate Michael Crandon is a financial adviser from Pimpama.

Lawrence Springborg took a major gamble in the third week of the campaign when he refused to match Labor's $60 million commitment to an upgrade of Carrara Stadium, located in Mudgeeraba. Labor had trouble of its own when Anna Bligh announced the project on the Monday: whereas the consortium was shooting for entry at the 2011 season, Labor initially circulated a statement putting it at 2012, and a funding timetable showed the final instalment scheduled for 2012-13. Springborg's prompt declaration that the measure was too expensive provoked outrage from the Gold Coast Bulletin, which had earlier taken a stick to the LNP over a tourism package that promised equal funding to the Gold Coast and Mount Isa. Labor linked Springborg's position to litigious LNP benefactor Clive Palmer, who owns a potential competitor in the Gold Coast United soccer team. Springborg made a late withdrawal from a Chamber of Commerce luncheon on the Wednesday, at which he seemed likely to face a frosty reception. The official reason was that Springborg did not wish to share equal billing with Deputy Premier Paul Lucas in the absence of Anna Bligh, but Sue Lappeman of the Gold Coast Bulletin reported that organisers “always warned that Ms Bligh had not accepted the invitation and was unlikely to attend”.

Nonetheless, Springborg seems to be gaining at least some traction with his message that the LNP is sensibly prioritising transport and particularly health over sport. According to Steven Wardill of the Courier-Mail, “insiders in the Opposition Leader's camp insist he was acting on research showing health was the top priority for the Gold Coast”. For what it's worth, a self-selecting poll on the Gold Coast NBN television news showed 86 per cent opposition to Labor's promise. At the start of the last week of the campaign, the LNP launched a television advertisement and accompanying website asking: “Would you rather your sick child go to a hospital, or a game of football? While Anna Bligh is playing games, Lawrence Springborg is saving the Royal Children's Hospital.” Nonetheless, LNP members in the region remained nervous about the policy. Ray Stevens, LNP member for Robina and candidate for its successor seat of Mermaid Beach, defied his leader to argue the party should be “opening up the Treasury books” to find finding for the upgrade. According to Mike Bruce of the Gold Coast Bulletin, “one LNP insider said that billionaire businessman Clive Palmer was front and centre” of the decision not to fund the stadium.

PREDICTION: LIBERAL NATIONAL GAIN