When a surgeon and a psychologist are vying for the seat boasting Queensland’s highest concentration of health workers, health will almost inevitably form the core plank of public discussion.
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And so it was at Saturday’s candidates’ forum for the Stafford by-election.
For the first time since nominations closed on Thursday, the four candidates had their opportunity to sell themselves to a population left with a somewhat bitter political aftertaste by the resignation of LNP member Dr Chris Davis.
With just two weeks to go until the July 19 poll, the LNP’s Bob Andersen, Labor’s Anthony Lyneham, Greens candiate Anne Boccabella and Family First’s Sally-Anne Vincent faced a small but vocal crowd at Stafford State School, each attempting to sell themselves as the best person for the job.
Dr Lyneham, the maxillo-facial surgeon who polls predict will reclaim the seat Labor lost to Dr Davis in 2012, said accessibility to quality public education and healthcare fuelled him to put his hand up for a political role, despite never having any previous ambition to do so.
“I just couldn’t sit back any more, cuts to health, cuts to education, the inaction of the LNP government,” he said. “The LNP government simply stopped listening.
“Education is the key, the bedrock that underpins my beliefs and the beliefs of the Australian Labor Party and that’s the reason I’m here today.
“If it wasn't for Labor's education reforms in the 1970s there was no way I could have completed a university education.
“I'm determined to serve the community and I have a true belief in quality, accessible delivery of quality accessible public healthcare.”
However, Dr Lyneham came under fire after he admitted he would continue working as a surgeon if elected on July 19 to maintain his medical registration.
Not so the LNP’s Bob Andersen, a Queensland Health psychologist who said he will resign from his position in acute mental health services to concentrate full-time on his role serving the people of Stafford, if elected.
“Stafford needs a full-time member of parliament, it’s that simple,” he said.
“I have absolutely no plans to continue practising if elected on the 19th, none whatsoever.”
In response to a submitted question asked of all candidates by an absent Dr Davis, Mr Andersen expressed an ardent admiration for Premier Campbell Newman and, while largely deflecting discussion on cuts to health jobs, promoted the LNP’s track record on jobs growth.
“I have enormous respect for Campbell Newman, he’s a man of courage and conviction, a man who delivers, who approaches a problem, finds a solution and delivers,” he said.
“The Newman Government has a great track record of creating jobs by cutting red tape, of promoting new industries and empowering business and small business to create jobs.
“I'll stand on the Newman Government’s track record of cutting red tape.”
Greens candidate Anne Boccabella, who is vying for a state political seat for the party for the fifth time, promoted her own small business-gained financial acumen while railing against the Newman Government’sasset sales agenda.
“I have been in small business and survived three GFCs, I think I have the tenacity and know how to run financial matters,” she said.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by abuses to the political system over the past two years.
“Asset sales, cost of living, every aspect of our lives has been dented, damaged and torn asunder.”
Family First’s Sally-Anne Vincent was forced to defend her last minute nomination against accusations it was an afterthought.
“I'm not an afterthought, just a latecomer, we’re a small party and its often not a level playing field when it comes to politics,” she said.
“I’ve got a background in small business and have a blended family of six kids.
“I understand blended families, single parents and the importance of keeping families together.”
Inevitably, audience questions also turned to alcohol-fuelled violence, with Dr Lyneham’s long campaign for measures that would curb the problem ultimately catapulting him into the political realm.
Both Dr Lyneham and Mrs Boccabella advocated a trial of the Newcastle solution, which would cut licensed venue trading hours.
“We have as a policy simply a two hour reduction for a two year trial, that's all we are asking for and once we have that, we will be able to prove it simply, it will work,” Dr Lyneham said.
Mr Andersen promoted the Newman Government’s Safe Night Out Strategy, which plans for new laws and tougher penalties for perpetrators of alcohol-fuelled violence, so as “not to punish the majority for the actions of a few”.
“In Sydney that plan has seen violence moved out of the clubs and onto the streets,” he said.
“The government has a plan to deal with this and it is the most comprehensive plan in the nation."
