Home Affairs Minister and member for the Gold Coast seat of McPherson Karen Andrews says an investment property she owns along the proposed route for light rail stage 4 has nothing to do with her opposition to the controversial project.
Ms Andrews's declared interests include a unit along the Gold Coast Highway, where the proposed light rail line would be built.
Ms Andrews said she has declared all of her properties as required in the register of members' interests.
"I'm not hiding them behind a trust, I'm not hiding them in any sort of a fund, they are declared very transparently."
Premier reacts
Light rail has received broad support from both Labor and the LNP, with the federal government committing almost $400 million to stage 3 last year.
But in an open letter posted on her website last week, Ms Andrews said she had written to Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher, asking that no federal funding be provided to the $2.7 billion project.
She wrote that stage 4, which would run south along the Gold Coast Highway to the airport near Coolangatta, could end up "damaging businesses, creating longer-term traffic issues and impacting the amenity of those living on side streets with a route through Burleigh Hill, Palm Beach and Currumbin."
"I'm only motivated by doing the right thing for people in my electorate," Ms Andrews said.
But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said stage 4 is a major part of the state government's plans for the 2032 Olympics.
"She has a duty to come forward and state what her views are categorically," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"We're working hand in glove with the council here to make sure the light rail continues."
When asked if she would support any alternatives other than the proposed Gold Coast Highway route, Ms Andrews said: "I have not entered into that".
"Some will say it should go down a particular route, I have not entered into that," she said.
Ms Andrews said the southern Gold Coast needs a "good transport solution" but that she is waiting for the state government to complete a business case for extension of heavy rail from Varsity Lakes south to the airport.
Mayor renews criticism
Mayor Tom Tate has been heavily critical of Ms Andrew's position and said her opposition is "not logically driven".
"At the eve of an election ... Member for McPherson does 'you're not coming down this route'," he said.
"Not just me blindsided or the Premier, I think the members of the LNP were blindsided.
Australian Values Party candidate for McPherson, Andy Cullen, said locals "have been largely ignored" and that Ms Andrews had "flipped-flopped".
"They've been campaigning with their issues and putting those forward to government for over two years regarding this light rail," he said.
"Now she's starting to pay attention."
But Ms Andrews said claims that her opposition has been motivated by the upcoming federal election are "just a nonsense".
"I have talked and raised concerns about light rail on behalf of my community for a very long period of time.
"They need to be listened to."
Public consultation concerns
The state government conducted public consultation for stage 4 in 2021, with a survey finding 63 per cent of respondents supported the highway route, while a council survey found 64 per cent supported it.
But a survey run by Ms Andrews's office last year found 81 per cent opposed it.
Ms Andrews said public consultation has been inadequate.
"What they get from the state government is an information session," Ms Andrews said.
But Tom Tate said: "The main issue is about disclosure".
"If you've got an investment property there, put it right in front to everyone to know," he said,
"To be dug up by a journalist later on, it's like, why didn't you disclose it?
"It just doesn't look good."
