BOWMAN candidates took a welter of questions from the floor at the Fairfax Media election forum held at Cleveland on Thursday night.
Hot subjects included population growth, roads funding, infrastructure, debt and - especially – the trust-worthiness of politicians.
A crowd of about 80 attended the event which was moderated by Fairfax Queensland managing editor Brad Cooper.
Bowman MP Andrew Laming, Family First's Brett Saunders and Australian Liberty Alliance's Tony Duncan did not attend, prompting complaints from many residents.
At a Fairfax Media forum in Beaudesert on Tuesday, LNP incumbents in the seats of Wright and Forde, Scott Buchholz and Bert van Manen also did not attend forums, prompting grumbles that LNP candidates were trying to make themselves small targets.
Mr Laming said he was unable to attend due to commitments, although he made it to the end of the Q and A session.
“I congratulate Fairfax, the organisers of the third debate, as well as the Australian Christian Lobby and the Redland City Chamber of Commerce for debates earlier this month,” he said.
Despite his brief appearance and some heckling, Mr Laming took some of the toughest questions, especially regarding late election promises on funding of roads and sporting infrastructure.
"As the only major party candidate to attend all three federal election debates, I think this has been one of the most inspiring federal campaigns because of the focus on Redland issues,'' he said.
Labor candidate Kim Richards said her vision for Redlands was one of sustainable infrastructure, with an emphasis on jobs.
"The biggest issue by far is jobs,'' she said.
She said that of about 60,000 local workers, 48,000 travelled away from Bowman for employment, showing the need for industries to be built locally.
In reply to a question about Greens’ senators blocking legislation, Greens candidate Brad Scott said government was an issue of trust and if there was one thing voters could rely on, it was for his party's MPs to remain true to policies.