http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/grantham-protests-at-being-used-...RESIDENTS of the flood-ravaged town of Grantham have lashed out at being used as ''political footballs'' after seeing an ALP election commercial showcasing Premier Anna Bligh's leadership during last year's natural disasters.
The powerful ''Anna Bligh for Queenslanders'' commercial is an attempt to resuscitate the Premier's standing with voters by harking back to the high point of her leadership. But it has also exposed Ms Bligh's struggle to translate her performance then into an electoral advantage now.Set to the emotionally charged ''We are Queenslanders'' speech Ms Bligh made at the height of the crisis, the commercial flashes up images of the Premier wading through floodwaters, comforting distressed residents and surveying the damage wrought by cyclone Yasi.
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But it has been criticised by flood victims still struggling to rebuild their lives.
Marty Warburton, who had to be rescued from the roof of his service station when a wall of water crashed through Grantham a year ago, said: ''I frown upon it. On a personal level I don't have a problem with Anna Bligh, but on a political level I'm just disgusted.''
Mr Warburton said he had spoken to a ''fair few'' people in Grantham who were upset. ''They said: 'We knew she was going to try to use this in the election.'''
Kerry Yem, who has been living in makeshift housing in a churchyard since her home was destroyed, said: ''Anna Bligh herself, I believe she tried hard, she did do a lot during the flood, but I'm not going to vote for her because she's going to lose.''
Mrs Yem said Grantham was ''sick'' of being a political football when the residents were still battling to rebuild.
The town is now divided, with accusations that some people received flood money to which they were not entitled and resentment towards those who are back on their feet. Only a quarter of the townspeople have moved back.
Grantham is in the Lockyer electorate, which is held by the Liberal National Party with a 7.6 per cent margin. But Mrs Yem predicted Bob Katter's Australia Party would do well in the area.
''Bob Katter is going to take this town - we'll all vote for him,'' she said. ''He's outspoken, he puts it like it is. It's the mad hatter for me all the way.''
A senior Queensland Labor campaign strategist said the party was bracing itself for an LNP landslide victory on March 24.
But as the LNP holds its official campaign launch today, the party is warning its candidates in marginal seats against complacency. Internal polling shows the contest is much closer in marginal electorates than the statewide polls suggest.
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