Election Race Hots Up

August 19, 2013

The upcoming Federal Election on September 7 will be a “battle of the right” in the South Burnett with five parties hoping to secure the conservative vote in the region.

The Palmer United Party, Katter’s Australian Party, Family First and Rise Up Australia Party are hoping to steal votes from the LNP in the three federal seats that cross the South Burnett:

• Wide Bay (Murgon, Goomeri, Tansey, Kilkivan),

• Flynn (Wondai, Proston), and

• Maranoa (Kingaroy, Kumbia, Nanango, Yarraman, Cooyar and Blackbutt).

Candidates from The Greens and ALP are also contesting all three seats.

Wide Bay – held by The Nationals leader Warren Truss – and Maranoa – held by Deputy Speaker Bruce Scott – are considered very safe LNP seats although both candidates are facing multiple challengers.

Flynn, a finger of which extends into the South Burnett, also covers the mining and industrial areas around Blackwater, Mt Morgan and Gladstone and is considered a much more marginal LNP seat.

It is currently held by Ken O’Dowd, who as well as facing conservative challengers is also being targeted by two independents.

Mr O’Dowd’s strongest test, however, is expected to come from the ALP’s Chris Trevor who formerly held the seat.

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The following is a list of candidates who will be standing in each of the local seats (in ballot paper order) with links to the ABC’s  Federal Election guide:

Maranoa

• SPELLMAN, John – Family First
• CEDRIC-THOMPSON, Nick – Australian Labor Party
• NEWSON, Grant – The Greens
• SCOTT, Bruce – Liberal National Party of Queensland – sitting member
• CLOUSTON, George Mousley – Rise Up Australia Party
• BJELKE-PETERSEN, John – Palmer United Party
• WALTON, Rowell – Katter’s Australian Party

Flynn

• TOMSETT, Craig – Independent
• O’DOWD, Ken – Liberal National Party of Queensland – sitting member
• SCOTT, Duncan George – Independent
• DICKINS, Kingsley – Rise Up Australia Party
• THOMPSON, Serena – The Greens
• MOLDRE, Renae – Family First
• ENSBY, Steven Philip – Palmer United Party
• LOVE, Richard Laing – Katter’s Australian Party
• TREVOR, Chris – Australian Labor Party

Wide Bay

• TRUSS, Warren – Liberal National Party of Queensland – sitting member
• DALE, Gordon – Katter’s Australian Party
• RINGROSE, Joy – The Greens
• ANDERSON, Stephen Alfred – Palmer United Party
• CHAPMAN, John – Family First
• DICKINS, Grace – Rise Up Australia Party
• STANTON, Lucy – Australian Labor Party