January 6, 2015
The Queensland State Election will be held on Saturday, January 31.
Premier Campbell Newman visited Acting Governor Tim Carmody this morning to ask him to issue the writs for the snap poll and announced the date shortly afterwards.
Mr Newman said on Facebook that Queensland’s economic recovery was “too important to be jeopardised by ongoing election speculation”.
“There’s no time to waste securing Queensland’s economic future with our strong plan for job creation,” he wrote.
Most commentators had expected the election to be held in March..
Two State electorates cover the South Burnett region: Callide, held by Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney (LNP), and Nanango, held by Deb Frecklington (LNP).
Mrs Frecklington, the former Assistant Minister for Finance, was appointed Assistant Minister to the Premier in May this year.
Already announced as candidates are:
Callide
- Jeff Seeney (LNP)
- John Bjelke-Petersen (PUP)
- Graeme Martin (ALP)
Nanango
- Deb Frecklington (LNP)
- Ray Hopper (KAP)
- Liz Hollens-Riley (ALP)
Mrs Frecklington secured Nanango at the 2012 election with 45.44 per cent of the vote while Mr Seeney notched up 53.33 per cent in Callide.
John Bjelke-Petersen was named Queensland leader of the Palmer United Party in late December. The former LNP candidate for Nanango unsuccessfully stood as the PUP candidate for Maranoa at the last Federal election.
Ray Hopper, the current member for Condamine, is Queensland leader of Katter’s Australian Party. He quit the LNP to join KAT in November 2012. His son Ben intends to stand for KAT in Condamine at the State poll.
Voting at the election is compulsory. New enrolments (or changes to enrolments) must be made by 5:00pm on Saturday (January 10).
Nominations close at noon on Tuesday, January 13.
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