Warwick bank manager David Littleproud, 39, has won the LNP pre-selection ballot for the electorate of Maranoa against four other candidates.
The Federal seat is currently held by Deputy Speaker Bruce Scott who announced earlier this year he would not be restanding at the next election.
Mr Scott, who turned 72 this week, has represented the Maranoa electorate for more than 25 years.
Local LNP members selected Mr Littleproud in a postal ballot with the result announced on Friday.
The electorate is considered a safe LNP seat, however Mr Littleproud told southburnett.com.au he was not taking anything for granted, especially in the wake of the Queensland State election results.
“This is day one (of the campaign) and it will be here on in until 6:00pm on election day,” he said.
“You can’t take anything for granted.
“The demographics have changed. The eastern part of the seat is very urbanised now and mining has also brought in new people.
“I will listen to the people. I need to resonate with people from all walks of life as well as the traditional National Party voters.”
However, he says agriculture is still the common thread running through the electorate.
“I believe agriculture is on the cusp of a new dawn with real opportunities we can tap into,” he said.
“We are in a global economy now. We have the raw materials that the world wants.”
Mr Littleproud said he believed the Federal Government could help this with infrastructure such as road and rail links.
“We have a real opportunity to get it right,” he said.
He sees exciting opportunities with the Brisbane to Melbourne rail and a western link, and the development of a kangaroo meat industry.
His key priorities for Maranoa include “connectivity – telecommunications and transport” as well as drought support, especially after the problems Quilpie Shire has had qualifying for funding.
“Maybe we need to review the rules. But it’s not just the farmers that are hurting, it’s also the small businesses. If they leave, our towns will die,” he said.
Mr Littleproud has a South Burnett connection … he formerly worked at the NAB bank branch in Nanango and says he knows the area well.
He is the son of former State Government MP Brian Littleproud who held the seat of Condamine and then Western Downs for the National Party from 1983 until he retired in 2001.
David Littleproud said he had always had a passion for politics – “I grew up with it” – and has been the local campaign manager for Lawrence Springborg for the past 10 years or so, and is a part of Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington’s agriculture committee.
However, he has also enjoyed his professional career in banking over the past 20 years.
He grew up on his parents’ mixed grazing farm at Canaga, north-east of Chinchilla.
He first entered banking with NAB and worked for the bank at Nanango, Miles, Charleville, St George and Warwick … “all within Maranoa”.
Four years ago he joined Suncorp, and is currently regional manager for south-west Queensland.
He lives in Warwick with his wife Sarah and three sons, Tom, 9; Hugh, 3; and Harry, six months.
David and Sarah also own a small business in Warwick, a Mr Rentals franchise.
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Acting LNP President Gary Spence congratulated Mr Littleproud on his pre-selection.
“David is fiercely proud of his connection to south-west Queensland and will be a great representative for the people of this great region,” Mr Spence said.
“The LNP has a strong record of standing up for regional Queensland and David will continue that tradition.”
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The other candidates vying for Maranoa were:
- Rabobank Southern Queensland manager Lachlan Douglas
- Charleville grazier Rick Gurnett
- Blackall grazier Alison Krieg
- Maranoa Regional councillor Cameron O’Neil
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