July 3, 2016
Sitting LNP member Ken O’Dowd looks in real danger of losing his seat of Flynn after Saturday’s Federal Election cliffhanger.
On Sunday afternoon – with 92 of 96 booths counted – Mr O’Dowd was 824 votes behind ALP candidate Zac Beers on first preference votes.
But the gap after distribution of preferences was even greater, 2183 votes.
Postal votes could narrow this margin but most pundits are giving the seat to the ALP.
southburnett.com.au could not reach Mr O’Dowd for comment.
One Nation candidate Phil Baker, described as “a contractor in local laws”, stole votes from both men, securing 16.8 per cent (11,227) first preference votes.
The electorate of Flynn extends from Gladstone to Emerald and south to Wondai.
It was created by a redistribution before the 2007 Federal Election.
Its inaugural Member was Labor’s Chris Trevor, who was turfed out by Mr O’Dowd at the 2010 poll as part of a Queensland-wide swing to the LNP.
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Mr Beers, 25, is an Australian Workers Union organiser and the son of AWU executive member Tony Beers.
He told southburnett.com.au he took leave from his union role to contest the poll.
Mr Beers grew up in Central Queensland and is currently studying a Law and Commerce degree externally.
Speaking on Sunday afternoon, Mr Beers said the result was still “very, very close” and too narrow to call.
He said that historically postal votes could favour the incumbent but this was not true in all cases.
“We were certainly the underdogs coming into the election,” he said. “But early on during the campaign it was obvious that there was a mood for change.”
Mr Beers said he had been involved with the Labor Party for a long time but had never really thought before about running for a seat.
“My motivation came about because I was disappointed about what was happening across the region and with the response by the current Member,” he said.
Mr Beers said there had been significant job losses, people were hurting, and Mr O’Dowd had not tried hard enough to assist them.
He attributed the strong vote for One Nation to the general frustration with the political status quo.
“There was also a large result for (Clive) Palmer at the last election which could have shifted across to One Nation,” he said.
He said there had been no clear trend with One Nation preferences with them averaging out about 50/50 between the ALP and LNP.
Mr Beers lives in Gladstone, is involved with the Tannum Sands Seagulls rugby league club, and is a past captain at Tannum Sands State High School.
