February 24, 2017
Deputy Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington looks set to take the South Burnett towns of Wondai, Murgon, Cherbourg, Goomeri and Proston away from Callide MP Jeff Seeney.
A proposed redistribution of State electoral boundaries was unveiled by the Queensland Electoral Commission on Thursday night – including the creation of four new seats: Hill, Jordan, Theodore and Bonney, and the renaming of several others.
In the South Burnett, maps released (see links below) show the electorate of Nanango extending from north of Kingaroy to past Tansey, east to past Cinnibar, and west to past Boondooma and Durong South.
In the south, the electorate still extends to just past Kilcoy and Coominya.
However, Mrs Frecklington has lost some parts of the Toowoomba Regional Council area, such as Maclagan, Crows Nest and Highfields, to Member for Condamine Patrick Weir.
Cooyar remains in Nanango electorate.
Member for Callide Jeff Seeney has lost the northern South Burnett towns, but his electorate now wraps around Nanango, taking in Chinchilla, Jandowae, Bell and the Bunya Mountains.
Speaking before the redistribution was announced, Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said that whichever way the redistribution split up the seat, she would be keen to work with her new constituents.
There had been speculation the seat could push further south towards Crows Nest, or north into the rest of the South Burnett. In the end, the ECQ chose the northern route.
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said the redistribution by the ECQ was the biggest shake-up of electoral boundaries in 30 years.
” The LNP will abide by the umpire’s decision,” he said.
“Given the electoral changes will affect many seats, the LNP will carefully study the findings and will engage with all its MPs and candidates before providing more public comment.
“This process is likely to take some time to work through.
“No matter how the cards fall, the LNP will work hard to win every vote in every seat across Queensland because when it comes to the serious business of Government – the LNP is the only party that will listen, plan and act to Build a Better Queensland.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the redistribution of the State’s electoral boundaries – released on the recommendations of an independent panel – may alter the electorates that thousands of Queenslanders belong to, but would not change her government’s commitments to Queenslanders.
“I expect all members of my team will seek re-election, and ask their local communities to judge them on their performance. My team has done a great job championing local jobs and restoring frontline services. There is more work to do,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said four new electorates had been added “at the insistence of the LNP”.
“The LNP cut 14,000 government workers, including in key service areas of health, child safety and education, when it was in office. They are prepared to create four new jobs – for four extra politicians,” she said.
Download full-size Nanango and Callide electorate maps:
- Proposed new Nanango electorate (2.5Mb PDF)
- Current Nanango boundaries (1.06Mb PDF)
- Proposed new Callide electorate (2.8Mb PDF)
- Current Callide boundaries (1.03Mb PDF)
External link: Queensland Electorate Boundary And Name Changes Explained (ABC News)
