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Wednesday, January 14, 2015
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Off and racing in 2015!
As thousands of locals flocked to the Mareeba Turf Club on Boxing Day for the traditional race meeting, local politicians were unaware a race of their own would begin in under a fortnight. The battle for the seats of Barron River, Cook and Dalrymple are beginning to heat up. (Photo by Peter Roy)
Snap election By Justin Fris
QUEENSLANDERS will be going to the polls on Saturday January 31 after LNP Premier Campbell Newman called a snap state election last Tuesday. In 2012, Mr Newman rode into power with a 78-7 majority, which translated in a gain of 34 seats from 2009. Conversely, the Labor (Bligh) Government were dished a hiding, falling from 51 seats to 7. Katter’s Australia Party also gained electoral ground, as voters sought a new alternative.
The landscape has changed dramatically across Queensland since that night, with both major political parties not taking a backward step. Labor, battered and bruised from two heavy defeats at Federal and State level, have slowly put humpty dumpty back together again over the last couple of years. Electricity prices and unemployment have been thorns in Mr Newman’s tenure, with voters regularly voicing their anger in the streets and on social media. Whether the addition of the Abbott Government at Federal level will help or hinder
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Mr Newman; time will only tell. Locally, three electorates will be intently fought out on the Tablelands. None are considered a sure thing, with all candidates required to push themselves up until Election Day. Cook appears to be the closest electorate, with local MP David Kempton keen to continue his tenure. Mr Kempton was victorious by 1358 votes in 2012 (after preferences), which may give enough electoral wriggle room for Billy Gordon (ALP) or Lee Marriott (KAP) to mount a victorious cam-
paign. In Dalrymple, local member Shane Knuth (KAP) won handsomely in 2012, but will face new rivals in the upcoming campaign. Barron River MP Michael Trout was victorious by 4912 (after preferences) votes at the last election, but ALP rival Craig Crawford is well and truly within the constraints of victory. If the election is close, the Far North could play a major part in deciding the new tenure of government. Both major parties will be confident of victory, for vastly different reasons.
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