Fight to be first rural premier in 30 years
WHEN voters head to the polls on October 31, countryraised Deb Frecklington will be facing a political battle on two fronts.
On top of campaigning to hold her seat of Nanango for a fourth term, Ms Frecklington is fighting to restore the LNP to government and become the first premier from outside the state’s southeast corner since 1989.
It’s an achievement she believes is well within her grasp and one that is long overdue.
“I’m really excited for it,” Ms Frecklington said.
“The time is ripe for regional Queensland to have excellent representation from the top,” Ms Frecklington said.
“I am unashamedly proud of the fact that I grew up in regional Queensland, I‘ve raised my family in regional Queensland, and it’s about time that regional Queensland got their say.
“I believe that no matter where you live, you should be able to be represented by your government.”
Her fight for the premiership of Queensland remains tight, with a Newspoll released on July 30 showing the LNP leading Labor 51-49 on two-party preferred.
However, her fight to keep her own seat is likely to be a foregone conclusion.
Despite two challengers in Labor’s Mark Stapleton and One Nation’s Tony Scrimshaw, the opposition leader holds the seat on a margin of 13 per cent, meaning it’s unlikely she will be unseated.
When asked about the potential challenges of being both the premier and still working as the MP for Nanango, Ms Frecklington said she would “cross that bridge if we come to it”.
Her wishlist for the Nanango electorate should she be elected, includes economic development to turn the region into a “serious contender” in the domestic tourism market.
Water security projects would also be top of the agenda, and Ms Frecklington said the region would only benefit if she were premier.