O’Rourke seat looks shaky in latest poll

STATE Labor Minister Coralee O’Rourke would have been tossed out of Mundingburra if an election were held last week, according to a poll.

Activist group GetUp! commissioned Reachtel to poll the Townsville electorate on May 2, finding the LNP ahead of Labor 51 to 49 per cent on a two- party preferred basis.

It shows the vote of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party could be crucial in delivering the result for the LNP through preferences. On first preferences, Labor polled 32.9 per cent to the LNP’s 31.7 per cent.

Next came One Nation on 16.6 per cent and The Greens on 5.4 per cent.

O t h e r s / i n d e p e n d e n t s polled 3 per cent with 10.5 per cent undecided.

Ms O’Rourke, the Disabilities Minister and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland, said she was focused on getting on with the job of working for her community and would not be distracted by speculation.

“The people of Mundingburra want someone who will stand up for them on important local issues like jobs, water, power and safety,” Ms O’Rourke said.

“And that’s exactly what I’m working hard every day to do, through projects like the Townsville Stadium, City Deal, hydropower station and Stronger Communities group.

“Of course, there is always more work to be done and I won’t stop putting Townsville first around the Cabinet table.”

But LNP challenger Matt Derlagen concerned water.

Mr Derlagen said he was not reading too deeply into what would likely be one of the first polls of many ahead of the State election.

“My main focus is getting out to the community and trying to talk to as many people as I can,” Mr Derlagen said.

“I want to establish solutions to the problems Townsville is facing.”

Mr Derlagen said the one issue he was hearing most was said people were about crime and that there had been so much inaction in Townsville over the past couple of years.

“People are mainly talking about crime and water,” Mr Derlagen said.

“They feel Townsville is not the Townsville of old.”

Ms O’Rourke said it was easy for the LNP to fly in and sprout empty promises.

“I think their record in Townsville speaks for itself – slashing services, privatising our assets and freezing investment in job- creating projects,” Ms O’Rourke said.