Two to contest for One Nation

ONE Nation has announced its first ever candidate for Hinchinbrook and another to contest the seat of Mundingburra.

Margaret Bell will run against the Liberal National Party encumbent Andrew Cripps in Hinchinbrook at the next state election.

Malcolm Charlwood will run against Labor’s Mundingburra MP Coralee O’Rourke and LNP candidate Matt Derlagen.

Ms Bell, who lives in Jensen, said she decided to run for One Nation because of concerns over a number of issues.

“I was just coming across so many issues from so many walks of life,” she said. “So I just put my hand up.” The candidate, who ran as an independent in Thuringowa at the 2015 state election, is now able to run for Hinchinbrook following this year’s electorate boundary changes.

Ms Bell said many residents were frustrated by the state’s two major parties.

“Hinchinbrook has many of the same issues that Townsville does – we have water, crime, unemployment, cost of living, electricity,” she said.

Ms Bell, who’s a house- care worker, said she was passionate about the region, having lived locally since 1990.

“We want to make this country good again, especially Townsville,” she said.

Mr Charlwood, who’s a real estate agent and has lived in Townsville for six years, said he wanted to make a difference.

“I think One Nation has more to offer than the others in Mundingburra,” he said.

“I’m quietly confident and we will talk to the people.

“The issues are pretty big – water and crime.

“We need to have people who will take responsibility in the courts. And having the cost of power like it is, is not on.”

A date for the state election has not been announced.