VOTERS OUT TO BEAT RUSH
PRE- POLL PLACES GET WORKOUT
NORTH Queenslanders have officially started to cast their votes, with pre- polling beginning yesterday.
Hyde Park Centre has been set up with booths for all electorates, with the centre surrounded by supporters look- ing to tempt early bird voters as they enter the site.
Alan Rutland from Kirwan was in and out within minutes and said he was getting in early to avoid the queues on November 25.
“Because it’s on a Saturday, you have to plan your day around it, and it spoils your weekend routine,” he said.
Mr Rutland said he thought a lot of people would be using their vote to reject the major parties.
“There are just so many balls up in the air and we are trying to get things done to create more jobs but I don’t know what’s going to change,” he said. “I think jobs are the most important thing.”
Mr Rutland said that, although water was also a priority, unemployment was a more recent issue.
“Water has been an issue for some time but it’s just taken four no-wet seasons for somebody to realise we should have done something,” he said. “The jobs are very important because we have got ways of getting the water but you need third parties to get the jobs. They can’t manufacture them themselves.”
First- time voters Cooper Plath and Bailey Simmons, both 18, took to the polls as soon as they could as they are due to fly out to Canada this week for a season in the snow.
Mr Plath, from Pimlico, said his sis-
ter was an avid Liberal National Party supporter and he had been given a full run- down on her preferred party.
“I’m not too fussed about politics, so it’s good my sister gave me some information for my vote,” he said.
Mr Simmons, from Mysterton, said his vote reflected the need for marriage equality and a push towards getting the DriveIT NQ program off the ground after 13 years of campaigning.
“I got a lot of advice from Mum and as an advocate for the DriveIT NQ project, I have supported One Nation and the Liberal Party,” he said.
Early voting is now available at Hyde Park Centre on Woolcock St for all districts from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm Saturday.
The pre- poll site will be open until 6pm the day before the election.
On November 25, polling booths will be open from 8am to 6pm at sites throughout Townsville.