WIN COULD OPEN LINE TO CANBERRA
Expert’s take on what a Scott victory may mean
AN LNP victory in the seat of Townsville could give the city a more direct line to Canberra, according to one political expert.
Incumbent Labor MP Scott Stewart is still holding on with 33.55 per cent of the primary vote with 77.12 per cent counted late yesterday. His main rival, LNP’s Casie Scott, has lost some ground and is 550 votes behind at 31.43 per cent.
A Labor victory in Townsville would see the party retain all three seats it won at the last election, which James Cook University political science and international relations lecturer Dr Maxine Newlands said could give the city a strong voice with the Premier.
But Dr Newlands said a win for Ms Scott could mean the city gets a stronger voice in Canberra.
“The fact the main Townsville city seat is the big question means the LNP got more support from business,” she said.
“I was at the recent Bulletin breakfast and could see very strong support from local business with the stadium happening and the redevelopment of the CBD, so I can see there will be more support for investment coming from an LNP candidate looking at a national level.”
Dr Newlands said the fact the Townsville seat went from having the largest to the smallest margin of the city’s three electorates could indicate a shift back to the Coalition. “A Townsville LNP candidate could really mix things up,” she said. Mr Stewart said yesterday he was happy to gain back some territory in the primary vote but knew the result would go down to the wire. “It’s been a real rollercoaster but I’ve always stayed very optimistic and I know every vote is going to count,” he said. Mr Stewart acknowledged there had been a swing to the LNP in his seat and minor parties in others and that it meant the next parliament would be “an interesting one”.
“What this means is people really want to be heard and to make sure they are getting the best out of their politicians who represent them,” he said.
“It’s been a tough, hard road in Townsville, there’s no denying that. But it makes it much easier to have three Labor members advocating all for the same projects.”
Incumbent LNP Hinchinbrook MP Andrew Cripps holds 30.51 per cent of the primary vote in his seat with 80.36 per cent counted yesterday.
Both One Nation candidate Margaret Bell and Katter’s Australian Party’s Nick Dametto are still real contenders with 21.79 per cent and 21.06 per cent of primary vote counted respectively.
In the Burdekin, Labor’s Mike Brunker remains in front with 36.57 per cent, with LNP incumbent Dale Last trailing on 31.42 per cent and One Nation’s Sam Cox at 29.24 per cent.