Door open for LNP hopefuls

THE door remains open for prospective LNP members to run in Townsville’s three seats at the next state election, with the party waiting to identify “outstanding” candidates.

Preselection in the seats of Mundingburra, Thuringowa, and Townsville opened months ago, after Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington declared game-on to seize them from the Labor Party.

It is understood Mundingburra has received the most attention, with at least three local figures known to be weighing up their options.

But due to the LNP’S constitution, which bars applicants from making public statements about their nomination or candidate selection process without permission, none will declare their hand until the deal is sealed.

LNP state campaign director Lincoln Folo said once the local branch executive was satisfied there was either a big pool of candidates or an “outstanding” candidate was identified, the doors would close on preselection.

“This isn’t a quick process for us, we have a very thorough vetting process, so it will take some time from when it’s closed to when we will have a candidate on the ground,” he said.

Party sources have told the Townsville Bulletin the LNP have flagged a preference to run a woman in the seat of Mundingburra to go against sitting Labor MP Coralee O’rourke.

Mr Folo said the quality of the candidate was more important than gender.

“I’m looking to run the best possible candidate we can get, I’m not as worried about gender but obviously we’d encourage as many great women to run for us as we can,” Mr Folo said.

“Casie Scott in Townsville was a fantastic candidate the last time … we need good candidates.”

Ms Scott, the former LNP candidate for Townsville, confirmed in July that she would not run in the 2020 State Election. It is understood that a handful of people have flagged their interest to run in the seat, which became the most marginal Queensland state seat in 2017 after sitting Labor MP Scott Stewart won by just 214 votes.

Meanwhile, the LNP confirmed nominations for preselection in the seat of Whitsunday closed on September 20.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has previously said she was “absolutely” confident the party would win Whitsunday.

Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan, who recently announced he had created his own political party, said he “couldn’t care less” about who stood against him.

“I couldn’t care less who they put up against me, whoever it is will be Brisbane’s voice in Whitsunday and not the other way around,” he said.

Mr Stewart, Ms O’rourke and Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper have indicated they will be recontesting their seats at the October 2020 election.