ON TOP IN GROOM POLL

Swing against Hamilton but LNP is …

SITTING MP Garth Hamilton has been comfortably returned in the seat of Groom, despite a swing against him.

Mr Hamilton attracted 62 per cent of the vote on a two-party-preferred basis.

However, while postal votes still need to be counted, the LNP’s primary vote suffered a significant drop of about 12 points to sit at 41 per cent.

VOTERS across Toowoomba braved the cold and wet weather to cast their vote in Groom at the federal election, with a number of residents revealing they had changed their vote since 2019.

Nearly 20mm dropped on the Garden City on Saturday, while wind gusts of up to 48km/h ensured locals lining up were in no mood to stay and chat with volunteers and candidates.

Highfields State Secondary College had a line out the door at one stage, with thousands making their voices heard in the important suburb across Saturday.

Highfields resident Ian Choice, who works in the trucking industry, said he voted for Labor’s Gen Allpass to see a change of government to deal with the rising cost of living.

“I gave Labor my first preference – I just want to see something different, I’m looking for a change – the Liberals have been in office long enough, and I want to see what Labor will do differently,” he said.

Kristy Weier, who voted with her family including little Stella, said she was backing incumbent LNP candidate Garth Hamilton, arguing the party supported small businesses and had handled the Covid-19 pandemic well.

“We’ve always been Liberal supporters – we’ve got family who are in business, and the way the LNP supports businesses is really important to us,” she said.

“(The key issues are) support for the business community and how the government handled the pandemic.”

Centenary Heights State High School was also a busy poll, with four candidates campaigning at the booth.

Resident Andrew Park said while he felt the major parties were “similar”, he backed a change of government to return more “compassion” to federal politics.

“ScoMo has had his go, and I’d like to see a change, but also I’d like to see a more compassionate government.”

Picture: Nev Madsen CELEBRATIONS: LNP member for Groom Garth Hamilton celebrates with wife Louise and children (from left) Claude, Everard and Adeline Hamilton.

POLLING DAY: Paul and Mae Kuhnemann after casting their vote in the federal election on a rainy day in Groom. Pictures: Kevin Farmer/Tom Gillespie

Andrew Park says he wants a change of government.

Kristy Weier, with daughter Stella, backed the LNP.