WALKER GETS NOD
TOWNSVILLE councillor Les Walker will run for Labor in the ultra-marginal seat of Mundingburra at the upcoming state election.
Mr Walker, who hails from the party’s Right faction, won preselection yesterday against local nurse Simon Mitchell from the party’s Left.
It’s understood there was overwhelming support for Mr Walker on the ground. It comes after Palaszczuk Government minister Coralee O’rourke, who has held the Townsville seat since 2015, announced she was quitting politics earlier this month to focus on her health.
Mr Walker is a former prison guard and said he was the “underdog” in the race to replace Ms O’rourke.
But despite being months behind his counterparts Glenn Doyle, Ian Bowron, Alannah Tomlinson and Jenny Brown, Mr Walker said there would be many sleepless nights and long hours between now and October 31.
Speaking to the Townsville Bulletin, Mr Walker said he would speak to the Townsville City Council CEO about his future as a councillor and make an official announcement at Tuesday’s council meeting.
He said the community came first in his bid for the seat and he was proud to be part of Annastacia Palaszczuk’s team.
Taking on police officer and LNP candidate Mr Doyle, Mr Walker will draw on his experience in corrections.
“I’ve had 23 years in corrective services and I know how to manage offenders,” he said.
Mr Walker added that he did not take the opportunity lightly and would take the issues affecting Queensland and Townsville head on.
The Premier said she was looking forward to welcoming Mr Walker to the team.
“Les has decades of experience representing the Townsville community,” she said.
“He will be a strong and experienced voice for Mundingburra as we continue Queensland’s COVID-19 health and economic response.”
Labor state secretary Julie-Ann Campbell said Mr Walker was a longstanding local and community champion who would deliver the Premier’s economic recovery plan in Mundingburra.
“When Deb Frecklington was Campbell Newman’s Assistant Treasurer she cut thousands of Townsville jobs,” she said. “The LNP are a risk to our regions’ economy and we need proven local fighters like Les to keep us on the road to recovery.”
Labor held Mundingburra by a paper-thin margin of 1.1 per cent at the 2017 election.