Mayor gets LNP election call-up
WHITSUNDAY Mayor Andrew Willcox has won the battle to replace George Christensen as the LNP candidate for Dawson at the next federal election.
“I’m really excited to be nominated today as the candidate,” Mr Willcox said.
“The seat’s been really well held by George (Christensen) in the past and I’m keen to become involved and make sure they have the best representation for all my people in the seat of Dawson.
“There’s no more noble job than actually to serve the community and look after their needs.”
Mr Willcox faced former Mackay councillor Chris Bonanno and Burdekin farmer Charles ‘Chas’ Pasquale as each put their case forward for LNP preselection to party members ahead of the next federal election, widely speculated to be in March next year.
The third-generation farmer has held his mayoral position since 2016 and lives with his wife Raylene in Bowen. They have three children, Jack, Shannon and Tom.
Mr Willcox said it was still early days and so he could not say when or how the candidacy would impact his mayoral role. “Some of my biggest achievements as mayor, I’ve been able to secure over $200m of state and federal funding for many, many projects throughout the whole of
the Whitsundays and I’m sure I’ll be able to do the same for the seat of Dawson.
“It’s all about building infrastructure and first and foremost looking after the people, listening to what they’ve got to say and making sure they’re represented in Canberra in the best possible light.”
Mr Willcox said major projects included building Urannah Dam and Burdekin Falls Stage 2.
“George Christensen, he’s larger than life and he’s done a great job in Dawson but I’m Andrew Willcox, I’m the new man for the job and I will deliver for Dawson,” he said.
Former Mackay councillor Mr Bonanno unsuccessfully stood against Labor’s Julieanne Gilbert in November’s state election for the seat of Mackay.
The electorate of Dawson extends from the southern suburbs of Mackay to the southern suburbs of Townsville.
Since its inception in 1897, Labor has only held the seat twice – between 1966 and 1975, and 2007 and 2010.