Dawson electorate: Everything you need to know for Election 2022
Communities vulnerable during natural disasters such as Cyclone Debbie will be better able to access vital information with the Coalition stumping up more than $7.7m in funding.
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Pioneer Valley residents and visitors could soon enjoy better connection after $7.7 million was secured for network upgrades in Capricornia.
More than $5.4m will go towards a mixed wireless network and fibre backhaul for areas including Finch Hatton, Pinnacle, Gargett and Eungella.
The rural locality of Pasha, northwest of Moranbah, is set to receive $935,750 to upgrade one Telstra macro cell mobile station.
Capricornia MP Michelle Landry said people have called for the service improvements for some time.
“As we know, people struggle with wireless and the internet, and I think that people are going to be very excited about this announcement,” Ms Landry said.
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the funding was “a tremendous step forward for the valley”, as indicated by the review into Cyclone Debbie.
“The major thing that came out of tropical Cyclone Debbie in the aftermath and the review that we had, was the lack of communication and the inability of all of those communities up there to get up-to-date communication,” he said.
As well as providing vital service for remote communities during natural disasters, Mr Williamson said he believed the region’s agricultural industry could also benefit.
“That opens up all of the areas in terms of the machine learning, artificial intelligence and robotics,” he said.
“Our farmers are really keen to get into it because it’s a cost-saving method, but you’ve got to have connection and you’ve got to have the ability to get onto the internet.”
Another benefit to the improved connectivity will be for the tourism prospects of the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trail project.
Mr Williamson said being able to use mobile phones along the trail was something the council identified as vital to bringing in tourists.
The funding is locked into the budget and will stand even if the Coalition loses the election unless Labor decides to take it away.
CQUni’s electric vehicle centre locked in despite who wins
Capricornia MP Michelle Landry says a re-elected Coalition government would match Labor’s $9 million commitment to a new Mackay Electric Vehicle and Energy Training Centre at CQUniversity should they be re-elected.
The centre would be built at the Ooralea Campus and aimed to meet the emerging renewable technologies of the local mining, transport, construction and manufacturing industries.
Ms Landry on Friday said it was an important step to ensure the university moved with the times.
“This would cater for over 100 apprentices a year and thousands of jobs for the future,” she said.
“This would make CQUniversity one of the leading universities in Queensland with this training available.
“Electric vehicles are certainly something of the future and to have a campus here in Central Queensland that would actually provide training for this is incredible.”
Associate Vice President at CQUniversity Pierre Viljoen said it was great to have a commitment from both sides of politics.
“CQUniversity really looks towards not only training for the current workforce but also for those emerging industries,” Mr Viljoen said.
“Especially in this region, the emergence of hybrid technologies like electric diesel or solar-driven vehicles, or even hydrogen vehicles in the future.
“The Mackay Electric Vehicle and Energy Training Centre is specifically targeted at training those individuals that will be working in the development and maintenance of those technologies.”
Mr Viljoen said the university aims to have the centre ready by 2024.
While the $9 million is a major boost for CQUniversity Mackay, the Mackay Regional Sports Precinct still requires an estimated $50 million to be completed.
Ms Landry said she was very interested in the plans.
“If I have the honour of being re-elected, I’ll certainly be going into fight,” she said.
“I think this next term will be a lot about sporting precincts.”
Willcox swings for Mackay hockey vote
Dawson Nationals candidate Andrew Willcox said a Coalition Government re-election would bring $200,000 into the home of Mackay Hockey.
The funding would go towards a $350,000 renovation of the clubhouse, the installation of a viewing deck with undercover seating and more accessible facilities.
Mr Willcox said the “world-class facility” could become one of the “success stories” for the whole region, ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
“We could potentially have a team that comes here and trains,” he said.
“Whatever we can get out of the 2032 Olympics for legacy items, that’s only going to be a short window.
“But, if we can provide some facilities to have people come stay, train and then after the Olympics is over have all of the locals and visitors alike come and enjoy them, then I think that would be a win/win for everybody.”
Labor heavyweight praises ‘enormously impressive’ Mackay plans
Opposition resources spokeswoman Madeleine King has called the expansion plans for the Resources Centre of Excellence and Harrup Park “enormously impressive”.
Mrs King made the remarks alongside Queensland Labor Senator Anthony Chisholm and Dawson Labor candidate Shane Hamilton during a tour of the RCOE on May 9.
The tour featured presentations from RCOE CEO Steven Boxall and Harrup Park general manager Adrian Young on the benefits of the proposed expansion plans, which would open RCOE up to a new ‘future industries’ hub and Harrup Park build out two high ball courts, indoor cricket and AFL training facilities, gym and fitness facilities, a hydrotherapy pool and dormitory accommodation.
Mrs King refrained from offering a pre-election day funding commitment, but said Labor’s $15bn National Reconstruction Fund was designed to finance projects like the RCOE Stage 2.
“That’s exactly what the National Reconstruction Fund is intended to target,” she said.
“The election is not the end of the story here.
“The National Reconstruction Fund will build these things and that’s what it is there to do.”
Mrs King said fiscal responsibility and a merit-based selection policy prevented Labor from engaging in pre-election cash splashes.
“The idea behind the National Reconstruction Fund is to have an independent board that assesses many projects right across the country and those that can convince that board and convince the community, they are the things that get funded,” she said.
Deputy PM flies in to launch Willcox, herald jobs boon pipeline to Bowen
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has flown into Mackay to officially launch the campaign of Dawson hopeful Andrew Willcox at a closed gathering with party faithful.
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan joined the deputy prime minister along with former Dawson representatives Ray Braithwaite and De-Anne Kelly at the Ocean International Hotel.
Mr Willcox, Mr Canavan and Mr Joyce all gave speeches on the night.
On May 5, Mr Joyce travelled to Koorelah Farms in Bowen to herald the budget’s $80m allocation for the Bowen Pipeline.
The 100km underground pipeline from the Burdekin River will transfer an estimated 100 gigalitres of water to the Bowen region for agricultural, industrial and community use.
The government estimates the pipeline will support the creation of up to 3000 jobs in Dawson’s horticulture, agriculture and aquaculture sectors.
Mr Willcox also claimed the pipeline could boost horticultural production in the Bowen region by $300m.
“Not only will it see up to 145 jobs during construction, but it will also enable a $300 million yearly increase in horticultural production in the Bowen region, along with supporting water security for communities and businesses in Bowen, Inkerman, Gumlu and Guthalungra,” he said.
The pipeline is also a key component of Labor candidate Shane Hamilton’s proposal to transform Bowen into a hub for hydrogen production and export.
The government has zoned Central and North Queensland as one of four ‘regions of national importance’ and funding for the pipeline comes from a $1.7bn bucket to transform the area into an export powerhouse.
The pipeline funding, however, still hangs on the outcome of a detailed business case that can demonstrate value for money.
In the afternoon, Mr Joyce and Mr Willcox travelled to Ayr at the northern tip of the electorate to announce $3.3m for the Ayr Industrial Estate.
The money will help establish 23 fully serviced allotments on 7.5 hectares of land adjoining the existing estate.
“This project will increase economic activity in the region which in turn will create more jobs, giving more local people a future in the area they have grown up in,” Mr Joyce said.
“The construction phase is expected to provide over 200 jobs, with more than 170 jobs expected following construction.”
Colourful Kelly storms Mackay
The United Australia Party will direct its voters to preference “freedom based parties” in the Senate and reject Liberals, Nationals and Labor candidates entirely.
UAP leader Craig Kelly made the pronouncement in Mackay as part of a whistlestop tour through regional Queensland to meet with the UAP faithful and promote his party’s policies.
“The Liberal party, National party, the Greens and Labor will not get a single preference in the Senate,” he said.
For the House, Mr Kelly said preference recommendations would be determined on a “case-by-case” basis, though the major parties would go “down the bottom.”
Mr Kelly said the UAP was in “friendly competition” with rival right-wing minors such as One Nation and Katter’s Australian Party.
Standing by Dawson UAP candidate Christian Young, Mr Kelly railed against net zero and vaccine mandates and hailed his party’s tax plan.
The plan would demarcate income and company tax rates between metropolitan and regional Australia, with those in the regions marked for a 20 per cent cut to their tax bill.
Mr Kelly also clarified his party’s position on voluntary assisted dying, which was legalised in Queensland last year.
The UAP opposes the legalisation of VAD.
Mr Kelly also said he would not vote to amend the Telecommunications Act to allow for telehealth services to be used in the VAD process.
“No, you can’t do euthanasia by telephone,” he said.
“Not at all, I’m 100 per cent against that.”
Capricornia Labor candidate Russell Robertson has called on the federal government to amend the act to allow telehealth consultations for the VAD process.
At present, the act prohibits the use of phones to counsel or incite suicide.
Labor pledges $500,000 to restore McCreadys Creek
Dawson Labor candidate Shane Hamilton says a Labor government will pump $500,000 into McCready’s Creek.
The money will come from a larger $200m program to restore urban river systems, catchments and wetlands across the country.
The $500,000 will finance a restoration project, to be designed by the Mackay community, to improve the health and amenity of the creek, located at Slade Point.
The commitment was made on May 3.
Greens Senate contender refuses to condemn illegal action against coal mines
Greens Senate candidate Penny Allman-Payne has refused to condemn illegal direct action protests against coal mines, saying she “understands” the frustration that leads people to break the law.
“The government we have in power at the moment, along with Labor, are refusing to tell the truth about the climate crisis and put in a plan for communities and workers,” she said.
“That is why the community is frustrated,” she said.
One day after her remarks, activists Kyle Magee and Franz Dowling were sentenced in Bowen Magistrates Court for a range of offences directed at Bravus, formerly known as Adani.
In December, the pair boarded a Bowen Rail Company wagon near Collinsville and shovelled coal off onto the ground.
When pressed to clarify whether she supported this kind of protest, Ms Allman-Payne echoed her original statement.
“I understand why community frustration leads people to the point where they feel like the only choice they have left is to take action,” she said.
Ms Allman-Payne then refused to offer a ‘yes or no’ answer to the question.
“I understand their frustration, I understand why they are taking that action,” she stated.
Ms Allman-Payne visited Mackay alongside Greens Senate leader Larissa Waters to launch the campaign of Dawson candidate Paula Creen.
The environmentalists spruiked their wage subsidy plan for coal workers transitioning to new industries.
Ms Allman-Payne is in first spot on the Greens Senate ticket and Greens insiders have expressed confidence she will win a Senate seat.
Major contenders back RCOE Stage 2
Dawson’s major contenders Andrew Willcox and Shane Hamilton have pledged once more to put their shoulder to the wheel for the Resources Centre of Excellence Stage 2 expansion plans.
The centre wants $11.4m for a second wing, which will focus on developing ‘future industries’ within the sector such as advanced robotics and critical minerals.
The election-year budget does not allocate any funding for Stage 2, but Mr Willcox, running for the Coalition, says the money could still come.
“It’s on my ‘fighting for’ list,” he said.
“If I am successful and I do become the member of Dawson, I’ll be punching for that to make sure we can do that.”
Mr Willcox said if elected, he would take the matter to the resources minister, the deputy prime minister and the prime minister.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure we get a good deal for the people of Dawson.
“It’s what I do.”
Mr Willcox also said it was possible an election commitment for Stage 2 could come through before the end of the campaign.
Mr Hamilton, running for Labor, lists Stage 2 as one of his top three priorities.
“It’s something that I think we need as a community here,” he said.
A gaggle of ministers but no PM for Dawson
The Coalition government holds Dawson with a margin of 14.6 per cent and it looks as though the seat is not on the Prime Minister’s mind, with Mr Morrison flying over Mackay in the Anzac Day week to focus on the more ‘important’ cities of Townsville and Rockhampton.
But Dawson has still enjoyed some attention, with three ministers in town to spruik the government’s contributions to the electorate.
$592,900 grant for Mackay sugar industry
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud stopped by Mackay on April 29 to spruik a new $592,900 grant to help sugar exporters diversify into new, high-growth markets.
The money will go towards research and analysis to support international and bilateral trade negotiations and improved access to key existing markets.
Mr Littleproud said the research would help sugar businesses gain from the freer flow of raw sugar between 2022 and 2040.
“Tapping into this will require the best information and analysis to inform the best approaches to improve our access to high-value markets,” he said.
“The project will help maintain our international reputation in key high value markets such as Japan and enable exporters to earn higher premiums from importers seeking high quality cane sugar.”
At present, 95 per cent of exports go to markets in the Asia-Pacific region, with 74 per cent to South Korea, Japan and Indonesia.
Stuart talks skills and training at Mackay Jobs Fair
Employment, Workforce and Skills Minister Stuart Robert attended the Mackay Jobs Fair on April 29 alongside Dawson contender Andrew Willcox to promote the government’s record on apprenticeships and skills training in the region.
Labor argues the skills shortages engulfing the country is one of the government’s signal failures in economic management and has pledged increased funding for TAFE to rectify the problem.
In a Facebook post from April 26, Labor candidate Shane Hamilton claimed there were now at least 70,000 fewer people undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship from a decade ago.
“Labor will work to reverse this – investing in training centres like this one and offering fee-free TAFE so that locals are skilled up to grasp the jobs of the future,” he wrote.
In a press release following Mr Stuart’s visit, Mr Willcox defended the government’s record.
“It’s completely untrue to claim that apprenticeships and traineeships are down and in fact they are at record highs,” he said.
“We currently have the highest level of trade apprenticeships on record with more than 220,000 in training.”
Pitt praises Real Time Instruments
Resources Minister Keith Pitt toured Mackay’s Real Time Instruments and praised the company’s innovative contributions to the mining sector.
The company manufactures a range of products including its world-first AllScan n-Gen elemental analyser.
The scanner analyses on-conveyor ore and other bulk materials more safely and accurately in real-time, the company claims.
Mr Pitt said METS businesses like Real Time Instruments were fundamental to Central Queensland’s economic prosperity.
“The Coalition government is absolutely committed to making sure we continue to grow this sector, grow those opportunities,” he said.
“It is jobs like these ones (at Real Time Instruments), highly technical, highly skilled.
“RTI tells me they’ve got over a thousand of their units out there, checking for water content and moisture content in export coal, that is just an incredible achievement for a business like this in Central Queensland.”
Dawson’s minor party candidates flop at forum
Dawson’s minor party candidates struggled to transmit their ideas before a crowd of businesspeople at a ‘question and answer’ forum, in what former Dawson MP George Christensen called a “lacklustre” affair.
In a one-hour session Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce hosted, the candidates at times failed to detail how their policies might work and regularly veered off into tangents disconnected from the questions put to them.
The tenor of the night was set by the United Australia Party’s Christian Young, who failed to detail how his party’s policy to cap home loan interest rates at 3 per cent might work.
Mr Young said Section 51 13 of the Constitution meant the government could cap home loan rates.
Small businessman Greg Fisher piped up and asked Mr Young how the policy might work exactly.
“How are you going to do it?” he asked.
“People get up there all the time and they tell us they’re going to do this and this and this.
“I want to know how you are going to do it, not what you are going to do.
“Because I can get up there and say the same stuff.
“How are you going to do it?”
Mr Young could not offer any more detail in response.
On multiple occasions, Chamber Vice President Sarah Miotto had to ask the candidates to answer questions directly.
For example, when a Resource Industry Network member asked the candidates how they would make sure the region got its “share” of wealth back from the federal government, One Nation candidate Julie Hall spoke at length about her concerns over the debt, foreign investment and Australia’s self-sufficiency.
“I’m also concerned about the sell off of our assets,” she said.
“So 40 per cent of our electricity is foreign owned by China.
“We’ve sold off 20 per cent of our water and 53 million hectares of prime agricultural land.
When Mrs Hall lost her train of thought, Mrs Miotto jumped in, repeated the original question and offered Mrs Hall a second shot at answering it.
Damian Vassallo, from Vassallo Constructions, attended the forum and said afterwards it had lacked “substance.”
“There were no big hitting items that anyone really touched on,” he said, though he praised Mrs Miotto’s handling of the floor.
Jeff Sturdy, from Treadwell Tyres, expressed similar sentiments.
“They had some good ideas, they still haven’t come up with how they are going to fix the problem,” he said.
“There is no ‘how’ they can do it.
“It’s ‘yes we can do it.’
“They are not saying how we do it.”
Former Dawson MP George Christensen was in the crowd and expressed some disappointment with the debate.
“Quite honestly, it was a little bit lacklustre,” he said.
“I probably wanted to see a little more fire in the belly from the candidates.
“But at least we heard ideas and policies for the nation and for the region.”
Mr Christensen said he saw a “flicker or two” of potential ‘mongrels’ among the candidates.
“But I saw more mongrel in the audience and that’s good because they were asking the right questions,” he said.
“The big winner of the debate was the Mackay small business community.”
Willcox backs net zero, admits he doesn’t know the ‘full detail’
Dawson candidate Andrew Willcox backs net zero, but admits he doesn’t know the “full details” of the government’s policy.
“I haven’t read the full, the final detail, no,” he said.
The admission came during a visit to Mackay business Real Time Instruments alongside Resources Minister Keith Pitt on April 27.
When asked whether he would have voted for the policy in the Nationals party room meeting in 2021, Mr Willcox demurred.
“I wasn’t involved, I wasn’t subject to all the detail,” he said.
“Last year I was the Mayor of the Whitsundays and I did a pretty good job of that.
“So it’s hard for me to answer all the questions without all the detail.
“But if I am successful and I do become the member of Dawson, I’ll work hard, get all the detail and then I’ll be across all my briefs.”
Mr Willcox then acknowledged he still was not aware of the full details of the policy, despite running to become a federal member.
Net zero has divided the Coalition and the rupture continues to ripple out.
Flynn Nationals candidate Colin Boyce said this week the policy was “flexible” and “not binding”.
Queensland Nationals Senator Matt Canavan is a staunch opponent of the commitment and says net zero is “over.”
Mr Willcox said he supported the government’s ‘technology not taxes’ approach to emissions reduction.
“We’ll use tech and get in front of the game and we will deliver,” he said.
Mr Pitt said the government’s commitment to net zero was firm.
It’s election time!
Seven candidates have thrown their hat into the ring to capture the seat of Dawson following the retirement of the controversial George Christensen.
Mr Christensen jumped the Coalition ship and is running on the One Nation Queensland Senate ticket.
Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox hopes to hold the seat for the government and he is the frontrunner.
The government holds the seat with a 14.6 per cent margin and Mr Willcox lucked out in the ballot draw to nab first position.
His Labor challenger Shane Hamilton, however, reckons he is still in the game.
From net zero and doctor shortages to cost of living and the housing crisis, the towns and cities that make up Dawson are at the heart of the broader national debate.
Follow our election blog to catch all the news.
You can read our earlier coverage here:
>> Mackay’s ‘rusted on’ voters
>> George Christensen leads anti vaccine mandate sentiment at Cannonvale
>> George Christensen’s Senate gambit
>> The Dawson transgender debate
>> Hamilton pitches hydrogen hub for Bowen and Collinsville
>> A short and free survey on the issues that matter to you
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Originally published as Dawson electorate: Everything you need to know for Election 2022
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