Qld election 2024: Tom Smith in pitched battle for Bundaberg
Twin issues could hurt Labor’s chances in the battle for Queensland’s most marginal electorate.
QLD News
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Uncertainty about the time and cost of fixing Paradise Dam’s crumbling wall and the lack of progress on Bundaberg’s new hospital could hurt Labor’s chances in the battle for Queensland’s most marginal electorate.
Labor’s Tom Smith won Bundaberg in 2020 by just nine votes, and with a swing expected against the government he is the first of 20 MPs in the firing line.
The first-term MP’s campaign got a boost on Monday with the arrival of Premier Steven Miles on a flying visit to the farming town.
“I don’t get concerned,” Mr Smith said of his election chances.
“I get to wake up every day and be in the best community around town.”
Labor and Mr Smith could also come under fire for the progress of Bundaberg’s new $1.2bn hospital, which despite being promised in August 2020, has only seen earthworks get under way.
Mr Smith denied his re-election chance would be stronger if the hospital, pledged by him and then premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in August 2020, had been finished by this campaign.
“We have seen 23ha cleared,” he said.
“We’ve seen mulch being given to community organisations and to local businesses and the topsoil has also been offered out to local businesses as well.
“Last night I was in the Old Bundy Tavern talking to one of those businesses that has taken that topsoil, he even shouted me a beer for it.
“I tried to say no... but he insisted on it.”
The state government insists it is on target to open the facility by mid-2027.
Mr Miles laughed off questions about whether Labor could hold the state’s most marginal seat.
“I’ve set Tom a challenge, I’ve said he has to win by more than 12 votes and I think he can do it,” he said.
Along with crime and cost of living – two local issues are expected to influence the fight in Queensland’s most marginal electorate.
The rebuild of the Paradise Dam wall has caused angst among farmers in Queensland’s food bowl.
As a major leader in horticulture, the Bundaberg region relies heavily on reliable water infrastructure to support its agricultural output.
Mr Miles revealed the state took advice about whether it could launch legal action to recoup the cost of rebuilding the wall.
“There are no entities continuing to be in existence who could be held to account for that negligence,” he said.
“We looked at that very closely. I remember all of those meetings, and it’s a real shame.”
Mr Miles said the Commonwealth would split the cost of the build, despite Treasurer Jim Chalmers’s May budget outlining the deferral of $550m out of $600m in funds for the project “beyond 2027-28.”
The cost to fix the dam remains uncertain, with investigations under way.
Revelations the Paradise Dam wall was beyond repair sparked accusations and apologies but fell short of attributing blame.
Originally published as Qld election 2024: Tom Smith in pitched battle for Bundaberg
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