Candidates Matt Smith, Jeremy Neal vie for seat of Leichhardt in federal election

Early straw polling indicate a major party is leading the race in Leichhardt by 21 per cent. FOLLOW LIVE

A voter with a handful of how to vote cards at the Australian Electoral Commission pre polling centre in the seat of Leichhardt in Cairns ahead of the federal election. Picture: Brendan Radke

After a federal election campaign marred by controversy and drama, Labor candidate Matt Smith and the LNP’s Jeremy Neal are locked in what is forecast to be a tight race to the finish in Leichhardt as the majority of voters head to the polls today.

Both Leichhardt candidates placed infrastructure and health at the forefront of their election pledges, with Labor’s 11 election commitments outspending the LNP’s 15.

Battle for Leichhardt: Jeremy Neal (LNP) and Matt Smith (Labor).

Both parties have agreed to commit $245 million to upgrade the Barron River bridge on the Kennedy Highway at Kuranda; to open a new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Cairns; and to put $15m towards partnering with the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys, to create a new Community, Development and High-Performance Centre at Barlow Park in Cairns.

Labor has made promises toalling $386.3m, including $210m to upgrade the Kuranda Range road; more than $77m million to fund essential water infrastructure in the Torres Strait; and $70m to seal and upgrade the Kennedy Developmental Road.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shakes hands with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton during the fourth and final leaders' debate on April 27, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Dan Peled/Getty Images

The LNP has pledged to invest $33.8 million into infrastructure upgrades to support Cairns Regional Council’s development of the Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor and promised to establish a new Australian Technical College in Cairns by committing up to $19 million to Tec-NQ to expand its footprint to build a new school.

But political analysts say infrastructure pledges rarely become a tipping point for voters.

Australian Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese and Liberal National Party leader Peter Dutton first appeared in the region on April 9 and April 26, respectively.

Retiring Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch hands out how to vote cards for the federal election at the Australian Electoral Commission pre polling centre, set up at the former Tjapukai Cultural Park in Smithfield, Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

Leichhardt is held by the LNP by a 3.4 per cent margin, but with the imminent retirement of longstanding MP Warren Entsch the seat has become one of the most marginal in Australia.

It is one of Australia’s largest electorates — stretching from Cairns to the top of Cape York and the Torres Strait.

Originally published as Candidates Matt Smith, Jeremy Neal vie for seat of Leichhardt in federal election