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Federal Election 2022: FNQ voters spin out of long campaign

Voting for the federal election has officially begun and by the end of day one of pre-polling, the Cairns Post reporters have taken FNQ’s pulse, surveying more than 200 early voters at four booths across Leichhardt and Kennedy. >>

8 min read
May 10, 2022 - 11:30AM
The Cairns Post
Early voting for federal election begins today

UPDATE: PREDICTIONS of a pre-poll blitz are materialising at early voting booths as Far Northerners get in quick to flex their democratic muscle.

As the first day of pre-polling comes to a close, the Cairns Post reporters have taken FNQ’s pulse, surveying more than 200 early voters at four booths across Leichhardt and Kennedy.

From the Top End to Tasmania, News Corp’s team of regional and community reporters surveyed more than 2600 early voters across 31 electorates

Election 2022 live: Almost 1 million Australians cast early votes at pre-poll

In QLD, booths in Blair, Bowman, Capricornia, Dawson, Fisher, Flynn, Griffith, Groom, Herbert, Hinkler, Kennedy, Leichhardt, Lilley, McPherson, Moncrieff, Petrie and Wide Bay received a majority of first-preference votes for the Coalition (47 per cent versus 31 per cent for Labor).

Far Northern early birds that swooped on the first day of pre-polling were some of the decisive voters in the region.

They were willing to take a punt a full fortnight before the end of the election campaign and its associated pledges – and they were willing to talk.

“I voted for the Liberal National Party because I’m happy with what they’ve been doing through the pandemic,” Ken Phelps said at the Mount Sheridan Plaza booth.

In the very same spot an hour later, Lynn Webber begged to differ.

“I voted Labor. I didn’t vote for the Liberal Coalition because I felt that the states really protected us from Covid more than the federal government,” she insisted.

That voter contrast was on lurid display as the Cairns Post carried out hundreds of exit polls at four booths across Leichhardt and Kennedy.

Final numbers are still being collated with a mammoth News Corp effort to cover 80 pre-poll booths across Australia – but early patterns have emerged.

Both races could be closer than anticipated if early numbers are any indication.

Pre-polling will be in place for the next fortnight as the May 21 election creeps near.

However, it has not been all smooth sailing.

Voters at Mount Sheridan Plaza complained about a dearth of signage directing them to polling stations – and how-to-vote volunteers were similarly antsy.

LNP supporter Gerry Vallianos, who stood for Mulgrave in the 2020 state election, complained volunteers had been relegated to one of the centre’s quietest entrances.

“There’s at least five entrances here at Mount Sheridan,” Gerry Vallianos said.

“It’s quite frustrating for voters, not knowing how to direct their vote for the particular party they support.

Mr Vallianos called on the Australian Electoral Commission to reconsider putting booths in shopping centres where possible.

“I think we would have missed 90 per cent of the voters who have voted today, easily … the AEC really should have a look at how they choose venues so that people can get access to how-to-vote cards,” he said.

LIVE BLOG MAY 9: FROM the Tablelands to Cairns CBD, Cairns Post reporters are on site canvassing hundreds of voters who turn up to cast their votes to choose their next leader.

Our reporters will be asking the voters who they chose and will be updating this live blog.

Many polling booths witnessed a rush of voters on day one of pre-polling.

News Corp’s team of regional and community reporters are canvassing thousands of voters across 80 pre-poll booths throughout today.

Follow today’s rolling updates from pre-poll booths across the country below.

Election 2022 live: Almost 1 million Australians cast early votes at pre-poll

Kennedy candidate reveals plan for Kuranda range

Kennedy LNP candidate Bryce Macdonald discusses the $11m plan for the Kuranda Range at a pre-polling booth in Atherton.

Greens’ myth-busting moment

Greens candidate for Kennedy Jennifer Cox is at the Stan Moses Memorial Hall for another hour. She is determined to bust the myths people have about the Greens saying they do support farmers.

Kat in the Hat gets a vote, like that

Lorraine Rocca is among of the horde of Tablelands residents expected to cast their vote for Bob Katter in Kennedy.

“I think Bob’s done a lot for the Tablelands and the agricultural areas of the Tablelands, and I hope he gets in,” she said.

Warren scores another nod

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch has locked down a “good bloke” vote with Cairns man Philip Callard saying he believed he delivered what he promised.

However, the repeat Liberal voter said he would not rule out swinging away from the party if it shifted from the values he held dear.

“Warren’s consistently for me but it depends on what the party’s directions are in their policies for helping me and my friends survive this world,” he said.

Candidates target undecided voters

Labor candidate for Leichhardt Elida Faith has made an appearance at the DFO Shopping Centre early voting booth in Westcourt.

She says it is a great opportunity to have a chat with those voters who are still making up their minds.

No prizes for guessing which way she will vote!

United Australia Party candidate Daniel Hannagan was cool as a cucumber as he put the same tactic into motion.

Informed Medical Options Party senate candidate Peter Lambeth said he had received a great deal of support.

Naw, isn’t that sweet?

There is a very congenial atmosphere among the warring clans at DFO Shopping Centre in Westcourt today.

No doubt tempers will become a little more frayed as the two-week early voting period draws to an end.

Week two is traditionally when the chain-whipping starts.

Frustration on show for volunteers

Apparently voters are getting a bit antsy about not having much access to how-to-vote cards – although that could be a breath of fresh air to many.

One member of Warren Entsch’s campaign said party volunteers had been relegated to one of the quietest entrances of Mount Sheridan Plaza Shopping Centre.

“There’s at least five entrances here at Mount Sheridan,” Gerry Vallianos said.

“It’s quite frustrating for voters, not knowing how to direct their vote for the particular party they support.

“I feel it could have been done a lot better.

“I think we would have missed 90 per cent of the voters who have voted today, easily.

“This is probably one of the quietest entrances, and the AEC really should how they choose venues so that people can get access to how-to-vote cards – and not choose shopping centres as much.”

Atherton voter says time for change

Say g’day to Bill from Atherton, a Labor voter who thinks there needs to be a change.

And apologies in advance for the sound – there is a bit of a breeze blowing up the hill!

Early observations from Mount Sheridan

Listen in to reporter Isaac McCarthy, who has just spoken to 50 voters about which way they are directing their democratic power.

Conveniently, he is outside a shopping centre that has the wonderful Jackley’s Bakehouse inside – so we all hope he comes back with some treats.

Plenty of punters are keen for a chat and to reveal where they are directing their votes – and why.

Here’s Tim and his little bubba. Tim reckons “Scotty’s” kicking some real goals.

Lynn Webber did not agree.

She felt the state Labor government had done a better job of protecting Queenslanders from Covid than the federal Coalition.

‘Hands were tied’: Warren scores a vote

Here's Ken Phelps, president of the Cairns 4WD Club, who is voting for the LNP’s Warren Entsch in Leichhardt.

The Cairns man cast his ballot at the Mount Sheridan Plaza booth, saying he was happy with how the government had handled the pandemic.

“It’s been a tough two years, so I don’t think anyone could have done any different,” he said.

Surprise, surprise: Voters are confused

In breaking news that will come as a shock to absolutely nobody, voters’ heads are spinning when faced with massive ballot papers and full preferential voting.

The senate ticket, in particular, can be as long as a leg … so here is the breakdown from the AEC on how to go about making your vote count.

Voters are required to mark a preference for every candidate on the green ballot paper (House of Representatives) and mark a preference for a designated number of preferences on the white ballot paper (Senate).

Make sure you do it right or your vote – and potentially your long wait in a queue – will be for nothing!

Atherton comes out in force

Voters in Atherton are shocked to see how busy the pre-polling booth has been on the first day.

The wet weather has not stopped people from coming with their brollies.

Catherine Guerneri from Tully said she did not expect there to be so many people at Stan Moses Hall in Atherton.

“More people are attending than I expected for the first day considering the weather, I thought it would have deterred more people,” she said.

The rain has started back up but the line has stayed consistent for the last two hours.

Voters are coming from all over Australia today in Atherton. A couple from ACT Robert and Jane Dunlop said they left home before the postal vote came out and if it wasn’t for pre-polling they would not have been able to vote.

Trish has her say in Mount Sheridan

We are out chatting to the punters to find out how they plan to vote – and why they decided to get in so early.

Trish cast her vote at the Mount Sheridan booth this morning.

Here’s what she had to say.

Here at the Mount Sheridan Plaza pre-polling place, LNP and ALP are neck and neck for the seat of Kennedy. Katter is third in terms of voters’ first preference.

Voter turnout has been steady all morning.

This is, however, despite logistical blunders by the AEC. At least 10 voters have complained about the lack of signage, and several others have said they were unaware of the polling stations opening times.

Party representatives have been instructed not to hand out how-to-vote cards in the vicinity of the pre-polling place, and have remained outside the plaza all day.

This has led to them missing most voters who are entering the plaza through alternative entrances.

Early voting in Katter heartland

Our reporter Andreas Nicola has hit the pavement in Atherton to see how people are voting – and it has not been quite as busy as some other booths.

This is Katter heartland so it is no surprise that most voters so far say their vote is going to the Kat in the Hat himself, Bob Katter.

But it is a big electorate and this is just one booth – so you can expect some nuances from booth to booth.

Close comfort in Mount Sheridan

Here at the Mount Sheridan Plaza pre-polling place, LNP and ALP are neck and neck for the seat of Kennedy. Katter is third in terms of voter’s first preference.

Voter turnout has been steady all morning. This is, however, despite logistical blunders by the AEC. At least 10 voters have complained about the lack of signage, and several others have said they were unaware of the polling stations opening times.

Party representatives have been instructed not to hand out how-to-vote cards in the vicinity of the pre-polling place, and have remained outside the plaza all day.

This has led to them missing most voters who are entering the plaza through alternative entrances.

Long waits in Westcourt

Cairns Westcourt AEC officer in charge Wayne Jones said most people have been very cordial about wait times after they had double the amount of people expected at the polling booth on Monday morning.

Mr Jones said despite a “slight technical hitch” at 8am the Westcourt AEC polling office was up and running smoothly.

Mr Jones said the rainy weather appeared to be a factor is so many people turning up on the first day of pre-poll.

“Based on previous years data we expected around 1,000 people today,” he said.

“We have already had this many votes. “

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Cairns Westcourt AEC officer in charge Wayne Jones said most people have been very cordial about wait times
Cairns Westcourt AEC officer in charge Wayne Jones said most people have been very cordial about wait times

Originally published as Federal Election 2022: FNQ voters spin out of long campaign

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/cairns/federal-election-2022-live-fnq-voters-begin-voting/news-story/a205450a0b29f27f4e1d3ed11ba17989