2022 federal election information for Hinkler

Bundaberg and Hervey Bay voters will have no shortage of polling booths to choose from on election day, with more than 40 booths across the electorate. Find out where and when you can vote, what your options are, who looks likely to win, and the accessibility and assistance available at each booth.

One of the most interesting federal contests in the history of the Hinkler electorate will come down to the wire this weekend.

Six candidates will go head-to-head, vying for votes in the Bundaberg and Fraser Coast regions, hoping to either keep his seat, or instigate change as the federal member for Hinkler.

The three primary contenders are incumbent LNP minister Keith Pitt, Labor candidate Jason Scanes and Independent candidate and Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey.

Mr Pitt has held the Federal seat of Hinkler since 2013.

His track record includes securing federal government funding for white throated snapping turtle nest protection, ande $32 million to de-main Quay Street through the Hinkler Regional Deal.

There’s no doubt Mr Pitt has lost the support of some voters over the cashless debit card, and won the support of others.

An exit poll on the first day of pre-polling in Bundaberg on May 9, put Mr Pitt easily ahead at two booths in the CBD.

He is tipped to hold his seat, with Ladbrokes odds for the Hinkler seat at $1.22 for the LNP.

Labor’s Jason Scanes is another popular vote for the Hinkler electorate. Mr Scanes has vowed to scrap the cashless debit card, fix health and aged care and fix housing and education.

He sat behind Mr Pitt in the exit poll, but is now paying a whopping $21 to win the seat.

Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey is running as an independent candidate and paying just $4 to win the seat.

There have been mixed feelings from Bundaberg residents about Mr Dempsey contesting the federal election, including comments from local lawyer and member of the LNP, Tom Marland.

“Mayor Jack ‘the Hammer’ Dempsey, despite weeks of feeble denials, is running as an Independent for the seat of Hinkler at the upcoming Federal election,” Mr Marland posted on Facebook in April.

“The Hammer for the last 6 months has been talking about a wide range of issues not related to his job as Mayor including making an apology to South Sea Islanders for Blackbirding despite him not making as much as a boo on the issue when he was the Member for Bundaberg from 2006 to 2015 and State Government Minister in the Newman Government - through to meat labelling, mobile black spots and gender pay gaps,” he said.

“The Hammer has been slowly building his public profile through the so called “free” yet $1.4 million a year Bundaberg Regional Council controlled Bundaberg Now news site.

“He should also do the honourable thing and resign as Mayor because he clearly doesn’t think he can do the job properly and has little respect for the role or the people who elected him.”

Mr Dempsey has vowed to fix the housing and healthcare crisis, and advocated against coal mines in Hinkler, saying the Morrison government was “obsessed with coal” and calling Mr Pitt the “Minister for Coal”.

Hinkler candidates for 2022 Federal Election

Keith Pitt (Incumbent Federal Minister representing the Liberal National Party)

Jason Scanes (Labor Party)

Kristie Nash (United Australia Party)

Zac Menhennett (One Nation)

Andrew McLean (Greens)

Jack Dempsey (Independent)

Disability and assistance at polling booths

The AEC said they could provide help to those needing physical assistance to vote.

“You need assistance to vote at a polling place, you can ask someone to help you.

“Polling place staff are trained to assist you or you can nominate any person (other than a candidate) to assist.

“This could be a friend, relative or another person. If you do not nominate someone, then the polling official in charge may provide assistance.”

Voters who require assistance may go to the front of the line to speak to a polling booth staff member about being unable to wait in a queue or to ask for assistance.

The only polling booths in the Hinkler electorate with no assisted facilities for wheelchair access include Toogoom Community Hall and Bundaberg North Progress Hall.