Labor takes early lead in surprise Hinkler exit poll result

From Hervey Bay to Bundaberg, tens of thousands of Hinkler voters have already had their say in today’s election, with an early exit poll this morning yielding a shock result but the official count yet to begin.

HINKLER ELECTORATE: The red outline designates the electorate of Hinkler

From Hervey Bay to Bundaberg, tens of thousands of Hinkler voters have already had their say in today’s election, with an early exit poll this morning putting Labor ahead but the official count yet to begin.

Some voters went to the poll with hot topic issues, like immigration and energy on their mind; while many partook in the great election day tradition of a democracy sausage.

In Hervey Bay, the heavy hitters were in town early in the morning, with Labor’s Trish Mears standing outside Hervey Bay State High School from the opening.

Tuesday’s pre-poll numbers had a three-way tie between the ALP, LNP, and One Nation, but Ms Mears pulled away early on Saturday.

Her work out the front of Hervey Bay’s biggest polling booth was proving fruitful, after a 100-person exit poll tallying voter’s first preference had her in a commanding position, with 31 first preferences out of 100.

Trish Mears and her volunteers at the Hervey Bay SHS on Saturday morning.

LNP candidate David Batt stopped by at 10am to chat with his volunteers, including former Hervey Bay Mayor and former Hervey Bay LNP MP Ted Sorensen, before moving into the school’s hall to cast his ballot.

Mr Batt polled 18 first preferences in the exit poll, but will be helped by a strong turnout for Tyler Carman and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party, after they polled 19 votes.

Former member for Hervey Bay and Mayor Ted Sorensen with LNP candidate for Hinkler David Batt.

The Greens finished the poll with 11 votes, while Kerry Petrus of Family First, finished with 9 votes.

One disgruntled voter, Suzanne Evans, said she voted for One Nation and Jacqui Lambie in the Senate because “these women aren’t afraid to put out what Australians really want”.

“It drives me insane that the two major parties always and up getting in (and) are both as bad as the other,” she said.

Ms Evans was not the only Hervey Bay resident who had similar feelings for the majors, as the minor parties polled 51 first preference votes.

Meanwhile, in Bundaberg, election day started out clear and sunny, as hundreds of voters cast their votes at Avoca Church of Christ.

One woman said voting “did her no good”.

Greens, LNP, One Nation to Labor, “they’re all the same” her partner responded.

Another voter said he voted for the LNP because he liked their policies on energy and immigration.

While another said she usually voted One Nation but wasn’t convinced this time around.

Bree Watson, the state LNP candidate for Bundaberg handed out leaflets to voters upon arrival; and LNP volunteer Geordie Felesina and Labor volunteer Bronson Thomas, came together to share in a friendly “democracy snag”.

One passing voter asked if they would switch shirts like they do in football.

Election 2025 in Bundaberg: Hinkler.

The atmosphere remained light and jovial despite a turn in the weather; numbers also showed a slight change since an earlier and smaller exit poll at the beginning of the week favoured the LNP slightly.

Results from an early exit poll on Tuesday indicated a slight LNP lead, but much like the weather, things took a turn in Bundaberg on election day morning with Labor candidate Trish Mears pushing ahead.

Of the 100 voters polled on their way out of the booths on Saturday morning, 34 chose Labor candidate Trish Mears, as their top pick.

LNP candidate David Blatt trailed behind closely with 30 votes.

The Greens finished the poll with 14 votes, while One Nation’s Tyler Carmen and Kerry Petrus of Family First, both finished with seven votes each.

Robert Bloherberg of Trumpets of Patriots and Michael O’brien of the Independent rounded out the 100 polled, both earned four votes each.

The fight for in Hinkler was always going to be a tough one after Keith Pitt announced his retirement at the start of the year; his decision meant Hinkler voters knew they would always be electing a new federal MP.

Hinkler was originally centred on Gladstone and its surrounding area; it was created in 1984, and consists of parts of the Bundaberg Regional Council, North Burnett Council and Fraser Coast Regional Council, including Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Monto, Childers and Gayndah.

On those boundaries, it was a marginal seat that traded hands between the ALP and the National Party.

After a redistribution in 2006, the very Labor Gladstone area was transferred to the Division of Flynn.

This seemingly consolidated the Nationals’ hold on Hinkler.