Colin Boyce, Matt Burnett, Tanya Wieden vying for the seat of Flynn this Federal Election

The election campaign for the marginal seat of Flynn has officially kicked off the and candidates have wasted no time getting out and committing funding. FOLLOW OUR ROLLING BLOG.

The race for Flynn has begun and candidates will be making daily announcements and commitments to try and secure your vote in what is expected to be a close race.

Follow this blog for daily news and exclusives leading into polling day on May 21.

Day 4: Thursday, April 14

UAP call out major parties for postal vote election material

Tanya Weiden, the United Australia Party candidate for Flynn has labelled recent election material put out by the major parties as a “scam”.

Earlier this week, residents across Queensland received material from both the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal National Party prompting voters to pre-fill their details on a form that would then be forwarded on to the Australian Electoral Commission.

Importantly, the material did not originate from the AEC and is not a new tactic from major parties to funnel postal votes through their HQ.

Instead of directing potential postal voters to an official party websites, both major parties have registered new websites with generic web addresses.

Labor have the howtovote.org.au domain and the Liberal Party has established postal.vote.

Ms Weiden took to social media on Thursday to warn residents of the “fake postal vote applications on their way”.

“The Labor and Liberal parties are collecting your data with these fake ‘Important Federal Election Postal Vote Information’ letters,” Ms Weiden said.

“Here‘s where they trick you … the letter also contains a Reply Paid envelope addressed to the Labor or Liberal party as shown on the image … don‘t fall for this scam!,” she said.

“They will harvest your private information and bombard you with electioneering rubbish in this and future elections.”

Ms Weiden offered a ‘solution’ to her followers, saying they should grab discarded rubbish and send it back to the respective party headquarters in the replied paid envelope.

“Not only will it send a clear message that you don‘t want their rubbish - but it will cost them to collect your garbage through their Reply Paid account,” she said.

Official information about postal voting or pre-polling is available on the Australian Electoral Commission website.

Day 3: Wednesday, April 13

Gladstone site for new $500m diesel and aviation fuel biorefinery

Queensland Deputy Premier, Steven Miles was in Gladstone on Wednesday to announce Gladstone has been selected as the location for a new renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel biorefinery.

Oceania Biofuels selected a site within the Yarwun Industrial Precinct within the Gladstone State Development Area for their new biofuel refinery to the tune of $500m.

Mr Miles said the proposal would be the country’s first commercial sustainable aviation fuel biorefinery and is expected to create about 60 jobs and “indirectly support” about 500 jobs during construction and operation.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles and Oceania Biofuels CEO Mike Everton announcing launch of $500m biofuels plant at Gladstone. Picture: Supplied

“This project, in addition to Northern Oil’s Advanced Biofuel Pilot Plant, is growing this emerging industry in Gladstone, and strengthens our work towards creating a sustainable, export-orientated industrial biotechnology sector for Queensland, fuelling our economic future and contributing to our decarbonisation targets,” Mr Miles said.

“It also adds diversity to the mix of new industries investing in Gladstone, such as Alpha HPA’s high purity alumina industrial plant, Acciona’s Aldoga Solar Farm, Stanwell Corporation’s renewable hydrogen facility and Fortescue Future Industries’ hydrogen equipment manufacturing hub,” he said.

The refinery is now under contract with Economic Development Queensland.

Construction is expected to begin in 2023.

Day 2: Tuesday, April 12

Bulk Billed Telehealth, Communication and Natural Disaster Resilience

On Day two of the election campaign LNP candidate Colin Boyce was in Gladstone with Senator Bridget McKenzie where they held a round table with civic and business leaders to discuss opportunities from the $2 billion Regional Accelerator Program.

Ms McKenzie and Mr Boyce also announced more than $1 million would be invested in a new Telstra macro base station in Woorabinda under the Round Two of the Regional Connectivity Program.

“This is a welcome investment in our region, delivering new and improved coverage to residents and businesses of the town area and surrounding shire,” Mr Boyce said.

LNP candidate Colin Boyce announced a number of different things for Flynn on day two of the election campaign including funding for natural disaster resilience.

“This new tower will also mean that locals have more access to essential services such as telehealth and education services.”

More than $2.17 million was also announced by the pair for projects across the Flynn electorate to reduce natural disaster risk and build resilience.

Projects that will receive funding include $981,782 for Disaster Resilient and Future Ready - Burnett Inland Communities, $310,000 for the Coast Road Infrastructure Resilience Upgrade Design, $383,556 for the Meissners Road Contact Creek culvert project and $494,967 for the Wulli Wulli Heritage Resilience Project.

“We want to make sure Australians are preparing for the next natural disaster,” Ms McKenzie said.

“We’re looking at studies, infrastructure, rebuilds and indeed with Aboriginal corporations, to make sure cultural practices around managed burns are incorporated in the way we look at disaster mitigation.”

Meanwhile, Mr Burnett announced on his Facebook page a Labor government would bring back bulk billed telehealth consultations for Central Queensland’s mining communities if elected.

Day 1: Monday, April 11

Mount Morgan Pipeline

Flynn’s election candidates have hit the ground running, wasting no time announcing commitments to woo voters around the electorate.

Labor candidate Matt Burnett was in Mount Morgan on April 11 (Monday) with Opposition spokeswoman for the Environment and Water Terri Butler where they announced $3.5 million for detailed design, approvals and construction support services for the Mount Morgan pipeline.

“Securing funding for the next stage of this project is one of the highest priorities for the people of Mount Morgan and it‘s a priority of mine to fight for them,” he said.

LNP candidate for Flynn Colin Boyce labelled Mr Burnett’s announcement as “bowing to public pressure” saying Mount Morgan’s water challenges were the responsibility of the State Government.

Labor candidate for Flynn Matt Burnett announced Labor would commit $3.5 million towards the Mount Morgan pipeline project.

“What we’ve seen today is federal Labor let their state mates off the hook by making quickie election commitments on the fly – without providing any answers as to why the Palaszczuk Government gets to dodge their responsibilities to the people of Mount Morgan,” he said.

“It is the Federal Coalition which has consistently demonstrated its commitment to improving water security throughout regional Queensland – and I 100 per cent stand behind those big-ticket investments.

“Labor’s promise today means nothing. Without committing to constructing the pipeline if the study stacks up, this is yet again another hollow promise.”

Mr Boyce said if elected he would fight to not only fund the feasibility study but also deliver the pipeline.

“Labor has chosen to make this a political football, but I won’t play their games and I will not stand by and see Mount Morgan suffer any more angst on this issue – as a candidate fighting for the people of Mount Morgan, I will fight for a re-elected Coalition Government not only to fund the feasibility study, but to deliver the pipeline,” he said.

Boyne/Tannum Pool

The Mount Morgan pool wasn’t Mr Burnett’s only commitment on day one of the election campaign.

Posting a video on his Facebook page, Mr Burnett also reaffirmed a commitment of $15 million in Labor’s first federal budget to go towards building the publicly accessible Boyne/Tannum Aquatic centre.

The centre would include a 50m Olympic-size swimming pool, water slides and a gym.

The project was approved by Gladstone Regional Council in March after councillors voted in favour of the development going ahead.

Election Announced - Sunday, April 10

Prime Minister Scott Morrison initiated what is officially the start of the election campaign, announcing voters would head to the polls on May 21.

The candidates in Flynn vying for the votes of constituents are Colin Boyce for the Liberal National Party (LNP), Matt Burnett for Labor (ALP) and Tanya Wieden for the United Australia Party (UAP).

The seat is considered to be one of the most marginal in this year’s election as long serving MP Ken O’Dowd retires after 12 years representing the electorate.

The candidates wasted no time taking to social media to kickstart their official campaigns and getting out and about across the electorate.

Ms Wieden announced on her Facebook page the UAP would increase the aged pension by $180 a fortnight and travelled to Miriam Vale to meet constituents.

Labor candidate Mr Burnett travelled to Moore Park Beach near Bundaberg on Sunday where he held a mobile office also meeting constituents in the southern part of the electorate.

While Mr Boyce headed west to Bauhinia.