Federal Election 2022: Flynn results and voting

After six long weeks of listening to all the political parties campaigning, Flynn residents finally get to decide who will represent their region in parliament, and lead the country, moving forward. ROLLING COVERAGE HERE.

From Gracemere in the north to Gladstone and surrounds, were busy catching up with voters right across the Flynn electorate on Saturday and will continue to bring you all of the action from election parties this evening.

The seat of Flynn will likely go down to the wire as the LNP’s former State Member for Callide Colin Boyce battles Labor’s Matt Burnett, the mayor of Gladstone.

In what is emerging as a hotly contested seat to watch, the two-party count has volleyed back and forth all evening.

Follow our Flynn tally below:

Burnett reflects on campaign

Labor’s candidate for Flynn Matt Burnett, who has served as the popular mayor for Gladstone since 2016, knew this campaign was going to be an uphill battle.

Labor already enjoys support from the polling booths located in the heart of Gladstone and other urban centres of the massive Central Queensland electorate, however, his victory is dependent on making in-roads in the remote and rural parts of Flynn.

On Saturday afternoon, Matt had visited a number of polling booths and he said the sentiment, especially in Gladstone, was there was an appetite for change.

“In Gladstone the people are very keen for a change, that’s what I’m hearing, but let’s see what the entire electorate of Flynn has to say tonight,” Mr Burnett said.

“I’ve put my heart and soul into this community for the past 22 years serving on the council, we’re born and bred locals, this is my home, if we can replicate what we’ve done in Gladstone right across Flynn I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

“Whatever the decision of the community is, I’ll be happy with that, at the end of the day if they want me to represent them in Canberra, I’ll go down there and give it my best shot.”

LNG worker backs Labor

LNG worker, Alex Totton, 33, said Labor selecting popular Gladstone Mayor, Matt Burnett to run as the candidate was a massive part of his decision to vote Labor this election.

Mr Totton cast his vote at the Boyne Tannum Community Centre, Boyne Island on Saturday afternoon.

He’s hoping that a Labor government can bring better health services to the region and start keeping some of the wealth that the major industries in the Port City make for the national economy right here in Flynn.

“I find personally that I vote for the local candidate and who’s going to represent me especially because in the national coverage there’s a lot of slander and scare campaigns so the truth can get lost,” Mr Totton said.

“With Matt, there’s a lot of projects that he’s seen through as well so he’s got a track record with a number of the industries here.”

Mr Totton has worked in the alumina, coal and gas industry, so he’s seen the boom and bust cycles that have scarred the local community and often make them sceptical of big promises of new investment and industry in the region.

“I think we’re a number of years away from renewables dominating the sector, you know once the technology catches up, but they’re not just going to turn the lights off overnight, it’ll be a transition over a few years,” he said.

Alex also said health services in the region were simply not good enough, he knows people who have to travel to Rockhampton or even Brisbane to get specialised services, so he’s hoping Mr Burnett’s election will bring large investment into Gladstone’s health services.

Mr Totton says he understands why people are fed up with the major parties but he said his decision to stick with the ALP was because he was familiar with the Labor movement, the heavy industry in the region and he believes at a national level that “it’s time for change”.

Voting begins in Flynn

Dozens of voters trickled in to polling booths across Gladstone, in the federal electorate of Flynn, on Saturday morning braving the miserable conditions that have loomed over the region for the past 48 hours.

Loyal volunteers flew the flag for the respective parties handing out their how-to-vote cards under umbrellas and ponchos.

Key candidates vote early

Both ALP candidate, Matt Burnett and LNP candidate Colin Boyce voted at pre-polling earlier this week, as a record number of Australians did, encouraging residents to do the same ahead of the forecast poor weather.

The candidates used their final message to voters to focus on issues they believed mattered most.

Mr Burnett focused on health problems plaguing the region.

“Almost a decade of Liberal neglect means that primary care is in crisis, particularly in our regional and rural communities,” he said.

“Demand for healthcare is skyrocketing – we need more GPs, and better access to other health care professionals. Without this, it is going to get even harder to see a GP, and the fees you pay once you do get in will be even higher. And it is only through fixing primary care that we will take the pressure off our hospitals.”

While Mr Boyce focused on rebuilding the economy and persuading voters that the Liberal Nationals were the superior economic managers.

“This election is critically important for Flynn, it is about protecting our local way of life and local jobs by providing strong support for our resources, agricultural and manufacturing industries as well as small businesses,” Mr Boyce said.

“The LNP’s economic management has put our economy in a strong position coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I want to see that continue.

Volunteers brave the rain

Workers at the LNP volunteer booth at Waraburra State School in Gracemere and said it was ‘not a great day for it’ due to the weather.

“Most people have already voted. People aren’t very talkative,” they said.

“It’s been steady in terms of people coming through.”

A Greens member said some booth volunteers were doing it hard with no cover from the rain, but it was busier than other booths, where her son and daughter were helping out.

She hoped voters were doing their research before arriving to vote.

“I am a teacher so when I’m teaching I talk to my kids and say ‘know before you go in who you are going to vote for’. I hope people have thought really hard about who they are voting for,” she said.

“Climate change is big on the agenda, Capricornia and this electorate here (Flynn) don’t really mind about climate change which is a shame, but I have a grandchild so I am really mindful that this planet has got to be saved.”

EARLIER

After six long weeks of listening to all the political parties campaigning, Flynn residents from Gladstone to Gracemere, Mount Morgan, Agnes Water, Bundaberg and the Central Highlands finally get to decide who will represent their regions in parliament, and lead the country, moving forward.

On Saturday, May 21, Flynn electorate residents will be able to cast their votes at polling booths across the electorate.

Vying for the seat of Flynn, which is now considered LNP territory after three-straight election wins for the party, is LNP candidate Colin Boyce – stepping up to the challenge from retiring colleague Ken O’Dowd, Labor’s candidate Matt Burnett who is also the Gladstone mayor, independent Duncan Scott, The Greens’ Paul Bambrick, Great Australia Party’s Carla Svendsen, Sharon Lohse from the One Nation Party and United Australia Party candidate Tanya Wieden.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PARTY’S KEY POLICIES?

Before casting your vote, you can check out the Coalition and Labor’s policy commitments, how they compare and what it means for you and your household right here.

VOTING

If you haven’t already pre-polled, you will be able to cast your vote from 8am on Saturday at polling booths across the electorate. Voting closes at 6pm.

This publication will have reporters on the ground all day Saturday in the Gladstone and Rockhampton regions, with extensive coverage of polling-day happenings. Keep up to date with election action from across Capricornia by checking this story throughout the whole weekend.