Dawson candidates and their priorities and policies ahead of the federal election

Cost-of-living has become a key election topic as candidates for the electorate of Dawson prepare to head to the polls. What are they promising?

The cost-of-living crisis was a main issue for the Dawson candidates ahead of the election.

The candidates for the electorates of Dawson have revealed their top priorities ahead of the federal election.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially called the election for May 3 kicking off local campaigns with cost-of-living becoming a key election issue for most candidates.

The seat of Dawson, which encompasses an area between Mackay and south of Townsville is considered a safe seat for the LNP currently held by Andrew Willcox with a margin of 10.4 per cent.

Mr Willcox will be up against Labor’s new candidate Neil Wallace, the Greens’ Paula Creen, Family First Party’s Amanda Nickson and Michael Lockyer for the Trumpet of Patriots.

Here are their key issues.

Andrew Willcox

Party: LNP

MP Andrew WIlcox will be defending his seat with a 10.4 per cent margin. Picture: Contributed

Third-generation tomato farmer and former mayor of the Whitsundays, Andrew Willcox launched his re-election campaign on Monday night with the leader of the Nationals David Littleproud.

Mr Willcox was first elected for Parliament in 2022 taking over Nationals MP George Christensen.

His top priorities are providing cost-of-living relief and ensuring money from the 80:20 funding split to repair the Bruce Highway is spent in Dawson.

This deal was struck between the state and federal government in February to provide $9 billion for the highway though Mr Willcox says he wants to see the money spent in his electorate.

He will also be working with the Coalition to take 25c a litre off fuel which he says would save every driver an average of $15 a week.

Other policies his party has put forward are increasing the instant asset write-off to $30,000 and a capped deduction of $20,000 for business-related meal and entertainment expenses.

Neil Wallace 

Party: Labor

Neil Wallace listed health care and cost-of-living reliefs as his top priority. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Former Mackay Regional Council hopeful and former insurance broker Neil Wallace has thrown his hat in the ring as Labor candidate.

His priorities are strengthening Medicare by investing in bulk billing and promising to open a new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Mackay.

He has promised a swathe of cost-of-living relief measures including a cap of $25 on prescription medication, slashing $150 off power bills and cutting 20 per cent of all HECS debts as well as making TAFE free permanently.

He says Labor will also commit to funding $7.2 billion to fix the Bruce Highway.

Amanda Nickson

Party: Family First Party

Amanda Nickson has thrown her hat in the ring to represent Family First Party in Dawson this federal election. Photo: Contributed

Social worker, author and Pastor Amanda Nickson has been a Burdekin resident for 21 years and is leading the ultra-conservative Family First Party in Dawson to fill what she says is “a leadership vacuum on values that support families”.

Dr Nickson ran in the state election in October last year, then previously in the 2006 general election and in 2010.

She will be campaigning to ban abortions and to see a return to the more traditional perceived roles of male and female as biologically assigned with her party calling for a ban on children’s gender transitioning.

Abortion is a state issue and is legal in Queensland while nationally, individuals have the freedom to identify with a gender other than the one assigned to them at birth.

Dr Nickson also said she supports traditional sources of power like coal and gas, away from new technologies she said is “driving up the cost of electricity”.

She also said she supports Peter Dutton’s plan for nuclear energy, a plan Labor criticised as blowing a $14 billion “hole” in its costings.

Paula Creen 

Party: Greens

After running for federal parliament in 2022 and running for the seat of Mackay in last year’s election, Paula Creen will be running once again. Photo: Contributed

Former SES and Volunteer Marine Service Mackay member, Paula Creen will represent the Greens after running in both the past state and federal elections.

Her last federal run saw a 2.7 per cent swing her way but only won 4.96 per cent of the vote in the Mackay state election.

She says both major parties have failed the general public and hopes to provide a “positive alternative” to the two party system.

Her priorities are relieving dependency on natural resources like coal and gas and transitioning to renewables while making big corporations “pay their fair share in tax so we can fund dental and mental health into Medicare, bring down rents and mortgages, and take strong climate action”.

Michael Lockyer 

Party: Trumpet of Patriots

Michael Lockyer will be running as a conservative for the Trumpet of Patriots. Photo: Contributed

Mackay electrician Michael Lockyer will be running as the Trumpet of Patriots candidate for his first run in politics.

Currently an unregistered candidate, the 28 year old will be throwing his hat in the ring to “bring a new voice” to the ballot.

Mr Lockyer’s main priorities are reducing immigration to “sustainable levels” and abolishing the Net Zero target and Paris Agreements

He said he will not be introducing any policies unless he is elected and will be “running straight off the Trumpet of Patriots playbook”.

Anyone eligible to vote must be correctly enrolled by 8pm Monday, April 7.