Michelle Landry, Russell Robertson, Kylie Stanton, Nathan Harding, Mick Jones, Steve Murphy running for Capricornia in Federal Election

The election campaign is in full swing with candidates already getting into the campaign trail. FOLLOWING OUR ROLLING BLOG.

The election campaign has officially kicked off in the Capricornia electorate with six candidates throwing their hat in the ring to represent the electorate.

Follow this story for our rolling coverage of election commitments in the lead up to when Australia goes to the polls on May 21.

Day 23 - Tuesday, May 3

The United Australia Party candidate for Capricornia, Nathan Harding, and candidate for Flynn, Tanya Wieden, met with party leader Craig Kelly on Tuesday at the Red Lion Hotel in Rockhampton for a meet and greet with party supporters.

Mr Kelly pledged the party’s stance against net zero, which he said would devastate the Central Queensland coal mining region.

Mr Harding said net zero would kill 125,000 jobs in Central and Northern Queensland, equating to $66.5 billion dollars that would be lost.

“We support our coal mining industries, we understand that the coal mining industry of this nation creates wealth, prosperity and adds value to the economy,” Mr Kelly said.

“Without it we would never be able to afford the hospitals, the aged care, the support for children with disabilities.

“It is the wealth from the coal mining industry that allows us to provide all those social services.”

He also announced a Regional Taxation Policy of 20 per cent lower rate of personal income and company tax.

“If you live in the regions of Australia and you don’t have access to all of the services that all of the people do in our major capital cities, you should pay a lower rate of tax,” Mr Kelly said.

“This will attract industry, jobs, people to these region and drive upward prosperity.”

A policy to cap home loan interest rates to three per cent for five years was also promised.

“People need help now and the United Australia Party is ready and poised to save your home, to not just pay back your debt but give you relief,” Mr Kelly said.

Capricornia candidate Mr Harding also spoke about his previous work overseas advocating for religious and civil liberties of people in the most dangerous countries in the world, and how he didn’t want to see the same thing happen in Australia.

Day 12 – Friday, April 22

Ballot order revealed

The ballot order for Capricornia was revealed on Friday in Rockhampton.

Here’s how the nine candidates will line up on the ballot papers:

1. Kylee Stanton. Ms Stanton is from Marion and is a member of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party.

2. Paula Ganfield. Ms Ganfield is from Rosslyn and is a member of the Informed Medical Options Party.

3. Mick Jones. Mr Jones is from Frenchville and is a member of the Greens Party.

4. Russell Robertson. Mr Robertson is from Moranbah and is a member of the Australian Labor Party.

5. Steve Murphy. Mr Murphy is from Yeppoon and is a member of the Liberal Democrats Party.

6. Ken Murray. Mr Murray is an independent.

7. Nathan Luke Harding. Mr Harding is from Yeppoon and is a member of the United Australia Party.

8. Michelle Landry. Ms Landry is from Taroomball and is a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland. She is the current Federal Member for Capricornia.

9. Zteven Whitty. Mr Whitty is from Cooee Bay and is a member of The Great Australian Party.

Biosecurity announcement

The Coalition have committed $8.2 million over four years and $1.6 million each year from 2026-27 to establish a National Livestock Genebank in an effort to protect valuable livestock and pasture genetic resources.

The Coalition also promised to continue the Australian Pastures Genebank in Adelaide, providing short-term funding security for transition to alternative longer-term management arrangements.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud was in Rockhampton on April 22 to make the announcement, alongside Capricornia MP Michelle Landry.

Ms Landry said the announcement would directly benefit livestock producers and farmers in Capricornia.

“This will be a very important program and I am really looking forward to seeing it rolled out, particularly in areas like this,” she said.

“Events like fires and floods have a significant effect on Australian agriculture, including in Capricornia, and impose a significant loss of valuable agricultural genetics.

“Genebanks create a safety net for farmers during events that cannot be avoided, such as destocking.”

Health announcement

Senator Murray Watt was in Rockhampton on April 22 with Labor candidates Matt Burnett (Flynn) and Russell Robertson (Capricornia) to announce that Labor, if elected, would fund a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Central Queensland.

According to Labor, this clinic would take pressure off Rockhampton Hospital’s Emergency Department by providing an alternative option for CQ families needing urgent care from a doctor or nurse.

The clinic would treat sprains and broken bones, cuts, wounds, insect bites, minor ear and eye problems and minor burns.

Care would be bulk billed, meaning families won’t be left out of pocket for having a loved one attended to, just as if they had gone to the Rockhampton Hospital Emergency Department.

The clinic would be open seven days a week from at least 8am to 10pm – the time when the majority of non-life-threatening injuries occur.

Labor pledged to invest more than $135 million over four years to establish a trial of 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.

Day 11 – Thursday, April 21

A multimillion dollar commitment for upgrades to an arterial intersection south of Rockhampton was announced on April 21.

Opposition spokeswoman for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Catherine King was in Rockhampton this week where she met with Labor candidates Matt Burnett (Flynn) and Russell Robertson (Capricornia) to announce $200 million for upgrades to the Bruce Highway, including the Gavial-Gracemere intersection.

The upgrades would include new passing and dual lanes, new overtaking lanes on the Gavial-Gracemere link and a range of safety-related improvements.

Day 10 – Wednesday, April 20

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce flew into Rockhampton on April 20 to announce a major funding commitment for Rockhampton Airport.

If the Coalition were to win the federal election, it would commit $10 million to help fund a new apron for the airport, an area where aircraft are parked.

The construction of the new apron, Bay 7, would incentivise airlines to increase commercial flights, as well as provide more bargaining power to attract other airlines and open up new routes for the airport.

The apron would also allow for additional, large defence aircraft to land during exercises without disrupting regular public transport and increase emergency and disaster responses by allowing additional parking space for large water bombers, basing, refuelling and provisioning of response teams.

Day 4 – Thursday, April 14

As Rockhampton prepared to host its three day Rockynats Car Festival over the Easter long weekend, with thousands of attendees from across Australia expected, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce flew into town to announce a major motorsport facility for the region.

With classic cars parked along the Rockhampton Riverfront as his backdrop on Thursday afternoon, Mr Joyce joined with the LNP’s current member for Capricornia Michelle Landry, Senator Matt Canavan and LNP candidate for Flynn Colin Boyce to commit $10 million to the Central Queensland Motorsport Club.

The $30 million Central Qld Motorsport Complex would provide opportunities for BMX, go karts, motor x, speedway, drag strips, and V8 Supercar events to be held at one dedicated facility.

The remaining $20 million required for the facility would need to be sought by the state and local governments.

Day 3 – Wednesday, April 13

Nebo Showgrounds funding

The Isaac region will benefit if the Capricornia residents re-elect current MP Michelle Landry for the LNP.

On Wednesday, the Rockhampton-based MP reaffirmed a Budget commitment of $2.8 million to deliver Stage 1 of the Nebo Showgrounds Masterplan, which would include primary infrastructure upgrades, construction of heavy vehicle access, general camping upgrades and carparking.

Ms Landry said the investment had the potential to attract more visitors to the facility, particularly for Nebo’s major yearly rodeo event.

“Nebo Showgrounds is home to Australia’s biggest one-day rodeo attracting 5,000 people from across regional Australia and it’s hired for more than 80 days of the year to cater for over 20,000 people to deliver an estimated local economy return of approximately $1.2 million,” she said.

Healthcare commitments

Labor’s candidate for Capricornia Russell Robertson was in isolation for Covid-19 in the first few days of the election campaign, but that didn’t stopped him making commitments for the electorate.

The Central Queensland coal miner took a strong focus on health, announcing Labor would establish Medicare Urgent Care clinics to take the pressure off hospitals.

“These will be clinics you can go to and be treated for things like broken bones, minor burns and stitches for cuts, rather than heading to the Emergency Department at the hospital,” he said.

“This is an important investment in our health system that will make it easier for Central Queenslanders to access the care they need.”

The $135m four-year trial of 50 clinics would target patients needing care for sprains, broken bones, stitches, cuts, insect bites and minor eye and ear problems.

However, Labor has not announced where the 50 clinics would be established, and it remains unclear whether any would be in Central Queensland.

It comes after Mr Robertson slammed the LNP for ‘sneaking through cuts to telehealth services for regional Queenslanders over the Christmas break’.

“These have had a terrible effect on many people, especially those needing to access mental health support and talk to a psychiatrist,” he said.

Day 1 – Monday, April 11

Archer Street Drainage Scheme

Current Capricornia MP Michelle Landry wasted no time making funding commitments on the first day of the election campaign.

On April 11 (Monday), she and Senator Bridget McKenzie announced $2.98 million in funding for stage one and two of the Archer Street Drainage Scheme – funding that is included in the federal budget and locked in.

The project forms part of the Upper Main Drain Drainage Scheme and is designed to redirect surface flows to the Fitzroy River instead of entering the main drain system in the Archer St area.

The project would improve the flood resilience of up to 70 commercial and residential buildings on the low lying areas near Archer St and increase flood protection.

“We know communities are best placed to understand their unique needs and how they can best improve their resilience and reduce their level of risk to natural disasters, that’s why this project has been assessed to be so important to Rockhampton,” Ms Landry said.

“Disasters currently cost Australian taxpayers $18.2 billion per year and this has been forecast to rise to $39 billion per year by 2050, even without increased frequency and intensity of weather events.”

Ms McKenzie said the project was one of 158 across the country to receive funding under the Preparing Australian Communities Program – Local Stream.

Election Called – Sunday, April 10

The election campaign for Capricornia’s six candidates is officially underway, with Prime Minister calling the election on Sunday morning.

The six candidates vying for the votes of constituents are Michelle Landry for the Liberal National Party (LNP), Russell Robertson for Labor (ALP), Kylie Stanton for One Nation, Nathan Harding for United Australia Party (UAP), Mick Jones for The Greens and Steve Murphy for the Liberal Democrats.