WATCH THE REPLAY: Toowoomba North 2020 election debate

The two major party candidates for Toowoomba North went head-to-head to try and win you vote ahead of the October 31 state election. WATCH THE REPLAY.

Incumbent Toowoomba North LNP MP Trevor Watts took on his Labor challenger Megan O’Hara Sullivan in a half-hour livestreamed debate on The Chronicle’s website on Monday.

Journalist Tobi Loftus moderated the debate which included questions submitted from readers.

The Chronicle’s editor Steve Etwell earlier said the debate would cover a wide range of issues relevant to Toowoomba North voters, including the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the new Toowoomba Hospital and the big ideas that will keep our region as the best place to live in Queensland.

Candidates made a one-minute opening pitch followed by the questions.

They also made a 30-second final pitch.

The debate was being held in conjunction with The Courier-Mail, which is hosting a number of similar events in the lead-up to polling day.

The electorate of Toowoomba North covers inner city areas like East Toowoomba, Newtown and Toowoomba City, as well as the more working class areas of Wilsonton, Harlaxton and Rockville.

The seat’s boundaries extend up to Highfields and Carbarlah.

The seat is considered Toowoomba’s most marginal, with the LNP’s Trevor Watts winning the seat in 2017 with 55.7 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.

Since its inception in 1972, the seat has jumped between Labor and the LNP. The last Labor member for the seat was Kerry Shine, who held the seat from 2001 to 2012.

Mr Watts has held it since.

Toowoomba Regional Councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan is challenging Mr Watts for the seat this election.

Alyce Nelligan will be the Greens candidate for the seat.

Originally published as WATCH THE REPLAY: Toowoomba North 2020 election debate