Exit poll reveals early favourite for marginal Caloundra electorate

Healthcare, roads and cost-of-living remain front-of-mind for voters in one of the Sunshine Coast’s most marginal seats, as exit polls reveal an early favourite. See the results.

Election booth, Caloundra Cricket Club. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Healthcare, roads and cost-of-living remain front-of-mind for voters in one of the Sunshine Coast’s most marginal seats, as exit polls reveal the electorate’s early favourite.

From 100 early voters polled as they left stations in the Baringa Community Centre and the Caloundra Cricket Club, a total of 50 revealed they had cast their vote for first-time LNP candidate Kendall Morton.

Incumbent Labor MP Jason Hunt, who won the seat in 2020, received 28 votes.

The Greens candidate, Dr Peta Higgs, received 10 votes, while One Nation nabbed a total of eight.

The electorate, which encompasses Baringa, Currimundi and Pelican Waters, has been promised a $400m upgrade to road infrastructure if the LNP is elected at the end of the month.

For one early voter in Caloundra it was the cost of healthcare swaying where he was going to put his vote.

“The cost of medication, doctors, when you go to the doctor these days instead of getting bulk-billed you get charged,” he said.

Jason Hunt speaks with early voters at the Caloundra Cricket Club. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Another voter said she was concerned where the money was coming from in regards to the big election promises.

“It is all right putting billions into this, that and the other, where is it coming from? That is the big question,” she said.

Caloundra woman Lyn Chapman said the state was in dire need of financial support for essential services.

“As far as transportation, the cost of living crisis, hospitals, doctors, all those things are in need of a lot of support,” Ms Chapman said.

LNP candidate Kendall Morton and Lyn Chapman at the Caloundra Cricket Club. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Greens candidate Peta Higgs. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Ms Morton said about 1900 early voters had cast their vote at pre-poll stations on Monday, with road infrastructure a critical concern.

“Caloundra seems to miss out and we shoulder the burden of the population growth in the entire region, so where is our matching infrastructure?” Ms Morton said.