The candidates running in the 2024 Queensland state election for Mirani, Mackay, Burdekin and Whitsundays
As campaigning gears up ahead of October 26 and early voting is less than a week away, check out who is hoping to win your vote in the electorates across the Greater Whitsundays.
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With a Labor safe seat potentially in the balance and new challengers rising in Burdekin and Mirani, the Greater Whitsundays are set for a fierce battle with parties hoping to win the regions.
The Queensland State Election will be held on Saturday, October 26, with early voting to run from October 14 to 25.
Check out the candidates in the areas across North Queensland, listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.
Scroll down to see all candidates running for state office in the Greater Whitsundays >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mackay – Andergrove, Beaconsfield, North Mackay, East Mackay, South Mackay, West Mackay, Mackay Harbour, Slade Point, Glenella, Mount Pleasant.
Paula Creen – Greens
Paula Creen has put her hand up as the Greens candidate for Mackay promising to deliver affordable housing.
A Mackay resident of 21 years, Ms Creen ran for the Federal seat of Dawson in 2022.
Having worked as a building designer and drafter for 27 years, Ms Creen also volunteers with the Volunteer Marine Rescue, SES Mackay and is a member of the Mackay Conservation Group and Whitsunday Conservation Council.
Ms Creen said she wants to make big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share in tax to fund housing, healthcare and education.
Nigel Dalton – LNP
Hoping to end 109 years of Labor rule in Mackay is former police officer Nigel Dalton.
Mr Dalton, the former District Crime Prevention Co-ordinator for the Mackay-Whitsundays, has a career in policing spanning 40 years in both the United Kingdom and Australia.
The 2023 Mackay region Citizen of the Year said the Mackay region was in desperate need of a change and pointed to crime as the main issue affecting Mackay residents.
A life member of the Mackay Northern Beach Dolphins Soccer Club, vice president of the North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club, deacon of the Beaches Baptist Church, and a junior sports coach Mr Dalton said he will deliver “real solutions to make the community safer”.
Kylee Stanton – One Nation
After an unsuccessful bid to join the Mackay regional council, Kylee Stanton will be throwing her hat into the ring for Mackay MP as the One Nation candidate.
Previously running against Michelle Landry for the Federal seat of Capricornia, Ms Stanton is now hoping to succeed in state politics.
Ms Stanton warns about the dangers of re-electing candidates from the LNP and Labor “uniparty” and said she will fight against abortion laws if elected.
She has also condemned $0.50 fares, renewable energy and the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro scheme.
A native to Devereux Creek, she and her husband serve on the Rural Fire Brigade.
Norman Martin – Family First Party
Standing for the Family First Party in Mackay is Norman Martin.
Little information is currently available on Mr Martin, but the relatively new Family First Party are running 60 candidates in the Queensland state election.
The Family First Party are advocating to “protect children from harmful LGBTIQA+ ideology”, restoring “the primacy of Western Civilisation” in the curriculum, encourage faith-based schooling and “want abortion to become unthinkable”.
Ben Gauci – Legalise Cannabis Queensland
Running for the Legalise Cannabis Party in Mackay is former Mackay Sugar worker Ben Gauci.
Born and raised in Mackay, Mr Gauci worked several years at Mackay Sugar before moving on to other work as a butcher, insurance salesman and fire extinguisher servicing man.
Following a car accident, Mr Gauci became a line fisherman north of Cooktown before becoming a carer for his father.
Mr Gauci is advocating for patients to grow their own cannabis and wants to amend driving laws which he said “discriminate against medical cannabis patients”.
Belinda Hassan – Labor, currently holding seat
A former Federal candidate and sitting member of the Mackay council, Belinda Hassan is hoping to take over from Julieanne Gilbert.
Before joining the Mackay council in 2020, Ms Hassan was the manager of Mackay Funerals and Sarina Funerals.
She campaigned against then Dawson MP George Christensen on behalf of the Australian Labor Party in the 2019 federal election and lost.
Re-elected to council with the most votes of any individual council member, she was selected for the deputy mayorship, which she then stepped down from after it was announced she would replace Julieanne Gilbert as Labor’s candidate for Mackay.
Ms Hassan said she will focus on housing, an issue she said council had done its best to address but required greater advocacy at the state level.
Whitsunday – Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Strathdickie, Shute Harbour, Conway, Preston, Mount Julian, Midge Point, Bloomsbury, Calen, Seaforth, Mount Jukes, Kuttabul, The Leap, Farleigh, Shoal Point, Bucasia, Rural View, Blacks Beach, Habana, Erakala, Dumbleton, Hampden
Bauke Hovinga – Labor
Challenging sitting MP Amanda Camm is Dr Bauke Hovinga an emergency care doctor living in the Northern Beaches who has also served in the military.
Mr Hovinga said what he loves most about living in the Whitsunday region is its community and natural beauty.
He has put his hand up as the Labor candidate for Whitsunday in order to advocate for expanded access to healthcare and follow through the Miles government’s healthcare commitments, particularly the promise of a satellite hospital in the Northern Beaches.
Amanda Camm – LNP, currently holding seat
The Whitsunday sitting MP, Amanda Camm is hoping to return for a second term.
Ms Camm first ran for office in 2012 as a member of Katter’s Australian Party.
Following this defeat she was elected to the Mackay Regional Council, then its deputy mayor before running for the Australian Senate in 2019 as a member of the LNP.
In 2020 Ms Camm replaced former LNP member Jason Costigan as MP for Whitsunday and holds the portfolio of women’s economic security, child protection and prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence.
Ms Camm said she would welcome Labor’s election commitment of a satellite hospital to the Northern Beaches and pledged $100,000 to the Airlie Beach Bowls club if re-elected.
Elena Quirk – Greens
Running as the Greens candidate for Whitsunday is Elena Quirk.
As a member of the Greens, Ms Quirk said she is not beholden to big corporations or vested interests.
She is advocating for the taxation of big corporations to fund 100,000 homes and the breaking up of the Coles and Woolies “duopoly”.
Julie Hall – One Nation
Former psychic and Whitsunday region mayor Julie Hall is running for the seat of Whitsunday on behalf of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.
After an unsuccessful bid for the seat of Dawson for One Nation in 2022, Ms Hall beat out Whitsunday mayor Mike Brunker in a by-election three months later.
She remained in the position for two years before retiring from the Whitsunday council, at the time saying “I have decided to put my health and family first”.
Four months later she announced her candidacy for state parliament while arguing against the Kabi Kabi people’s native title claim.
“We start down this road and what’s next white slavery,” Ms Hall told her Facebook audience.
Ms Hall advocates against late term abortion, the United Nations and wants to remove “woke ideology out of schools”.
Before serving as the Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor, Julie ran her own consulting and personal development business for 16 years.
As a state candidate Ms Hall said she “remains dedicated to giving the people of the Whitsunday a voice” and calls for major parties to focus on “the welfare of the people”.
Peter Atchison – Family First Party
Standing for the Family First Party in Mackay is Peter Atchison.
Little information is currently available on Mr Atchison, but the relatively new Family First Party are running 60 candidates in the Queensland state election.
The Family First Party are advocating to “protect children from harmful LGBTIQA+ ideology”, restoring “the primacy of Western Civilisation” in the curriculum, encourage faith-based schooling and want abortion to become unthinkable.
Mirani – Mirani, Marian, Walkerston, Ooralea, Gargett, Finch Hatton, Eungella, Crediton, Netherdale, Pinevale, Oakenden, Sarina, Grasstree Beach, Alligator Creek, Bakers Creek, Hay Point, Armstrong Beach, Sarina Beach, Koumala, Ilbilbie, Carmila, Clairview, St Lawrence, Marlborough, Canoona, Jardine, Yaamba, Rockyview, Glenlee, Alton Downs, Dalma, Stanwell, Bouldercombe, Midgee, Mount Morgan, Wycarbah, Oakey Creek
Stephen Andrew – Katter’s Australian Party, currently holding
The sitting MP of Mirani, Steven Andrew is running for re-election, this time as part of Katter’s Australian Party
First elected in 2017 as a One Nation Candidate, Mr Andrew became the first South Sea Islander to be elected to parliament.
In August, 2024 he was disendorsed by One Nation after receiving a letter from party leader Senator Pauline Hanson.
During his time in parliament Mr Andrew has spoken against pumped hydro, called on the government to ensure the full participation of South Sea islanders in the economic, social, political and cultural life of Queensland.
As a member of the KAP he has joined the party’s calls for greater freedom’s for parents in disciplining their children.
Susan Teder – Labor
Hailing from Grasstree Beach Susan Teder is Labor’s candidate for Mirani Susan Teder.
Ms Teder grew up on a sugar cane farm in Sarina and has since become a mental health social worker, running a small team of mental health clinicians focusing on suicide prevention and support for disadvantaged patients.
She intends to advocate for greater access to mental health care for voters in the rural electorate, road improvements and further cost-of-living relief.
Patricia Martin – Family First Party
Patricia Martin is standing for the seat of Burdekin for the Family First Party.
Key policies of the party include removing LGBTIQA+ gender fluid ideology from school and early childhood curriculum, pushing for a Royal Commission into state and federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and releasing more land and reducing red tape to free up supply and lower prices of housing.
Glen Kelly – LNP
Standing for the LNP in Mirani is Central Queensland grazier Glen Kelly.
A sixth generation grazier and father of two, Mr Kelly reckons Mirani deserves a “strong, hard working” MP “who can actually get things done”.
Mr Kelly advocates for a “commonsense approach to addressing issues” and aims to improve roads in Mirani.
Brettlyn Neal – One Nation
Running for Mirani as the One Nation candidate is former boxing champ and camel jockey Brettlyn ‘Beaver’ Neal.
Ms Neal was previously the number one female fighter in Fred Brophy’s famous boxing troupe and Pauline Hanson’s personal assistant who unsuccessfully ran for the seat of Cook in FNQ.
She aims to prioritise addressing youth crime in Mirani and opposing the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project.
An advocate for improved access for healthcare, Ms Neal said Australia had third world medical needs and she spoke against government-mandated Covid vaccinations.
She was approached for the candidacy after former One Nation member Stephen Andrew was disendorsed.
Maria Carty – Greens
Running for the Greens in Mirani is Maria Carty.
Ms Carty aims to address the price of housing and the cost of groceries in her electorate through advocating for Green policies in parliament.
She intends to cut power bills by pushing for publicly owned renewable energy and nationalising key infrastructure and services.
Burdekin – Home Hill, Cungulla, Nome, Alligator Creek, Bowen, Millaroo, Scottville, Collinsville, Gunjulla, Moranbah, Dysart, Nebo, Clermont, Middlemount among others
Dale Last – LNP, currently holding the seat
Since being elected in 2015, Dale Last has previously worked as a police officer, a councillor and deputy mayor of Townsville City Council among other roles.
He is currently the Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Fire and Emergency Services, Corrective Services and Rural and Regional Affairs. Born and raised in regional Queensland, Mr Last outlines his main focuses as growing the economy, revitalising front line services, supporting small businesses and increasing investments in roads, infrastructure and jobs in the North.
Anne Baker – Labor
Former Isaac region mayor Anne Baker served for almost 20 years in local government before being announced in May as the Labor candidate for the rural seat of Burdekin.
The grassroots politician made headlines in August of 2023 when a campaign from local groups and the Isaac Regional Council saved the tiny mining community of Glenden from being bulldozed.
I’m running for the seat, Ms Baker has said she wants to tackle issues including cost-of-living, housing and community safety. She told the Bulletin in May she decided to re-enter politics to make sure the region ‘stays strong’.
Daniel Carroll – KAP
Announced as the KAP for Burdekin on October 2, Dr Daniel Carroll has lived in Townsville for 13 years and has worked as a pediatric surgeon. He said he has decided to run in the state election because he wants to give back to his community, particularly in the areas of healthcare access and cost of living. Choosing to stand with the KAP, Dr Carroll said the KAP stands for ‘values’ instead of political ideology. His ‘one wish’ for North Queensland is to have a dedicated children’s hospital, to ease the burden of stress for families with sick children living in the regions.“ A vote for me is a vote for the people of Burdekin,” he said.
Andrew Elborne – One Nation
Working for 40 years as an electrician Andrew Elborne is standing for One Nation in the seat of Burdekin. Born in Brisbane, he has lived in areas such as Mount Isa and Wickham in WA. He and his wife have been foster parents to 63 children, with Mr Elborne being a passionate supporter of peer support and men’s mental health groups. Running in the state election Mr Elborne’s key goals if elected would be towards improving infrastructure, supporting trades and enhancing community services.
Amanda Nickson – Family First Party
Amanda Nickson is standing for the seat of Burdekin for the Family First Party.
Key policies of the party include removing LGBTIQA+ gender fluid ideology from school and early childhood curriculum, pushing for a Royal Commission into state and federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and releasing more land and reducing red tape to free up supply and lower prices of housing.
Crisafulli’s plan to build a new dam in SEQ
An elected LNP government has categorically ruled out building new desalination plants or recycled water schemes and plans to build a new dam in the southeast.
Two weeks of campaigning and this is the best offered up, seriously?
All we have is a bunch of politicians too weak to stick their necks out and say what they believe in, letting the party machine decide what they can and can’t say, it’s not good enough, writes The Editor.