Qld election Toowoomba: Latest from first full week of campaigning in Toowoomba North, South, Condamine

No Toowoomba media were contacted for one of the government’s top ministers’ visits to Toowoomba. Here’s the latest from the Queensland election campaign trail:

Welcome to week one of The Chronicle’s coverage of the 2024 Queensland state election.

Four electorates across the Darling Downs and Lockyer will be up for grabs when residents head to the polls on October 26, with the LNP heavily favoured to reclaim all at this point.

No-show at D’Ath’s hospital visit

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath. Picture: Liam Kidston

A bizarre communications mishap has resulted in no one turning up to former health minister Yvette D’Ath’s visit to the new Toowoomba Hospital site on Monday.

The retiring Attorney-General was the first current member of the government to visit Toowoomba since the election campaign kicked off last week.

It’s a shame then that no local media showed up, with this masthead missing the invite.

Her visit to the construction site of the new $1.3bn Baillie Henderson campus was reportedly not advertised to news sites, with no media showing up to ask questions and give Ms D’Ath a chance to talk up the government’s selling point to Toowoomba voters in the new hospital.

A spokesman for Ms D’Ath said information on her visit was passed onto the team handling ministerial alerts, but The Chronicle did not receive a single email, phone call or text.

A single email was sent out from the Labor campaign’s central office.

It is believed Ms D’Ath, who was health minister from 2020 until last year, might return later in the campaign.

Toowoomba South Labor candidate Susan Krause also attended.

Labor candidate pauses campaign to get married

Labor's candidate for Toowoomba North James Green recently got married to his partner Larissa.

The Labor candidate in Toowoomba’s most marginal seat has confirmed he took time off campaigning to go and get married.

James Green, who is hoping to unseat veteran MP Trevor Watts in Toowoomba North, revealed he held his wedding with partner Larissa over the weekend.

Mr Green also took a couple of days off to spend time with his family, missing a visit with Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath on Monday.

He was however available for the ballot draw in Toowoomba the following day.

While Toowoomba North is not officially marginal, Mr Watts’ six percent lead is the closest of the city’s three seats.

Speaking last week, Mr Green said his campaign would focus on cost-of-living and community safety, arguing in favour of measures beyond the energy rebates that the current government delivered in the most recent budget.

When asked why he chose to run, Mr Green said his two daughters played a big role in his decision.

“I’m normally a private person — I’m guided by my heart, and my mind navigates that,” he said.

“I sat down with my daughter (when I was thinking about it) and she said, ‘I love you and I’m proud of you’, and that’s all I needed to get the courage.”

Ballots to be confirmed with draw

The Toowoomba North and South seats will hold their ballot draws on Tuesday, with as many as many as nine candidates in the running.

The draw will be held at the returning officer’s headquarters in Newtown at 2.30pm.

For Toowoomba North, sitting MP Trevor Watts (LNP) will face off against Labor’s James Green, Greens candidate Thom Roker, One Nation’s Sebastian Lund and Family First’s Kerri Hislop.

In Toowoomba South, shadow treasurer David Janetzki will have to defend his seat against Labor candidate Susan Krause, the Greens’ Wren Beith and Family First’s Alex Todd.

For a full look at the current candidates in the race, head to our election guide.

Toowoomba MPs hit campaign trail

Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, with Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki, speaks at the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce's business breakfast at Clifford Park, June 27, 2024.

Shadow treasurer David Janetzki and Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts have been out in force on Tuesday in a bid to become part of the first LNP government win since 2012.

Mr Janetzki was in Townsville today to help the opposition try to secure key seats in northern Queensland.

Meanwhile, Mr Watts was spotted in Highfields this morning doing roadside campaigning with volunteers.

It comes a week after both men announced new statewide crime prevention grants for small businesses as an election pledge, which would be open to Toowoomba locals.

The LNP has yet to make any Toowoomba-specific election promises.

Originally published as Qld election Toowoomba: Latest from first full week of campaigning in Toowoomba North, South, Condamine