BURDEKIN VOTES: Dale Last, Anne Baker, Daniel Carroll, Andrew Elborne, Ben Watkin, Amanda Nickson
Dale Last may be expecting an election win, but his two main opponents – a former Moranbah mayor and a Townsville doctor – aren’t giving up yet. Get the breakdown of Burdekin’s voting options.
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Incumbent Burdekin MP Dale Last may be expecting an election win, but his two main opponents – a former Moranbah mayor and a Townsville doctor – aren’t giving up yet.
Those with a political bent have been closely watching the progress of new Labor candidate Anne Baker, who’s making the jump from long-term Isaac Regional Council mayor to state politics.
Ms Baker said there has been a “good feel” at voting booths in relation to people happily taking her voting card.
Katter Party candidate Daniel Carroll is also playing an important role, running the race for the Katters to see if support is increasing in the vast electorate that encompasses Alligator Creek, Ayr, Bowen and cuts a swath through coal and cattle country to Clermont, Moranbah and Dysart.
Preference votes collected by the Katters can also become kingmakers during the count if the Liberal and Labor candidates are neck-and-neck.
Anne Baker, Labor
Where do you live?
I live in Moranbah and have done for over 28 years.
What’s your background?
I was on the Isaac Regional Council for 17 years and mayor for the last 12 years. I decided not to run again and my deputy mayor was elected mayor … I’ve stepped out of local government with over $400m of infrastructure being built and my pitch is I will bring more of that.
What’s your quick pitch?
My quick pitch is that Anne Baker will be better for the Burdekin. I have solid experience coming out of the mayoral role in the Isaac election, I have a proven record, vote 1 Anne Baker.
Do you have any pets?
I do, I have a gorgeous cat. A black Persian called Ali. I’ve had him 15 years.
Favourite sports team?
The Australian Diamonds would be my top, coupled with the Cowboys. I love league, I’ve been brought up with league.
Australia Diamonds is unique, do you have a connection with netball?
I’ve played netball for a very long time, I played for Queensland and went to the Australian Institute of Sport on a scholarship.
Dale Last, Liberal
What’s your background?
Born and bred on the land, 25 years as a police officer, four years in local government in Townsville, a couple of year on Palm Island running school programs and job programs over there, then of course into the cauldron of state politics.
Have you been in politics before?
This is my fourth election, I’ve been the member here for 10 years in the Burdekin electorate.
What are your big issues?
Crime, housing, roads is of course a huge issue, health is up there as well. But the big ticket is cost of living, people are doing it really tough across the electorate … we are fighting for our fair slice of the pie.
Favourite sports team?
Any team my kids play in.
Note: Mr Last lives in Alligator Creek.
Dr Daniel Carroll, Katter’s
Where do you live?
I live in North Ward (Townsville) to be close to the hospital.
What’s your background?
I have been working in North Queensland for 13 years as a paediatric (childrens) surgeon covering all of North Queensland and as I’ve done that I’ve come to realise there is a lot of inherent unfairness in the system in the way people have access to healthcare, infrastructure, education, how they have access to justice and preventing crime, and those things really made me consider how I could best help change that. Sometimes you can complain about stuff, and sometimes you can put your hand up and try to do something about it, so I decided to stand for state parliament for the party that best represented by views and values.
Have you been in politics before?
I have never been in politics. This is a steep learning curve.
What are your big issues?
I’m interested in fairness for North Queensland.
Do you have any pets?
I’ve got two pets, Alfie who is a four year old Maltese Shih tzu and William, who is a rescue dog from the shelter. He’s a maltese terrier, probably.
How do you feel about crime?
It’s a terrible issue, it creates a whole lot of waste in North Queensland. I’ve been talking to people out here … a lot of infrastructure investment is now being wasted on crime prevention measures, and really I think we need to be tougher on crime and the causes of crime. The Katter Party are offering sensible solutions to that, which is Castle Law and sentencing relocation.
Castle Law is quite personal for you?
It is personal to me. I was home invaded in Douglas. It is pretty confronting when it happens to you. I had at least two people in my bedroom stealing my clothes and my wife’s clothes when we were in bed at night and I had my young kids in the house. They were pretty shaken up by that. I think, really, if someone does that, they have to accept there might be consequences for them and you should be able to at least defend yourself in your own home.
Also contesting the seat is Andrew Elborne from One Nation (an electrician), Ben Watkin from the Greens (an IT service sector worker), and Amanda Nickson from Family First (a pastor).
Since 1950, the Burdekin electorate has only voted in a Labor candidate once, in 2001 with Steve Rodger.
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Originally published as BURDEKIN VOTES: Dale Last, Anne Baker, Daniel Carroll, Andrew Elborne, Ben Watkin, Amanda Nickson
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