Battle for Petrie electorate in Federal Election heats up

IT’S one of the most marginal Coalition seats in Australia and as the battle heats up, we ask candidates what they think it will take to win it.

The battle for the federal seat of Petrie is heating up. Picture: Richard Walker.

PETRIE is one of the most marginal Coalition seats in Australia and as a result millions have already been pledged to woo voters, and a steady trail of ministers and senior Opposition figures have visited.

Things are just starting to heat up and voters can expect much more of the same before polling day on July 2.

Candidates were asked what it would take to win the seat at a recent Redcliffe City Chamber of Commerce forum.

In answering the question, federal LNP MP for Petrie Luke Howarth jokingly stated the obvious, saying it would take more votes for him to secure a win.

Mr Howarth said he had been speaking to residents about his track record and how he stood up for the electorate in the party room.

Labor candidate Jacqui Pederson said she had been campaigning and doorknocking since January, listening to community concerns about jobs, cost of living, the risk to Medicare and the need for a quality education system.

Greens candidate Sue Weber has also been doorknocking to “spread the word” about the Greens’ ­policies in relation to social and economic justice.

The three other candidates did not attend the forum and did not respond to the question when asked via email.

Griffith University political expert Paul Williams said it would not take much to win the seat, which is held by the Coalition by just 0.5 per cent.

“It will only take a couple of hundred voters to change their minds,” he said.

“Disgruntled voters will be enough to do it.”

Dr Williams said being ­unimpressed with the cost of living, disliking Malcolm Turnbull or not being pleased with the cost of childcare could determine who wins the seat.

He said there was a good chance most had already decided which way they would vote and only a few would make up their mind on polling day.

“There is a chance there is a larger number of undecided voters as neither party leader has set the world on fire,” Dr Williams said, adding that he expected to see more seats change hands in New South Wales than in Queensland this time.