Qld Election 2020: Mansfield debate to be streamed live
Mansfield candidates for the October state election have the chance to go head-to-head in a virtual debate hosted by Quest Newspapers and The Courier Mail from 6.30pm on Tuesday.
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Update Tuesday 8.25am: We are pleased to confirm first-time Mansfield MP Corrine McMillan will be attending tonight’s debate.
Monday 9am: the first time ever, the Courier Mail and Quest Community News have been hosting online debates across 40 key marginal seats in advance of the upcoming State Election, and tomorrow night it’s Mansfield’s turn to see their candidates up close and in action.
However, with less than 48 hours until the debate kicks off, first-time Labor MP Corrine McMillan, a former principal at Cavendish Road State High School, has so far refused repeated invitations over the past five weeks to share her vision for Mansfield.
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It is an interesting strategy, considering Mansfield is held on a wafer thin margin on 1.6 per cent and the LNP via candidate Janet Wishart, a care worker, pastor and small business owner with three children, have been pushing hard to reclaim the seat.
Their strategies have included a big series of local education announcements at Rochedale State School, Rochedale State High School and Mansfield State High School among others, and hosting forums on crime and the closure of Seton College.
Greens candidate Rob Walter was another to decline the invitation to speak directly to those who would elect him.
However, Legalise Cannabis Queensland candidate Brendan Taylor will take the opportunity to explain further what his party is all about, as will independent candidate Jarrod Wirth, a former candidate for Lord Mayor who is “unsatisfied” with the quality of modern politicians.
The exclusive forum, which will air live on the Courier Mail website from 6.30pm, will see participating candidates answering questions on the issues that matter most to voters before the final ballots are cast on October 31, including the forecast closure of Seton College, traffic issues and overdevelopment in Rochedale, and how to best combat crime on the southside.
The livestream will be moderated by Southern Star reporter Alex Treacy.
Readers are invited to send in questions which will be put to the candidates on the day.
To ask a question, email alex.treacy@news.com.au
Situated on Brisbane’s southside, Mansfield is a seat split in two: the dense, populous suburbs in its western part, including Wishart, Mansfield, Upper Mount Gravatt and Mount Gravatt East; and the semirural, spacious suburbs of its east, like Mackenzie, Burbank, Sheldon and Rochedale.
Ms McMillan is looking to secure her second term after winning the seat from the LNPs Ian Walker in 2017, aided by Greens preferences and a favourable redistribution.
Quest is partnering with The Courier-Mail, Sky News and News Queensland’s extensive network of regional titles to deliver the most comprehensive election coverage across the state.