Andrew Willcox a more moderate politician than predecessor George Christensen

Andrew Willcox’s more restrained style and rhetoric offers a welcome contrast to the populist tendencies of his controversial predecessor, writes Duncan Evans.

Andrew Willcox will represent the people of Dawson in federal parliament for the next three years after an impressive win on Saturday.

He nabbed 43 per cent of the first preference vote and 60 per cent of the vote after preferences.

The substantial victory speaks to the confidence voters have in him and his moderate message of reward for effort and economic development.

His primary vote slightly exceeds the tally his predecessor George Christensen notched in 2019 and Mr Willcox can go to Canberra knowing the people of this electorate have his back.

That Dawson is Nationals country, not Christensen country.

Cartoonist Harry Bruce gives his take on Andrew Willcox being elected the new Dawson MP after George Christensen resigned. Picture: Harry Bruce

What’s more, the comparatively poor performance of One Nation candidate Julie Hall and the meagre influence of Mr Christensen suggests Mr Willcox should not try to replicate the outsized personality of his predecessor.

Mr Willcox has a more restrained manner of comportment and his background is in farming, not the fevered world of media.

He is not a ‘mongrel’ in the Christensen vein and by all accounts, the voters are fine with that.

Mr Christensen fought hard for Dawson and we should salute his service, but a combative personality does not necessarily translate into more goods and resources.

As Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson has argued, it is more likely that a seat’s margin of safety is the key determinant for government attention rather than the personal brawling of any particular member.

(From left to right) John Carroll, Donna Carroll, Tom Willcox, Raylene Willcox, Andrew Willcox, Jack Willcox, Zoe Robson, Chris Figg and Shannon Willcox gather to celebrate incoming Dawson MP Andrew Willcox's win in Dawson at the Ocean International in Mackay on May 21, 2022. Picture: Duncan Evans

There is another reason to welcome the change.

Moderation lacks the sex appeal of radical thinking, but Australia is a functional and successful democracy in large part because of its tradition of moderate government.

In a newsletter released on Tuesday, Mr Christensen raised the possibility of election fraud, a radical claim to make and a dangerous one without concrete evidence.

If Mr Willcox abstains from the fire and fury of populist rhetoric and upholds the more moderate sentiments that have prevailed for most of our history, that alone will be a signal contribution.

Originally published as Andrew Willcox a more moderate politician than predecessor George Christensen