How Cairns is voting ahead of state election

The state election is set to be a tight battle if pre-polling results are indicative in the seat of Cairns. See the results here.

Hundreds of people flocked to early voting centres across Cairns in the first two days of pre-poll voting, reflecting the eagerness of residents to participate in this month’s state election. Picture: Brendan Radke

The state election is set to be a tight battle if pre-polling results are indicative in the seat of Cairns.

Hundreds attended early voting centres in Cairns during the first two days of pre-poll voting.

The Cairns Post asked about 100 voters who they were voting for with 39 people backing LNP’s Yolonde Entsch and 38 indicating Tourism Minister Michael Healy had their vote.

Greens candidate for Cairns Josh Holt participates in a Q&A session at the 2024 Meet the Candidates: State Election Forum Lunch, hosted by the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Tropical North Queensland at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Greens received 15 votes, followed by One Nation with 13.

Independents received no votes, while two individuals indicated they didn’t want ‘anyone’ to win by casting a donkey vote.

Peter Combs from Mt Sheridan initially planned to vote for the Liberal Party but changed his mind at the polling booth, casting his vote for Labor isntead.

ALP candidate for Mulgrave Richie Bates participates in a Q&A session at the 2024 Meet the Candidates: State Election Forum Lunch, hosted by the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Tropical North Queensland at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I really wanted to vote Liberal, I really did, but with crime, something needs to be done and it doesn’t sound like Liberals have a plan for it,” he said.

“If they do, it wasn’t spoken about.”

Mr Combs said his opinion started to sway after watching the Queensland state election debate last week.

Mr Combs also said he would prefer funds to be dedicated to improving Australia's healthcare system rather than “free lunches”.

“Liberal are saying they want to give free lunches to parents, honestly, spend your money elsewhere, it needs to go into the health system,” he said.

Having moved from Hobart to Cairns with his wife and 11 year-old son in January, Mr Combs said he has been surprised by the brazen crimes committed in Cairns.

“Look it’s beautiful up here, we’ve come up so many times on holidays, ultimately we’ve loved it the last nine month we’re in the midst of building a house,” he said.

Swinging voter Peter Combs of Mt Sheridan has cast his vote early in the state election, voting for the Labor Party at the pre polling booth at DFO shopping centre, Westcourt. Picture: Brendan Radke

The family had often spent school holidays in Cairns and were excited about relocating from Tasmania to the warm sunny tropics.

But Mr Combs said the crime rate in Cairns remains the top concern for the community.

“While crime is prolific everywhere, something needs to be done, people need to be held accountable,” he said.

Noting it’s hard for major parties to have an “answer for everybody”, Mr Combs said ideally they should be working together to better all Australians and work on common goals.

“What really bothers me is politicians acting like kindergarteners, where what they should be doing is getting together and sitting there going ‘What can we do?’, ‘What’s best for the county?,” he said.

Originally published as How Cairns is voting ahead of state election