Exit poll shows support for Climate-200 backed Francine Wiig, Greens

Exit polling in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax has revealed where the support for the Climate-200 backed independent, the Greens and the LNP is coming from.

Federal election voting generic

Exit polling in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax has revealed a couple of local communities have come out in support of their Climate-200 backed independent and the Greens.

LNP MP Ted O’Brien currently holds the Fairfax electorate, which is considered a safe LNP seat, with a nine per cent margin.

The shadow energy minister first won the electorate, encompassing Maroochydore, Eumundi and Nambour, in 2019.

However, an exit poll of 150 people as they left early voting stations across the Fairfax electorate, at locations including Coolum Beach, Nambour and Maroochydore, showed certain areas had thrown their support behind the electorate’s independent, Francine Wiig.

Pre-polling in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax. Photo: Jarrod Tutbury.

Climate-200 backed independent candidate Francine Wiig at a Fairfax pre-poll station. Photo: Jarrod Tutbury.

In total, 49 people polled had voted for Mr O’Brien as their first preference, 35 had voted for Labor’s Naomi McQueen, and 26 voted for first-time, climate-200 backed independent, Ms Wiig.

Exit polling in Coolum Beach and Nambour temporarily threw Ms Wiig into the lead, securing 21 votes from 71 people compared to 17 for Mr O’Brien.

However, results from Maroochydore bumped Mr O’Brien back to the top with a comfortable margin.

The Greens’ Sue Etheridge also had 26 voters mark her as number one on their ballot, with her supporters more evenly spread across the three exit polling locations.

Mr O’Brien said he was feeling positive about Saturday night’s result.

Fairfax incumbent Ted O'Brien during the election campaign on the Sunshine Coast.

“While I’m feeling positive, I don’t take anything for granted,” Mr O’Brien said.

“My future as a parliamentarian is now in the hands of the people, as it should be.

“It’s been great spending so much time chatting to locals at early voting booths, and it’s left me convinced that the LNP’s plan to tackle inflation and get Australia back on track is what’s really needed.”

Ms Wiig said her supporters were hopeful heading into Saturday.

“Really positive response, it’s been lovely to meet everybody and we’re hopeful,” she said.

A total of six people polled had for One Nation candidate Beatrice Marsh, three for Trumpet of Patriots’ and four for family first,

Fairfax’s other first-time independent, Paul McKeown, managed to nab one voter’s first preference.

The rural electorate has proven to be an LNP stronghold in past elections since 1990, only losing to Clive Palmer for one term in 2013.

Originally published as Exit poll shows support for Climate-200 backed Francine Wiig, Greens