Thuringowa LNP candidate Natalie Marr is putting her hand up earlier this time

A single mother, realtor and former councillor is taking her second shot at claiming Thuringowa for the LNP. See what issues she wants to tackle.

Former Townsville councillor Natalie Marr is taking a second tilt at the Thuringowa seat, and plans to knock on every door in the electorate. Picture: Evan Morgan

The biggest mistake of Natalie Marr’s failed 2020 run at the Thuringowa state electorate was not starting door knocking early enough, in her telling.

Ms Marr was announced as the LNP’s candidate for Thuringowa on Monday; her second stab after falling short to Labor MP Aaron Harper in 2020.

The election on October 26, 2024, will mark the end of Harper’s third term.

“The biggest lesson was, not putting my hand up early enough. I just ran out of time to do what I wanted. Didn’t get to talk to enough people,” Ms Marr said of the 2020 campaign.

Despite not starting early enough — Covid got in the way — Ms Marr said she went through two pairs of sneakers and lost 12 kgs pounding the Thuringowa pavement.

LNP's Thuringowa Candidate Natalie Marr. Picture: Evan Morgan

Since then she has taken up the regional vice president role with the LNP.

Ms Marr said crime, cost of living and health are the top three issues she’s campaigning on.

“When I was door knocking in 2007 [for council], keys were left in the door, people’s doors were unlocked.

David Crisafulli and Natalie Marr door knock for the LNP election campaign in 2020. Picture: Craig Warhurst.

“Door knocking in 2019 or 2020, now you’ve got people padlock in their gates, they’ve got dogs, everyone’s got security cameras. They’ve all got screen doors. They’re all locked.”

Ms Marr was joined by opposition leader David Crisafulli at the Parkside Plaza shopping centre in Kirwan on Friday, were they both pushed a tough on crime message.

Ms Marr said youth offenders were getting more and more brazen with each incident, because they were looking for their “fix”.

The opposition leader said “we need to put the rights of the victim ahead of the rights of the perpetrator”.

Ms Marr said she understands the effects of crime, having chaired the Townsville Crime Stoppers Volunteer Committee.

”You know being a single parent, I’ve got a mortgage. I’ve had to try and make ends meet so I’m one of those people of the doors I’m knocking on.”

In the 2020 election, Ms Marr took 30.42 per cent of first preference vote. She ended with 46.75 per cent after all preferences were dished out.

Natalie Marr, right, during the 2020 state election.

She also served one term as a Townsville City Councillor from 2008, alongside now-opposition leader and Broadwater MP David Crisafulli, as well as Burdekin MP Dale Last.

“I have kept in touch with David over the years, just having a chat about politics and watching his girls grow up because they were babies when I met them and now they’re almost teenagers.

“And we do have the common interest of government I suppose,” she said.

Cr Natalie Marr at a 2008 press conference about Townsville City rates.

“David knows that I always have a view. I call a spade a spade and I will fight to the death for something I believe in.”

The real estate agent said beginning May 1 this year, she would door knock every house in her electorate, to get a jump on the interrupted 2020 campaign.

“I just didn’t feel like I covered the area that I wanted.”

Ms Marr will continue working as a realtor until a couple of months before the election, when she will take leave.

Originally published as Thuringowa LNP candidate Natalie Marr is putting her hand up earlier this time