Ultimate Sunshine Coast electorate guide: Candidate profiles; pre-polling booths
From the latest polling to who is running in the seat of Fisher and Fairfax, here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 federal election.
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There’s less than a week to go until the nation decides who will run the country for the next term of government in the 2022 federal election.
More than 7000 polling booths will be open across the country, including the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions.
Polling stations open at 8am and close at 6pm on Saturday, May 21.
SCROLL DOWN FOR LOCAL PRE-POLL EXIT POLLS, CANDIDATE PROFILES AND WHERE TO VOTE
While pre-polling continues until Friday, residents in the federal electorates of Fisher and Fairfax will be able to vote on Saturday, May 21 at the following locations:
Greens candidate facing possible homelessness while on campaign trail
The campaign trail can be a stressful time for anyone running for election but Greens candidate Renay Wells has also been struggling to find somewhere to live during the six-week campaign.
When she decided to run for the seat of Fisher Ms Wells never envisioned she would be one of thousands also searching for a home.
Ms Wells said the owner of her Golden Beach home decided to sell and she was given 60 days’ notice to leave, with her final day in the house being one day before the 2022 federal election.
She said during the campaign she’D come across many people in the same situation as her searching for a home in a tight rental market.
“I’ve been trying to keep focused on what my mission is right now which is be a voice of the Greens and communicate with the community,” Ms Wells said.
“There needs to be a cap on rent, there needs to be a ban on no grounds evictions.
“People who are older age should not fear being homeless.
“We need rental reforms, it’s been going on for way too long,”
Ms Wells said the Greens’ housing policy would look to build a million homes in 20 years and make public housing more available.
The Greens candidate said while she was stressed about being homeless on the weekend she didn’t want to leave the Sunshine Coast.
“I’m considering putting (my things) in storage and I have no idea what to do, it depends how Saturday (the election) works out,” Ms Wells said.
“I don’t want to leave, I love the community here, this is my home.”
Exit polling results reveal possible winners
New polling has predicted tightening margins in Sunshine Coast seats but it won’t be enough to tip them into Labor hands according to the data released by YouGov.
The polling figures released overnight Wednesday forecast two-party preferred swings to Labor in the seats of Fisher and Fairfax.
Wide Bay’s incumbent MP Llew O’Brien was likely to increase his margin fractionally according to the polling.
But the seat of Longman which takes in Bribie Island, Caboolture, Beerburrum and out to the hinterland suburbs of Woodford and surrounds, remains too close to call.
Labor’s Rebecca Fanning is vying to unseat sitting LNP MP Terry Young who holds the seat with a 3.3 per cent margin.
In Fairfax the YouGov polling had the Coalition ahead of Labor 58-42 which if replicated would be about a 5 per cent swing away from the LNP with incumbent Ted O’Brien’s first preference support also tipped to fall by about 4 per cent.
Labor and Greens first preferences were forecast to climb about 3 per cent each.
In Fisher the Coalition was tipped by YouGov to hold the seat held by Andrew Wallace 55-45 on two-party preferred, down on the 59-41 lead it finished with in 2019.
The latest polling predicted the LNP’s first preferences to drop about 8 per cent while Labor’s was tipped to climb about 6 per cent.
Minimal change was predicted in Wide Bay with sitting MP Llew O’Brien tipped by YouGov to hold the seat 59-41, fractionally increasing the 58-42 victory recorded in 2019.
The results do not show the government picking up any seats of its own to balance out the losses. The numbers are based on a YouGov survey of 18,923 voters nationwide between April 14 and May 7, prior to the final fortnight of the campaign.
Instead of producing specific poll numbers for each seat, which is notoriously difficult, YouGov cross-referenced the survey data with information about the demographics of individual electorates to produce seat-by-seat results.
YouGov Asia-Pacific head of polling Dr Campbell White said it provided “a more robust answer to the question of how national vote figures translate to the number of seats the parties will win than anything commissioned by any media outlet in Australian political history”.
SUNSHINE COAST PRE-POLL EXIT POLLING
Early-bird voting has kicked off across the Sunshine Coast offering the chance to gauge the mood for change in the region.
Torrential rain greeted many voters as the campaign reaches the pointy end but it didn’t stop hundreds of them telling us how they voted.
Up to 16 Sunshine Coast residents have put up their hands to represent you in the Fisher and Fairfax electorates.
Check out the exit-poll results below.
Scroll down for full candidate profiles for Fisher and Fairfax and a full list of where to cast your pre-poll vote.
PRE-POLL EXIT POLL RESULTS REVEALED
If first impressions are anything to go by there may not be much desire for a change at the helm from the traditional liberal strongholds of Fisher and Fairfax while former country cop Llew O’Brien appears to be continuing to hold favour in Wide Bay, at least with Noosa voters.
The Sunshine Coast Daily conducted exit polling of more than 300 voters across the region as part of a broader survey of about 6000 pre-poll voters across the country carried out since Monday by News Corp Australia.
The two major parties appear to be holding relatively on trend compared with pre-polling figures recorded in 2019 but the Greens vote is bouncing somewhat around the region.
The Daily’s exit poll showed some green vote growth in the main pre-poll booth in Maroochydore (Fairfax), but the Greens vote could take a hit in Caloundra (Fisher) and Noosa (Wide Bay) if the early indications from voters this week proved to be a trend, compared with results recorded at the main pre-polling booths in those suburbs in 2019.
Check out how the three Sunshine Coast seats of Fairfax, Fisher and Wide Bay were faring after the first few days of voting at major pre-polling booths:
WIDE BAY
Hundreds of residents battled the terrible weather with raincoats, gumboots and umbrellas to cast their vote at the busy pre-polling booth at the Noosa Baptist Church Hall on Monday.
Voters from Wide Bay had their say with the Sunshine Coast Daily’s snap pre-poll survey at the booth revealing the Coalition as early favourite with punters 53 per cent of the vote ahead of Labor at just under 21 per cent.
The minors were lagging behind early and the Greens vote was down significantly on the 13-plus per cent it recorded at the main Noosa pre-poll in 2019, albeit it was still very early days in the voting.
The LNP’s Llew O’Brien currently holds the seat of Wide Bay.
Paul Lawrence has been a resident of Noosa for 30 years and said he was happy to stick with Mr O’Brien since he was elected in 2016 and re-elected in May, 2019.
“I think Llew is a good all round community person and he supports our local community well,” he said.
“He seems to be doing the right thing on behalf of the area and I think he’s doing a good job.”
Mr O’Brien claimed 56.15 per cent (more than 6000 votes) of first preferences out of the main pre-poll centre in Tewantin/Noosa for Wide Bay in 2019 out of a total of 10,782 formal votes recorded at the Tewantin pre-poll centre compared to Labor’s 20.03 per cent.
The Greens recorded 13.62 per cent while the independent candidate polled 3.1 per cent, UAP 1.6 per cent, One Nation 4.45 per cent and Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party polled 1.04 per cent.
Mr O’Brien also polled at least more than 45 per cent of first preferences at the other major Wide Bay pre-poll booths in 2019.
FISHER
Up to 1000 people hit the polling booths at Caloundra Cricket Club on the first day of pre-polling with several having plenty to say about the current state of politics.
The majority of the voters polled by News Corp had backed the LNP to win, with more than 66 per cent of people saying they’d voted for incumbent MP Andrew Wallace, who is facing Labor candidate Judene Andrews in the battle of the two major parties.
Longtime Fisher resident Pat Norton said she voted for the LNP again because “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
But that sentiment wasn’t felt by everyone who voted before election day.
SES volunteer Chris Denver said he was voting for “anyone but” the Liberal Party after he was left disappointed with Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of the 2019-20 bushfires.
“To make sure I got the right vote, I googled how not to vote for ScoMo,” Mr Denver said.
Other voters spoke about their concern for housing, with one man who wished to remain anonymous saying he voted for One Nation because he was worried about his adult son not being able to find a rental.
Candidates for the seat of Fisher were spotted braving the weather all day to hand out how-to-vote cards.
The reaction from many voters seemed pleasant enough but others chose to voice their opinions, with some turning to shouting obscenities at the candidates and one telling them “they’re all full of s —t”.
Sitting MP Andrew Wallace claimed 55.6 per cent (6855 votes) of more than 12,300 formal votes recorded at the main Caloundra West pre-poll centre in Queen St in 2019, compared to Labor’s 22.41 per cent of votes.
The Greens polled 8.21 per cent, UAP 3.37 per cent and One Nation 7.8 per cent.
Similar trends were seen with the two majors at other large pre-poll booths in Fisher in 2019.
FAIRFAX
Visibility might’ve been tough to come across on the ground but it might be what keeps Liberal MP Ted O’Brien in the top job in Fairfax for another three years according to several voters.
Sitting Fairfax MP Mr O’Brien was the unsurprising frontrunner after 101 voters were polled.
Mr O’Brien and Labor counterpart Sue Ferguson were the frontrunners ahead of The Greens’ Sue Etheridge and United Australia Party’s Lisa Khoury who secured the third and fourth highest votes.
The views and perspectives among voters varied with issues such as the national economy, aged care, healthcare, national security, defence and public transport comprising the most commonly raised topics.
The vast majority of voters at Fairfax were focused primarily on national issues compared to issues on the Sunshine Coast
Fairfax residents Debbie Ayres and Margaret Symes said they will be throwing their support once again behind Ted O’Brien and the Liberal National Party.
Ms Ayres said Mr O’Brien has worked hard for the electorate and engaged with the community.
“He’s out there, he’s a doer and he’s visible,” Ms Ayres said.
“He and his office send out regular newsletters to keep you up to date with the electorate which is good.
“I think we should have rail and he supports that. There’s too many cars on the road, it’s time to get them off the roads and onto the rail.”
Ms Symes said Mr O’Brien was very approachable and has advocated strongly for investment on the Sunshine Coast.
“I think he’s done a really good job overall,” she said.
Raymond Laird, Colleen Laird and Debbie Vicary of Fairfax have voted for the ALP for the federal election and said they want to see Sue Ferguson elected as the member for the electorate.
Mr Laird said he had traditionally tended to vote Liberal, but said the current federal government has not sufficiently addressed grassroots issues on the Sunshine Coast and nationally.
“With this electorate we’re really at the back leg of everything because we continually vote Liberal therefore we never get anything from the Liberal government and Labor – we’re always left behind,” Mr Laird said.
“I think that’s interesting when you’ve got a high growth area but they can’t give you the money to grow, nobody wants to look at us because we’re a safe seat, we need to swing it a bit to make them think and throw a bit of money at us to get our votes.”
Mr Laird said the aged care sector in particular needed policy reform.
“I think it’s absolutely critical that aged care workers actually get more money because getting $20 to $25 for their work is ridiculous, to me it shows a lack of thinking,” he said.
“I think too that Labor tends to go to the bottom and work their way up and fix things at the grassroots that stabilise the country and build it up so everyone builds the country up.”
Mr O’Brien pulled 56.55 per cent, or more than 6000 first preference votes out of the main Fairfax pre-poll centre in Maroochydore in 2019, compared to Labor’s 19.69 per cent, from a total of 10,791 formal votes cast at the centre.
Greens had 8.87 per cent, UAP 3.06 per cent, One Nation 7.51 per cent.
The incumbent Fairfax MP polled more than 60 per cent of first preferences in Buderim’s main pre-poll centre, more than 56 per cent in another Maroochydore pre-poll booth and more than 49 per cent in both the Nambour and Coolum pre-poll booths in 2019.
FISHER, FAIRFAX CANDIDATE PROFILES
Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien tests positive for Covid-19
Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, May 5 – just two weeks out from election day.
Mr O’Brien said he started to feel like he had Covid-like symptoms on Thursday and received an immediate positive result.
He will spend the next seven days in isolation at home as his opponents continue with their campaign for the seat of Fairfax.
“While it’s disappointing to be house bound as the 2022 federal election enters its final two weeks, I recognise that this is now a new part of life we must all get used to,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Out of an abundance of caution, my office and I have begun contacting people with whom I’ve been in close contact to ensure they are aware of my condition and can keep an eye out for any symptoms themselves.
“I have been campaigning out in the community every day, right across my electorate; attending events, knocking on doors and so forth.”
Mr O’Brien has also cancelled a planned constituent meetings, media opportunities and public appearances including keynote speeches and a candidate debate.
“I have also cancelled my attendance at an engagement with IOC President Thomas Bach, as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.
Mr O’Brien will continue to work from home for the next week.
CRIMINAL LAWYER BECOMES LEGALISE CANNABIS ADVOCATE
A high-profile Noosa criminal defence lawyer has thrown his name in to represent the Legalise Cannabis Australia Party.
Bernie Bradley said 30 years spent dealing first-hand with clients on drug-related charges and the devastating consequences they could have had prompted his unlikely nomination.
The 52-year-old solicitor said he was “fed up” with minor drug use convictions up-ending lives and livelihoods especially in cases where cannabis had been used to ease pain for chronic medical conditions.
Mr Bradley was also rallying against the impacts of roadside drug testing for cannabis and mandatory disqualification.
“These tests are overly sensitive and provide no indication of the level of cannabis in a person’s bloodstream or whether their driving was in any way impaired.” Mr Bradley said.
“The manufacturers claim they will only test positive within four hours of using cannabis but time and time again, I’ve had clients who say they had a joint the night before and tested positive the next day.”
The Senate candidate said many colleagues had experienced the same and in his opinion it amounted to a “retrospective possession charge” that had dire consequences for people.
“People lose their jobs because they’re unable to get to work or they need their licence for work, they’re unable to get to medical appointments, take kids to school, care for relatives – the list goes on,” Mr Bradley said.
“It’s ridiculous that the laws are inconsistent around the country and in our national capital, it’s perfectly okay to grow six cannabis plants in your yard but in Queensland you can be charged with a criminal offence for the same thing.”
Mr Bradley said medical cannabis benefits were well documented but prescription cannabis products remained “prohibitively expensive” and he cited the approaches taken in the ACT and South Australia as examples which hadn’t led to negative consequences.
While not advocating for a free for all he said the current approach was a waste of police resources and it was time to change what he said were outdated laws and have a uniform approach “that treats adults like adults, and in some instances, would be life-changing”.
WHERE TO FIND YOUR PRE-POLLING BOOTHS
Residents in the federal electorates of Fisher and Fairfax on the Sunshine Coast will have the chance to cast their vote early in the upcoming federal election.
A record number of eligible Australians have enrolled to vote at the May 21 federal election, with the Australian Electoral Commission confirming 96.8 per cent of eligible Australians will be voting in 2022.
In 2019, more than 31 per cent of votes was cast before election day, but in 2022 the early voting period has been reduced to a two-week period ahead of election day.
Pre-polling starts on May 9.
To find early voting locations for Fisher or Fairfax, search the electorate name into the box below:
81-87 Currie St, Nambour
May 9 to May 13, 8am to 8pm
May 14, 9am to 4pm
May 16 to May 19, 8am to 8pm
May 20, 8am to 6pm
Millwell Rd Community Centre, 11 Millwell Rd, Maroochydore
May 9 to May 13, 8am to 8pm
May 14, 9am to 4pm
May 16 to May 19, 8am to 8pm
May 20, 8am to 6pm
Maroochydore Cricket Club, 4 Cover Dr, Buderim
May 9 to May 13, 8am to 8pm
May 14, 9am to 4pm
May 16 to May 19, 8am to 8pm
May 20, 8am to 6pm
Buderim Uniting Church, 2-10 Gloucester Rd, Buderim
May 9 to May 13, 8am to 8pm
May 14, 9am to 4pm
May 16 to May 19, 8am to 8pm
May 20, 8am to 6pm
Oceanside Car Park, 3 Eccles Blvd, Birtinya
May 9 to May 13, 8am to 8pm
May 14, 9am to 4pm
May 16 to May 19, 8am to 8pm
May 20, 8am to 6pm
Coolum Peregian RSL Sub Branch, 1906 David Low Way, Coolum Beach
May 9 to May 13, 8.30am to 5.30pm
May 14, 9am to 4pm
May 16 to May 19, 8.30am to 5.30pm
May 20, 8.30am to 6pm
Noosa Baptist Church Hall, 1 Lake Weyba Dr, Noosaville
May 9 to May 13, 8am to 8pm
May 14, 9am to 4pm
May 16 to May 19, 8am to 8pm
May 20, 8am to 6pm
More pre-polling stations could open before May 21, which will be announced by the AEC.
HOW TO DO POSTAL VOTING
Voters who can’t make it to a voting booth before May 21 can request a postal ballot from the AEC website (www.aec.gov.au) or from AEC offices up until May 18.
If you are interstate on election day, and haven’t done a postal vote or voted early in your home electorate, you can only vote at a designated interstate voting centre.
The AEC will publish the locations of these centres closer to election day.
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