No compromise in high-profile Dickson as election looms

Love him or hate him, Peter Dutton has turned Dickson into a faithful LNP seat. We talk to voters about why they won’t change at this election.

The voters of Dickson have stayed true to the LNP for so long Facebook and iphones were yet to be invented when they last backed a different political horse.

On the face of it, the sprawling seat, which covers bits of Brisbane’s northwest and bits of the Moreton council area, ought to be a pretty safe Labor play.

The median family income is a modest $1730 a week, most people haven’t got past a high school education and try to pay off their mortgages as tradies, nurses, shop assistants and the like.

But with the spectacular, short-lived exception of Democrats turncoat Cheryl Kernot, who held the seat for one term, locals haven’t returned a Labor candidate since former Attorney-general Michael Lavarch bowed out in 1996.

Add in a deeply uncontroversial sitting MP in Peter Dutton, and the smart money was betting Labor’s Ali France was about to unseat him in 2019.

Dickson voter Louise Maugham does not like LNP MP Peter Dutton.

Yet Ms France, a former journo, managed just 31 per cent of the primary vote against her adversary’s thumping 46 per cent.

Even on a two party preferred basis, Mr Dutton took it home by 4.64 per cent in a substantial swing to the LNP.

The Defence Minister has plastered the electorate with billboards this time around, from sleepy Samford Village to the busy Samford Rd/Wardell St intersection.

The message is as simple as the slogan: “Working hard, getting results’’.

If you count goodies like the Ferny Grove park and ride and the intersection, loyalty hasn’t hurt the voters of Dickson.

Dickson voter Bob Addison says he will not change his vote.

Despite that retiree Bob Addison is happy to admit he is a lifelong Labor man and nothing will ever change that.

“I worked for 53 years, starting when I was 14,’’ the former cabinet-maker said.

“I’ve always thought you get a better deal through Labor.

“I don’t like Peter Dutton at all. He doesn’t do much good for the country or this area.’’

Louise Maugham is also a long-term Labor voter despite the popularity of the LNP, and Mr Dutton, in Dickson.

“I think Labor does more for the average person,’’ she said.

“I don’t like Peter Dutton and I don’t like Scott Morrison.’’

When asked about some of the infrastructure Mr Dutton had delivered, or has promised to deliver, she said the park and ride would not fix problems with bus timetabling.

“Our transport system is not very good, the roads need doing up,’’ she said.

Originally published as No compromise in high-profile Dickson as election looms