Climate 200-backed independents eye a future Queensland seat

Could Queensland become the next federal stomping ground for teal independents?

Groom Independent candidate Suzie Holt last week. Picture: Kevin Farmer

You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback.

You can now listen to The Australian's articles.

A Climate 200-backed independent could win a federal seat in Queensland within a term if the movement capitalises on the Coalition’s catastrophic result at Saturday’s poll, a pioneering non-aligned candidate has predicted.

Over the course of two elections, Suzie Holt managed to turn the Liberal National Party seat of Groom, on Queensland’s Darling Downs, from ultra-safe to marginal, slashing the buffer from 20.48 per cent before the 2022 election to 5.14 per cent after the May 3 vote.

LNP MP for Groom Garth Hamilton. Picture: Kevin Farmer

After preferences were distributed, LNP MP Garth Hamilton was re-elected with 55 per cent of the two-candidate-preferred vote, and Ms Holt secured 45 per cent.

A former social worker, Ms Holt was one of six Queensland independent candidates backed by Climate 200, founded by Simon Holmes a Court.

In the LNP-held blue ribbon Gold Coast seat of McPherson, ultra-marathon runner Erchana Murray-Bartlett ran as an independent and attracted 14.4 per cent of the primary vote, helping to drive a 4.2 per cent two-party-preferred swing against the Coalition.

Though LNP candidate Leon Rebello ultimately won the seat, McPherson’s margin dropped from 9.3 per cent to 5.2 per cent versus Labor.

McPherson independent candidate Erchana Murray-Bartlett. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The LNP’s Leon Rebello, who won the seat of McPherson. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Climate 200-supported candidates – running for the first time in Queensland – also had strong results in LNP-held Fisher on the Sunshine Coast, where independent Keryn Jones took 16.6 per cent of the primary vote, 6 per cent below the Labor candidate’s result.

In Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson, independent Ellie Smith won 12.5 per cent of the primary vote, snagging votes from the Greens’ candidate as well as Mr Dutton.

Ms Holt said her volunteer-led Voices of Groom group had managed to turn the seat from one of the safest conservative seats in the country to a marginal electorate in just two terms.

She said voters and corporate donors were hungry to support “small-l” liberals who listened to their communities and responded to local issues, rather than the divisiveness of the Coalition, and said there was now a “huge” opportunity for independents.

“I have heard … from some pretty significant business owners that they are so frustrated and they’re looking now for that alternative,” Ms Holt said.

“I think this huge shining light that we’ve created is a beacon of hope for how politics can be done moving forward for Queensland, where people were tired of the major parties, and so were looking for those representatives who are listening on the ground to the people.”