Grandmother defeats long-serving LNP member in Noosa

Noosa voters have chosen a much-loved local grandmother and independent candidate to represent them in the new Queensland parliament.

Independent candidate for Noosa Sandy Bolton at Tewantin. Picture: AAP

A surprise independent candidate on the Sunshine Coast looks set to oust long-term LNP MP and former indigenous affairs minister Glen Elmes from his Noosa seat.

Former Noosa councillor Sandy Bolton — a proud grandmother who works as a project manager with a disability charity — had late yesterday secured more than 32 per cent of the primary vote, with nearly 80 per cent of the vote counted.

Mr Elmes, who worked in commercial radio before entering parliament in 2006, was on 29.8 per cent, with LNP insiders confirming the electorate was likely lost. Labor, Greens and One Nation candidates in the seat all recorded about 11 per cent of first-preference votes.

While Ms Bolton was hesitant to claim victory before an official declaration by the electoral commission, she told The Australian her strong support was due to her long history of volunteering in the community and Noosa’s disenchantment with the major parties.

“I realise I was probably considered no chance, but there was a huge community disappointment with the major parties, and with the promises dangled at each election but never delivered,” she said.

Ms Bolton served on the freshly de-amalgamated Noosa council in 2014, and in 2016 narrowly missed out on being elected mayor.

The Mayor of Rockhampton, Margaret Strelow, who was ­defeated in an ALP preselection battle, also looks likely to join Ms Bolton on the crossbench as an ­independent representing the central Queensland seat. Ms Strelow, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s right faction ally and her pick as Labor candidate for Rockhampton, controversially announced her independent candidacy during the election campaign, turning her back on Labor after local preselectors and factions backed the old guard’s Barry O’Rourke over her.

Ms Strelow said on Saturday night she would not be sure of victory until preferences were counted. “It’s early days,” she said. “Certainly encouraging, but it is all going to depend on preferences.”

Mr O’Rourke was leading on a primary vote of 32 per cent, but Ms Strelow was in second place on 24 per cent, with One Nation ­securing 21 per cent of the vote.