Dawson Labor candidate Neil Wallace on his election campaign, Townsville section of the electorate

Labor’s candidate for Dawson has visited the northern part of the electorate just once this election campaign and there’s no sign of him anywhere. Here’s why.

Mackay. Senator Nita Green and Labor's candidate for Dawson Neil Wallace announced Mackay would be getting an urgent care clinic. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Driving the streets of Dawson in Townsville – Andrew Willcox is everywhere, but there is almost no trace of Labor’s pick for the seat.

North Queensland’s pocket of Dawson, which encompasses much of Mackay, the Burdekin and the southeastern suburbs of Townsville including Annandale, Oonoonba and Wulguru have been all but forgotten by the government.

The Labor candidate, Neil Wallace, is hoping to dethrone sitting MP Andrew Willcox who claimed 43.3 per cent of the vote in the 2022 Federal Election.

But when the Townsville Bulletin asked Mr Wallace if he’d been to the city as part of the election campaign, he said he had been once.

When asked if the Townsville suburbs under the electorate were a priority for him, Mr Wallace said he would visit the area more once he “is elected”.

“I haven’t got a full wrap on the southern suburbs there in Townsville, but once I’m elected I’ll be there talking to locals and finding out what their issues are, to move forward,” he said.

“It’s been very positive, nothing will change for Dawson if there is no change.”

While Mr Willcox can be seen on placards and billboards in the Townsville part of his electorate, there is almost no sign of Labor.

Political signs for Andrew Willcox in Oonoonba.

However, placed next to many of Mr Willcox’s placards are opposing ones from the Australian Council of Trade Unions as part of their ‘don’t risk Dutton’ slogan campaign.

But it isn’t just how visible the candidates have been – with zero local-based election commitments from Mr Wallace to compared to Mr Willcox’s four.

Mr Willcox has promised funding to the Bowen Community Centre, Angel Paws animal rescue centre, MA Olympic FC and the Home Hill Bowls and Community Club

Signage for Andrew Willcox, next to signage from the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Mr Wallace, who has worked for Mackay Regional Council and has been an insurance broker, is also the three-time president of the North Mackay Rotary Club.

He said being endorsed as the candidate less than two months before the election made it harder to visit the northern parts of the electorate.

“I didn’t have 12 months leading up into the election or even six months,” he said.

“That is something I will remedy if elected.

“Every person in the electorate is important so I won’t just be sitting in Mackay.”

Based in Mackay for the last 17 years, Mr Wallace said his main priority this election was to fix the Bruce Highway. Both major parties have committed funding to improve the Bruce Highway.

“The Mackay to Townsville stretch has been neglected for nearly a decade and it needs major repairs in certain places, not just patch ups but major works and they need to be fixed permanently,” he said.

Political signs for Andrew Willcox in Oonoonba.

Mackay. Senator Nita Green and Labor's candidate for Dawson Neil Wallace announced Mackay would be getting an urgent care clinic. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Other key policies for Mr Wallace are key Labor nationwide cost of living measures, including an extra $150 off power bills, a cap of $25 on prescription medication, cutting 20 per cent of all HECS debt, making TAFE free permanently and strengthening Medicare and ensuring Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, with one based in Townsville, are “not cut under the LNP”.

Mr Wallace has also promised to open a new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Mackay if Labor is elected.

With pre-polling beginning on Tuesday, he said he hoped to get up to the northern parts of the electorate, but said locals in Townsville who fall into the Dawson electorate were free to contact him at any time, via his email.

Originally published as Dawson Labor candidate Neil Wallace on his election campaign, Townsville section of the electorate