McNab Constructions’ Michael McNab supporting Groom independent Suzie Holt over LNP’s Garth Hamilton

He’s been a longtime supporter and donor of the Liberal-National Party, but a Queensland construction giant has revealed why he has switched his support to an independent.

McNab Constructions’ Michael McNab is urging voters to support Suzie Holt against incumbent Garth Hamilton in the seat of Groom in Toowoomba.

One of Queensland’s construction heavyweights and a longtime LNP donor has revealed he is supporting a Toowoomba independent in one of Australia’s most conservative safe seats.

McNab Constructions’ Michael McNab, whose company now turns over $400m a year, is backing Suzie Holt against incumbent Garth Hamilton in the seat of Groom in Toowoomba.

Companies led by Mr McNab have donated thousands to the LNP in the past.

Mr McNab, who spoke as a Groom resident and not in his position as a company director, said he had lost faith in the Coalition’s ability to manage several sectors in the economy.

He also said the Liberal-National Party had become too conservative.

Groom MP Garth Hamilton hands out how-to-vote cards outside the federal election early voting centre in the Toowoomba CBD.

“I have a view that this current government has lost its way — they spend too much time politicking and not enough doing stuff,” Mr McNab said.

“I’m very frustrated about the skills shortage at the moment — across Queensland, the skills shortage is the biggest issue in the building industry.

“I just want competency and the current federal mob are too right wing socially.”

Mr McNab made it clear he had no personal issue with Mr Hamilton, adding that he believed Ms Holt better represented his views.

“I’ve got nothing personal against Garth, this is about the federal government on a whole,” he said.

“I’ve been talking with Suzie for a couple of years, and fundamentally she has similar views to me.

“Her views are practical, she’s not a political warhorse. I’m very frustrated about party politics.”

It comes as online and exit polling by The Chronicle indicate strong support for Ms Holt, although Mr Hamilton is still in the box seat to reclaim Groom on May 21.

Ms Holt is running on a campaign based around action on climate change, a federal integrity commission, healthcare, supporting landholders’ rights around the Inland Rail project and securing a number of major local projects like passenger rail and a new hospital.

Mr McNab isn’t the only Toowoomba business owner switching support from the LNP to an independent, with Donaldson Law director Adair Donaldson revealing he was also backing Ms Holt.

Adair Donaldson is the director of Donaldson Law.

“I have always voted Liberal, we are the second-safest seat for the LNP, and yet we are not treated with the respect we should get,” he said.

“We’ve been taken for granted for way too long, and there are issues within our community that should be addressed.

“It appears to me there is a concerted shift to the right, and I don’t think that represents Liberal values.”