Why Federal Budget shows Coalition’s confidence in Groom by-election
THE Federal Government’s lack of investment in any new projects in Toowoomba as part of this year’s Federal Budget shows just how confident the Coalition is they will retain Groom.
Opinion
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This year’s Federal Budget presented a unique opportunity for the wider Toowoomba region to receive countless items that were on the area’s wishlist.
More water infrastructure, the new Toowoomba Hospital, federal funding for the Wagners’ Wellcamp Entertainment Precinct.
Except none of that came, which was quite intriguing given the Groom by-election will be held on November 28.
By-elections are generally seen as a test of the government. Both governments and oppositions approach them as such.
The stakes for this one are even higher given the government only has a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.
You’d expect if a budget were held so close to one that they knew a few weeks ago was coming they’d at least show some enthusiasm for the seat they were fighting to retain.
Instead, what we received was a few million for the Toowoomba Regional Council and not much else that hadn’t been announced in previous years.
Why so little when what should be an important by-election is coming up? Because the Coalition are confident they’re going to win.
Groom is one of the safest Coalition seats in the country.
Former MP John McVeigh won the seat with 70.48 per cent of the two-party preferred vote at last year’s Federal Election.
The seat has never been held by a party other than the LNP.
It’s unclear whether Labor will even run a candidate or not at the by-election.
So while local branch members may be fighting to decide whether they want to be aligned with the Liberals and Nationals nationally, down in Canberra they won’t be worried.
The by-election is a minor inconvenience for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, but it won’t change the status quo, unless a viable independent candidate sticks their hand up for the election.
The Federal Government’s lack of investment in any new projects in Toowoomba as part of this year’s Federal Budget shows just how confident the Coalition is they will retain Groom.