Andrew Willcox, Michelle Landry, Phillip Thompson recontesting Dawson, Capricornia, Herbert in 2025

Three Coalition candidates have been confirmed to fight to retain their seats in the upcoming 2025 federal election.

(l-r) Michelle Landry, Phillip Thompson, Andrew Willcox set to recontest Capricornia, Herbert and Dawson in the 2025 Federal Election.

Three contenders for crucial central and north Queensland seats have been locked in by the Coalition ahead of the upcoming federal election.

Andrew Willcox will be recontesting Dawson — which stretches from the Mackay CBD all the way up to the outskirts of Townsville, wrapping the coast and Whitsundays.

Mr Willcox won the seat in 2022 after now-Mackay councillor George Christensen quit the party and defected to One Nation to unsuccessfully run for the Senate.

Despite a four per cent swing towards Labor, Mr Willcox still won the seat with 60 per cent of the vote on a two party basis, making it a safe seat.

Dawson MP Andrew Wilcox, LNP.

Mr Christensen sat with the Nationals and held the seat from 2010, a 12-year run.

Mr Willcox said it was an honour to be selected by the local LNP members to run again.

When asked if he was confident on winning power, he tempered his response.

“Traditionally it’s very hard to make a one-term government but we’re very competitive,” Mr Willcox said.

“We have the right policies going forward.”

And while Peter Dutton had not made any guarantees a portion of the $7.2bn in promised Bruce Highway funding would be spent in Dawson, Mr Willcox said it should be triaged to the areas with the greatest need.

“We have the evidence from multiple reports that our section is the worst,” he said.

“I want to see the money delivered to areas like Dawson, not used as a vote buying exercise and the money transferred to the southeast corner.”

MP Michelle Landry will also be recontesting Capricornia, which stretches from the outskirts of Mackay in the north to the edge of Rockhampton, covering Yeppoon in the south, along with the inland Isaac region and associated mines.

Member for Herbert, Phillip Thompson visiting a war memorial.

Ms Landry has held the seat since 2013, and even with a five per cent swing against her in 2022 still holds it with a 13 per cent margin.

“It has been an absolute privilege to represent the people of Capricornia for the past four terms,” Ms Landry said.

“I am determined to continue delivering for our region and fighting for our fair share.”

Phillip Thompson has been endorsed for the North Queensland seat of Herbert, covering Townsville to the edges of Charters Towers.
The military veteran increased his margin against Labor in the 2022 election, despite broader swings away from the Coalition, and holds it with a 20 per cent margin.

Originally published as Andrew Willcox, Michelle Landry, Phillip Thompson recontesting Dawson, Capricornia, Herbert in 2025