Mackay businessman Neil Wallace announced as Dawson Labor candidate in Federal election

A former council hopeful has been announced as the Labor candidate up against incumbent MP Andrew Willcox in the upcoming federal election.

Neil Wallace previously ran with Team Greg Williamson for the Mackay Regional Council.

A former Mackay Regional Council hopeful has once again tossed his hat in the ring, this time as the Labor candidate up against incumbent Dawson MP Andrew Willcox in the upcoming federal election.

Neil Wallace, who was announced this morning, has spent about 40 years working in the insurance industry and has lived in the Mackay region for almost two decades with his wife, raising three children.

Mr Wallace has also been heavily involved in community organisations including the Kutta Mulla Gorrina Special Assistance School and as a three-time North Mackay Rotary Club president.

In 2024 he aspired to become a Mackay Regional councillor, running as part of the Greg Williamson team, but was unsuccessful.

Labor has timed this announcement with a $644m commitment to open another 50 urgent care clinics, including one in Mackay which the party promised would be operational in the 2025-26 financial year if elected.

Mackay's Neil Wallace has been announced as the Labor candidate to contest the seat of Dawson in the upcoming Federal Election.

The LNP holds Dawson with a 10.4 per cent margin. Mr Willcox, the former Whitsunday Regional Councillor Mayor, was elected in 2022.

Mr Wallace said he was proud to be Labor’s new candidate and if elected he would push for stronger Medicare and “take action on cost of living”.

“At this election Australia faces a choice: a stronger Medicare with more bulk billing for all Australians under Labor, or more cuts to Medicare under Peter Dutton’s LNP,” Mr Wallace said.

“Only Labor will deliver a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Mackay so you can get the free urgent care you need, fully bulk billed, without waiting hours in a busy hospital emergency department.

“The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be open seven days, for extended hours, and take pressure off the Mackay Base Hospital.”

Mr Wallace also said, “Under Labor, inflation is down, wages are up, unemployment is low and now interest rates have started to come down too – but we know there’s more work to do.”

Originally published as Mackay businessman Neil Wallace announced as Dawson Labor candidate in Federal election