Mackay decides 2019: Clear winners in Capricornia, Dawson
ROLLING COVERAGE: See the latest updates and results from Dawson and Capricornia here.
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Federal Election 2019
- PREDICTION: Possible Dawson and Capricornia winners emerge
- EXPLAINED: Your guide to voting in the Federal election
- Everything you need to know about Capricornia's candidates
- Everything you need to know about the candidates for Dawson
- Where to vote in the Mackay region
- Election day nerves from candidates looking for your vote
SUNDAY 10.30AM: AS residents across the region wake up to news Scott Morrison will remain in the PM's seat for the next three years, Dawson MP George Christensen is yet to declare an election win.
The Australian Electoral Commission has begun counting again for the day, and Mr Christensen's lead on his Dawson opponents has grown even further.
The latest figures show Mr Christensen has accumulated 33,009 votes compared to Labor candidate Belinda Hassan on 15,781.
The next closest opponent is One Nation candidate Debra Lawson who has secure 9,939 votes while fourth place is currently held by UAP's Brendan Bunyan on 4826.
11pm: The Daily Mercury team is heading home for the night.
We'll return tomorrow morning to continue our 2019 Federal Election coverage.
Read the latest candidate reactions here:
>> Gobsmacked: Minor parties react to Dawson loss
>> Dawson Labor candidate concedes defeat
>> Supporters say Christensen 'should be PM' after win
>>Labor concedes defeat to Michelle Landry in Capricornia
9.27pm: GEORGE Christensen has thanked Bob Brown, Bill Shorten and Malcolm Turnbull in a tongue in cheek end to his speech at his election party.
The incumbent has not declared the seat yet, but said the current tally looks like he may be successful.
Mr Christensen has secured more than 30,000 votes, compared to next closes opponent Belinda Hassan's 14,613.
Meanwhile in Capricornia, Michelle Landry has declared success with 37.79 per cent of the first preference votes.
In a landslide, historic win, the incumbent member has reclaimed the seat for a third term in a row.
Thanking her workers and the people of Capricornia, she said she was humbled by the win.
"I thought we might win, but I didn't think we'd smash it," she said.
9pm: WHILE he hasn't conceded just yet, Labor's candidate Russell Robertson has congratulated his biggest opponent Michelle Landry.
8.55pm: DAWSON MP George Christsensen has edged even further ahead in the polls, notching up 19,915 votes.
Labor candidate Belinda Hassan, who is trailing on 9758 votes, has conceded defeat.
8.47pm: LABOR candidate Belinda Hassan has spoken in front of a passionate crowd at her election party.
"Well, obviously you've seen the news. It's not the result we were all hoping for," Ms Hassan said.
"But while it's disappointing, I think we really need to, every single one of us in this room, hold our heads really high.
"We ran an honest campaign with integrity and that's the one thing that I can walk out of here carrying myself with my head held high, that I didn't stoop to the level of the opposition using lies and misinformation.
"Regardless of the result tonight I know that every single one of you, all of the time you have put in has been absolutely amazing.
"Win, lose or draw, we know that we gave it our all."
8.30pm: SUPPORTERS of Labor candidate Belinda Hassan have expressed their 'disappointment' over the polling results, which currently have George Christensen leading by 9626 votes.
One Nation candidate Deb Lawson also said the early results were disappointing.
For Katter's Australian Party volunteers there is a sense of relief that the long days of standing outside polling centres are over.
Noel Durnsford said he campaigned for KAP nearly everyday said "all I need now is a massage".
He said he was just glancing at the TV at Oaks Rivermarque where some of the minor parties were watching the election results roll in together.
When the results showed Mr Christensen above 60 per cent after preferences he said "looks like he going to be romping it in".
8.12pm: GEORGE Christensen has now secured more than 17,000 votes, almost 10,000 votes ahead of Labor candidate Belinda Hassan.
There is an air of excitement in the room at Mr Christensen's election party.
People are enjoying a chat and a chance to relax after a hectic day. Mr Christensen is joined by family friends and supporters.
Meanwhile at Ms Hassan's election party, the crowd erupted into applause and cheers as the announcement was made the former Prime Minister Tony Abbott had lost the seat of Warringah to Zali Steggall.
One particularly happy chap was State official for the ETU Craig Thomas.
"I am happy to see the former prime minister who created so much damage for this nation's workers removed from his seat. I do struggle with independents - without a party it's hard to create policy or a platform but I am happy to see Abbott out."
8.07pm: WITH 29.95 per cent of the vote counted in Capricornia, Michelle Landry has secured just more than 11,000 votes.
Labor candidate Russell Robertson has secured more than 7000 votes while One Nation's Wade Rothery has locked in just shy of 5000 votes.
8pm: GEORGE Christensen has secured 41.58 per cent of the vote with almost 13,000 votes.
Labor candidate Belinda Hassan is trailing on 6,372 votes.
7.55pm: DR Paul Waight spent the day handing out how-to-vote cards at the Slade Point State School polling station.
He said it was arduous, "I found the apathy quite disappointing. Some people don't even remember who they voted for or care much about it. I attribute it to the dirty campaign ran by the LNP, voters find that tiresome."
7.44pm: WITH only 14 of the 55 Capricornia polling booths returning results, Michelle Landry has secured more than 7125 votes, putting her on 39.39 per cent of the first preferences.
At this early stage Labor's Russell Robertson has more than half Ms Landry's first preferences, with 4269 votes.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation's Wade Rothery is just behind on 16.97 per cent of first preferences, with just under 3000 votes.
7.42pm: GEORGE Christensen is only a few votes away from reaching 10,000 votes.
Labor candidate Belinda Hassan is still let to reach 5000.
Colin Thompson is gaining on his counterparts, with more than 1000 votes counted. He is ahead of Greens candidate Imogen Lindenberg.
7.37pm: SKY News has already called Michelle Landry as winning the seat of Capricornia.
The Yeppoon-based MP has secured 39.39 per cent of the vote, ahead of Labor candidate Russell Robertson on 23.39 per cent.
It's still early but there were cheers around the room for LNP's Michelle Landry as the numbers for #Capricornia started rolling in. @9NewsCentralQld pic.twitter.com/5oRRomCF3B
— Brianna Scully (@briannascully9) May 18, 2019
7.35pm: THE tone at Dawson electorate Labor Party headquarters is currently very relaxed.
Supporters and volunteers are sharing a buffet meal, watching the election coverage and sipping rose and beer.
Kids are running around on the bowling green.
Still no sign of candidate Belinda Hassan.
7.26pm: IN THE heart of a the only One Nation seat in Queenland's state parliament, Sarina is showing it's support for Wade Rothery.
A quarter of first preferences in the Sarina polling booth have gone to Mr Rothery.
With 1493 formal votes counted, LNP's Michelle Landry has secured just 29 per cent of first preferences.
Labor's Russell Robertson has secured only 307 votes, giving him only 20 per cent of the Sarina first preferences.
7.25pm: GEORGE Christensen has claimed more than 6000 votes with 14 per cent of the votes counted.
Belinda Hassan is still yet to reach 3000 votes. Early two-party preferred has LNP with 64 per cent of the vote and Labor with 36 per cent.
Debra Lawson has received more than 1830 votes so far.
7.22pm: FRASER Anning's candidate Michael Wayne Turner has claimed more votes so far than independent Lachlan Queenan with 275 votes compared to 196.
With almost 13 per cent of the vote counted, the two claim less than four per cent of the vote between them.
Labour Democratic Party candidate Ann-Maree Ware has claimed about 3 per cent, as has Green's candidate Imogen Lindenberg.
7.20pm: ONE NATION has emerged as the second strongest party for the small voting booth of Alligator Creek.
With 864 votes counted, One Nation candiate Wade Rothery is second with 23 per cent of the vote, followed by Labor's Russell Robertson with 20 percent.
LNP candidate and Capricornia MP Michelle Landry has secured 33 per cent of the vote in the town half an hour south of Mackay.
7.08pm: INCUMBENT Capricornia candidate, Michelle Landry has taken a slight lead against her two closest rivals, Labor candidate Russel Robertson and One Nation's Wade Rothery.
Ms Landry has secured 38.05 per cent of the vote, with only 4.61 per cent counted.
It's a competition for second place between Mr Roberston, with a quarter of the votes, and Mr Rothery with 18.06 per cent.
The early results show the One Nation vote has placed Mr Rothery as a viable second-runner against the LNP candidate.
7.05pm: GEORGE Christensen is more than 20 per cent ahead of Labor's Belinda Hassan in the latest count.
The polling booths have been closed for an hour and Mr Christensen has claimed 43 per cent of the tally with more than 2000 votes. Ms Hassan is yet to reach 1000.
Belinda Hassanhas received less than 20 per cent, followed by One Nation candidate Debra Lawson on almost 14 per cent.
5.30pm: LABOR is favoured to win the 2019 Federal Election with betting odds at $1.08 against $8 for the Coalition.
Ladbrokes head of media Roger Oldridge said betting against the different seats was shut down at 8am this morning.
Reporter Zizi Averill said the Sarina polling booth was one of the most apathetic today.
One Capricornia voter said she had voted independent on a whim.
"Honestly I just winged it. I disagree with everyone else so when I saw an independent I just ticked it," she said.
Two people said they intentionally left their ballots blank.
One woman said she went in, signed off her name and handed in a blank ballot.
"I have an autistic son so I have to many other stresses to worry about than politics," she said.
Another man said he wrote "no suitable candidate" on his ticket.
"In my experience I've asked for help from the MPs and they gave me nothing. Why should I help them?" he asked.
Five voters said they couldn't remember who they voted for.
One man said: "I don't really know. I did it real quick. I think it was Labor".
With a senate ballot paper more than four times the size of the House of Representative one, many voters said they struggled to think who they voted for on the green ballot.
The Capricornia voter in Sarina called the Senate ballot "hogwash".
She said too frequently, the wrong candidate was put in power through preferences.
With many minor parties "with no chance of getting in" on the ballot, she said voters were overwhelmed and making their final voting choice on the day.
"Everyone I've spoken to is still confused when we get here," she said.
She said she was dismayed at the quality of politicians in parliament.
The presence of One Nation state MP Stephen Andrew has had an impact in Sarina.
Capricornia voter Melissa Peck said she voted for Wade Rothery, not for his policies, but because of the help she had received from the Mirani MP.
Ms Peck said when she was going through the family courts to negotiate custody of her three daughters Mr Andrew had helped her.
"He was the only person to help me," she said.
Raelahni Sturgeon, 6 was campaigning until 4pm today for her uncle Lindsay Sturgeon, who is standing for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party.
She said the election was good because "my dad get to do voting".
At age six, Raelahni unsurprisingly had no idea what an MP was, or why her uncle wanted to become one.
4.15pm: FROM volunteers allegedly exposing themselves, to voters trying to take their pooches into polling booths, there have been some odd occurences around the country so far this Election Day.
Check out our compilation of weird and wonderful incidents around Australia. And take our poll.
4pm: PETER and Dorothy Colby have spent the past 15 months rallying their support behind their daughter and her bid for the seat of Dawson.
Mr and Mrs Colby are the parents of the Labor candidate Belinda Hassan.
"Belinda's always been a good girl. She's educated and very dedicated," said Mr Colby.
"She's always been pretty cluey. Whenever she was given lollies she would hang on to them and instead of eating them she would turn around and sell them."
3.15pm: STEPHEN Fordyce lives exactly half way between Marian and Mirani and has been handing out how to vote cards at polling booths in the Pioneer Valley every election since 1984.
He said he did it because "you've got to believe in something".
Compared to the 80s and 90s, Mr said the voting process had changed.
"I think most people have already made up their mind on who they are voting for, most don't even take the 'how to vote' cards anymore," he said.
"Years ago when we didn't have social media or Facebook, people would take the cards and actually read them."
Mr Fordyce said pre-polling had a huge impact on the numbers walking through the gates today.
"We used to have lineups for miles, people would all grab a sausage. But now people are voting beforehand and we are just seeing dribs and drabs of people coming to vote today," he said.
"I've only seen one sausage sizzle today at Dundula State School. Where are the rest?"
Mr Fordyce said the numbers just are not there.
"If we aren't getting many people voting today, there is no point in having the sausage sizzle, which is a shame."
2.50pm: IT'S approaching 3pm and 4670 people have already voted at the Walkerston polling booth.
AEC staff member Sarah Siddle said it had been busy all day.
"We've had a few line ups, this morning we timed the wait and it was about six and seven minutes," she said.
"It's started to slow down a bit more now."
Jesse McNally, 20, and Bradley Price, 21, both voted for One Nation today at the Walkerston polling booth.
Mr McNally said he voted for Pauline because "she says it straight to the point".
"They back Australia and say it how it is, which is the way we need to go I think," he said.
Mr McNally said he had spoken to quite a few people out at work who were voting for Greens.
"I want Adani to be open for the jobs, so that's why I'm not voting for Greens."
At the Alligator Creek polling booth, Shayne Heron said he voted for Wade Rothery, not because he knew the candidate, but because he liked Pauline Hanson.
"She's more down to earth. She's like a normal person," he said.
He said the "last normal Aussie" politician was Bob Hawke.
Mr Heron laughed and said he would like to see a politician like former PM Kevin Rudd scull a beer.
He said he would also like to see Ms Hanson scull a beer.
"She's not running around in budgie smugglers like Abbott," he said.
It’s a cool day for change in #Capricornia #labor #auspol #Robbo4Capricornia pic.twitter.com/xKVRMI5zNd
— Brittany Lauga MP (@BrittanyLauga) May 18, 2019
A woman from Capricornia said she didn't know who she voted for.
"I can't remember. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe," she said.
Labor volunteer and scrutineers Rodney Privileggio said he was not sure they would have a result this evening.
With high pre-poll turnout, a small margin and a high minor party vote he said it would be a late night for Capricornia election watchers.
2.20pm: RUSSELL Robertson has thanked volunteers working at Frenchville State School today.
It's stop five for the Labor candidate today as he makes his way around parts of the region in the final hours of election day.
1.30pm: LNP incumbent for Dawson George Christensen MP and Labor candidate Belinda Hassan went head to head wooing voters at Fitzgerald State School.
One Nation candidate Debra Lawson was also there chatting to voters with a small entourage of supporters, including Rory McPhail, 11.
"Rory's met Pauline," Ms Lawson boasted, "and made him a promise".
"If Pauline retains her Senate seat she is going to bring Rory to Canberra with her for her swearing in ceremony."
Rory said Pauline was really nice to him and he liked her because she wanted to keep the coal industry running.
"If a coal-fired power station gets built, my mum will have cheaper energy bills," Rory said.
All candidates were looking a bit tired and hot underneath the midday sun.
Panic stations. Only just turned 11am and the Gator Girls of #dawson are down to the last 5 democracy sausages. @billshortenmp as PM in waiting can you help??? #australiavotes #auspol pic.twitter.com/TVTBBe3zzp
— Greg Pankhurst (@GregPankhurst) May 18, 2019
Mr Christensen said he had been to most of the polling stations in the Northern Beaches.
When asked how he thought the election would play out, he said: "Sometimes it's hard to gauge where you stand when you're standing so close to the fire".
No George Christensen manila slices? https://t.co/QLLgHsGn0D
— worldwidewebster (@DiWebster) May 18, 2019
Ms Hassan was all smiles with Labor red lippy, surrounded by a bevy of minders and volunteers.
She had also spent the morning hitting Northern Beaches polling stations.
Ms Lawson said she did not have time to be exhausted but had been all through the Northern Beaches, Slade Point and Andergrove.
Tracy Carrington voted for One Nation today at the Mirani polling booth.
When asked about the voting process, she said "there's gotta be an easier way to do it".
"Either shrink the ballot papers or make the ballot boxes bigger," she said.
"There's so many parties you can vote for that I've never even heard of, like the Love it or Leave it party for example.
"I think people are voting for these minor parties because they just want to vote for anyone except the two major parties."
*Dials 000*
— Ashley Pillhofer (@ashpillhofer) May 18, 2019
Hi, yes I would like to report a crime. There was no sausage sizzle were I voted in Mackay. Unacceptable really.
#auspol #democracysausage #AUSVote19
Mrs Carrington said she voted for One Nation because she believed Pauline Hanson said what people were thinking.
"I don't agree with all of her policies, but I think she says what people are thinking and that's important," she said.
"I think Labor and Liberal are very disillusioning at the moment.
"In 2007, for example, I voted Labor because I wanted Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. I know that you are voting for the party not the person but in that case we were voting for the person."
Volunteers at Mercy College told reporter Zizi Averill it was surprisingly quiet today.
Minor party voters said their focus was on the Senate race, not the House of Representatives.
"The green one? That's the one i didn't really care about," one male Dawson voter said of the ballot papers.
#Dawson @Greens candidate Imogen Lindenberg showed off her handmade Greens cape at the Mercy College polling booth #ausvotes @daily_mercury pic.twitter.com/fgtIRLU8e6
— Zizi Averill (@ZiziAverill) May 18, 2019
Labor volunteer Greg Webb said the same booth had attracted at least 1600 voters in 2016.
"We're not going to get anywhere near that," he said.
One Nation volunteer Terry Sam said he was not surprised.
Having been at pre-poll every day for the past three weeks he said too many people had already voted for there to be a big Election Day turnout.
"I knew there would be no one here today," he said.
Lacey, 6 has a great candidate in mind. pic.twitter.com/z4RzcmotHO
— Angela Seng (@AngelaSeng1) May 18, 2019
"I knew come Saturday there wouldn't be many at the booth."
Mr Sam said pre-poll had been consistently busy.
"The first two days were madness," he said.
"And it picked up again in the last week."
Labor candidate Russell Robertson has placed his vote in the 2019 Federal Election.
After a busy morning campaigning on the coast before arriving back in Rockhampton, Mr Robertson stopped at Norman Gardens before arriving at Frenchville State School to place his vote.
1pm: Kirschty Birt is a member of the Australian Electoral College staff at the Marian state school polling booth.
She said they opened the doors at 8am and had 200 people vote in the first hour.
Since then, it has tapered off, but in total, 973 people had voted at the school by 12:30pm.
Ms Birt said it was a busy booth because Marian is located right on the edge of the electoral boundaries.
"We are Capricornia here, but about five minutes drive across the river you are in Dawson," she said.
"So I think we are getting a lot of people from both electorates and that's why it's busy.
"This year, the voting at Marian is being held inside the school hall, which has allowed for much more space and therefore less line ups.
"In the past we would have it in the library and the lineup would be our the door, out into the carpark."
Voters moved from one line to another in Cannonvale today as many in the crowd took part in an Election Day staple - the democracy sausage.
With only one voting station for the Airlie Beach/Cannonvale area, at the local school, the Cannonvale State School P&C took advantage of the large crowd by putting on the sausage sizzle.
#ausvotes #dawson #calen @Belinda_ALP @QLDLabor @AustralianLabor @joelshaunhanlon 🗳 🗳 🗳 pic.twitter.com/ZaxBsMZQuW
— Luke 🚀 (@lukeacl) May 17, 2019
Sabrina Mitchell said food was basically flying off the barbecue as it was cooked.
By 11.30am they were already out of burgers, and had to make another dash to the supermarket for more sausages.
"We're better than Bunnings, we have onion," Ms Mitchell laughed.
"It's all to support the kids."
12.30pm: EXIT polling at Mackay Central State School is showing strong support for George Christensen with 10 people saying they would vote for him.
Dawson resident Charlie Goodwin said he was unnerved by all the changes Labor was proposing.
"It's too much volume. Too much change."
He gave his vote to the sitting member George Christensen.
One Dawson voter said she only voted for the "George because he's the only name I know".
Mackay Central State school is raising money for a new grandstand.
Ethan Liddle, 11 has been swayed by the Member for Dawson’s signage. pic.twitter.com/Fe9tudQxVz
— Angela Seng (@AngelaSeng1) May 18, 2019
Sausage sizzle volunteer Graeme Douglas said "the voting is compulsory, but the sausages are highly desirable".
Fraser Anning party candidate Michael Turner made an appearance at the polling booth, which resulted in some raised eyebrows from volunteers from other parties.
Mr Turner said he was making his way back to Townsville stopping at polling booths along the way.
He said he planned to watch the election from his home in the Herbert electorate with his family.
He said during the campaign he had only spent two days with his family and admitted he might not even watch the election results unfold tonight.
"We might put on a movie and forget about this whole election thing," he said.
His appearance stirred some bitter memories for LNP volunteer Jan Sciberras who said her husband had been harassed by Fraser Anning volunteers during pre-polling.
She said her husband, who moved to Australia when he was four was born in Malta, was last week abused by a female Fraser Anning volunteer because he was an immigrant.
"She told him he was as bad as the Muslims," Ms Sciberras said.
She said this was one of a series of incidents with the Fraser Anning volunteer at the Mackay pre-polling booth.
Ms Sciberras said a formal complaint had been sent to the Australian Electoral Commission.
Ashley Pillhofer and Nicole Pillhofer voted today at the CQU Ooralea campus polling booth.
Nicole said she voted for LNP because she wanted to see the mining industry continue to thrive.
"If we didn't have mining, this town would really suffer," Nicole said.
"I think as far as economics and mining goes, it makes sense to vote for George."
Incumbent Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry says she is feeling confident as the election campaign falls into its final hours.
Speaking to media after placing her vote, she said she thinks a Morrison Government is the best thing for the country.
Bringing her election day campaign to Rockhampton, the incumbent Member for Capricornia spoke with supporters and voters at Mount Archer State School before placing her vote.
Before heading to Mount Archer she made a quick stop at the Taste of The World Festival at the Rockhampton Showgrounds.
Greens candidate Paul Bambrick is out and about campaigning at polling stations today.
Noon: AJ Stehbens has been handing out "how to vote" cards at the CQU Ooralea campus polling booth since 8am this morning.
He said it had been "very quiet".
"I have been told this is one of the quieter booths, the busiest one is supposed to be Holy Spirit College. I think maybe it's just people who live in the Ooralea area who are coming here."
Mr Stehbens said the huge number of people who took advantage of pre-polling has made an impact on how busy it was today.
"I think people were very enthusiastic about going down to vote on a day that suited them. People were happy they could choose the day that they voted."
Russell Robertson has taken his election day campaign train to Rockhampton.
Campaigning with State Member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga in Norman Gardens, Mr Robertson also took some time to enjoy a democracy sausage with his young daughter.
11.30am: Richard Roberts with son Riley Roberts, 5, and daughter Abby Roberts, 8, enjoying the sausage sizzle.
Mr Roberts chose Dundula State School to vote at because his kids attend school there.
In this election, he is voting for whoever can make a change. He is not happy with two major parties.
"The problem is then you vote for all the minor parties and end up with a stuffed up parliament too. The system isn't working."
Marila Aitken and Kristy Tante are running the bake sale at the Dundula school voting poll today.
They were up at the crack of dawn preparing the cakes and biscuits for sale and are almost sold out and it's only 11.30am.
Marila has four children who attend Dundula SS and Kristy has two children who attend the school.
The ladies said it had not been as busy as the last election, but still a steady flow of people.
All money raised from their bake sale will go back into the school, for things like tuck shop and school events.
One Nation's Wade Rothery and Katter Australian Party's George Birkbeck are spending election day handing out flyers to voters at North Rockhampton State School.
Despite the lengthy build up to the big day, Mr Rothery said he slept well following a Broncos win last night.
11am: Labor candidate for Dawson Belinda Hassan has cast her vote at Northern Beaches this morning.
She was in high spirits as she chatted with voters at Mackay Northern Beaches polling station.
"I'm feeling very positive about today's election," she said.
It's busy in Airlie Beach and Cannonvale this morning too.
Whitsunday voters lining up outside the only polling booth in the Airlie Beach/Cannonvale area #ElectionDay #2019Elections @daily_mercury pic.twitter.com/vQyOaXuaRG
— Janessa Ekert (@JanessaEkert) May 18, 2019
Tam Tansley said she voted for Greens across the board.
"Because of climate action, their policies, I think Larissa Waters is amazing," she said.
She said she felt it was important to wear her Stop Adani patch on her shirt today.
Cannonvale’s Sulie Buckton is a proud Labor voter. She explains why #AUSVote2019 #2019Elections #airliebeach #cannonvale @daily_mercury pic.twitter.com/idc1TmjvZA
— Janessa Ekert (@JanessaEkert) May 18, 2019
"I'm terrified if George Christensen gets back in. I have a lot of respect for Belinda Hassan. I just hope Labor gets in and will swing more in the Greens way," she said.
10.30am: Reporter Angela Seng's children have had their say on the election this morning too.
Debbie Pruden and Leonard Thompson from Mackay Conservation Group are holding an Adani quiz outside a polling station at Northern Beaches High School.
Reporter Zizi Averill is finding the democracy sausage is as important as voting today.
At the #Mackay Central State School polling booth volunteer Graeme Douglas said "the voting is compulsory, but the sausages are highly desirable". #democracysausage #ausvotes @daily_mercury pic.twitter.com/8ISYsUUDB3
— Zizi Averill (@ZiziAverill) May 18, 2019
10am: George Christensen has given a final pitch to voters on his Facebook page on fixing the Bruce Highway.
He already voted yesterday.
Belinda Hassan is handing out how to vote cards.
9am: Reporter Angela Seng has begun the day at Beconsfield and Bucasia State Schools in search of snags and voters.
In search of the best election snag! pic.twitter.com/bWxUpzJUkT
— Angela Seng (@AngelaSeng1) May 18, 2019
Rob and Daw De Waard and their dog Gracie went to Beconsfield State School to vote this morning.
"We just walked in with Gracie and nobody told us to leave, so I guess dogs are allowed to vote too," Mr De Waard said.
SATURDAY 8.10AM: IF IT were a horse race, only the bravest of punters would dare put their money either ALP or LNP to take out the seat of Capricornia.
Ladbrokes odds showed the incumbent Michelle Landry neck-and-neck with her ALP foe Russell Robertson with both paying $1.85 if they take the seat.
Ladbrokes said there had not been enough betting to predict any sort of trends emerging in Capricornia.
However, the Ladbrokes spokesperson spilled the beans on who was attracting the bets in the two seats.
"The money is running 2-1 in favour of the Coalition who is a narrow favourite in Flynn $1.70 and equal favourite with the ALP in Capricornia at $1.85," he said.
He also noted there were some parties not attracting any bets at all.
"We have taken no money on the Greens or United Australia Party in either seat and a grand total of $18.50 on One Nation, so the money is very much with the major parties as the odds reflect," the spokesperson said.
Labor and the Coalition have both been betting favourites over the last two months but the gap has since closed to nil.
EARLIER: EXIT polls of early voters have George Christensen sitting pretty in Dawson and Michelle Landry in a possible three-way race for Capricornia.
The Nationals incumbents have both come out on top in tallies taken for the two electorates at Mackay, Rockhampton, Proserpine, Bowen, Townsville and Sarina.
Mr Christensen has almost twice as many votes as his closest rival, Labor's Belinda Hassan. Ms Hassan has more than double the next in line, One Nation's Debra Lawson.
A number of people polled at Proserpine voting for George Christensen said "I'm a miner".
Michelle Landry has a small lead on One Nation's Wade Rothery and Labor's Russell Robertson, who are neck and neck.
But the Capricornia totals from three polling booths from Mackay to Rockhampton do not take into account Mr Robertson's and Mr Rothery's standing in communities outside major town centres, especially in mining communities like Moranbah and Clermont for the Labor candidate.
It is important to note the relatively small totals collated can not be regarded as statistically significant and do not take into account how preferences will flow.
Political scientist Paul Williams said early voters were often rusted on to the major parties so the results were not surprising.
He said the roughly 30 per cent of undecided and minor party voters in each seat would more likely vote today.
Political analyst Chris Salisbury said he was not surprised to hear Mr Christensen was out in front but the early indications for the huge Capricornia seat was unexpected.
"I didn't figure on One Nation so prominently," he said.
"Their preferences are going to count in Dawson, Capricornia and Flynn but I thought it would be more clearly a two-horse race and those preferences would be needed to decide who would come out on top.
"A profile certainly helps these people (Rothery is a former rugby league player) although just as equally it's Pauline's profile that helps more than anything.
"We're all a bit circumspect about making predictions on these seats because not only One Nation but Katter's party and Clive Palmer's party are all showing a lot of uncertainty around how much support they would attract but also where the preferences would go.
"There are a lot of competing names and parties on the right and I assumed they would be eating up each other's votes."
Mr Salisbury said he predicted Labor would win the election tonight but with a small minority. That would mean, if Mr Christensen and Ms Landry win, they would find themselves in opposition.
Dawson
- George Christensen (LNP) 46%
- Belinda Hassan (Labor) 24%
- Debra Lawson (One Nation) 11%
Sample size: 455
Capricornia
- Michelle Landry (LNP) 36%
- Wade Rothery (One Nation) 27%
- Russell Robertson (Labor) 22%
Sample size: 239
Locations: Bowen, Proserpine, Mackay, Sarina, Rockhampton, Townsville
All other candidates polled less than 10%.
Originally published as Mackay decides 2019: Clear winners in Capricornia, Dawson
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