Federal Election 2022: Capricornia results and voting
The Labor Party has conceded defeat in Capricornia, with Rockhampton-based LNP incumbent Michelle Landry set to enter her fourth term in office. ROLLING COVERAGE HERE.
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The Labor Party has conceded defeat in Capricornia, with Rockhampton-based LNP incumbent Michelle Landry set to enter her fourth term in office.
Ms Landry took an early lead ahead of Labor’s Russell Robertson when counting began in the Federal Election on Saturday evening, notching up 38.60 per cent of the first preference vote compared to Labor’s 28.75 per cent.
On Sunday morning, Mr Robertson said the ‘mountain was too high to climb in Capricornia’.
“A huge thank you to all our supporters across Capricornia, especially those who spent hours helping out in the dreadful weather over the last few days,” he said.
“We’ve secured a significant swing but unfortunately the mountain was too high to climb in Capricornia. Congratulations to Michelle Landry and the LNP on their win.
“But the good news is Australia has delivered a Labor government, which means we’ll see the positive changes we need in terms of job security, healthcare, housing and rebuilding manufacturing.
“Here’s to a better future for us all.”
Follow our Capricornia tally below:
Landry reacts to early polling results
Incumbent Liberal Nationals candidate Michelle Landry appears likely to enter her fourth term as the seat of Capricornia’s representative in Canberra, with the Rockhampton-based MP taking a strong lead in early counting ahead of Labor’s candidate, coal miner Russell Robertson.
Celebrating with her family, supporters and staff at Rockhampton venue CocoBrew on Saturday night, Ms Landry said she was excited but nervous.
“This is the most nerve-wracking time when the numbers are starting to come through, because this is in the hands of the people,” she said.
“There’s nothing I can do. This is how the people of Capricornia and Australia have voted and that’s what I’m waiting for now.”
Despite the early lead, Ms Landry was not counting her chickens before they hatched.
“Last election I had the biggest swing in the country, and that was always going to come back, and I knew that, but I have continued to work hard and it’s looking very positive at the moment,” she said.
“It’s tight, you can never take anything for granted and you’ve got to think about how many tens of thousands of people went through pre-poll, the postal votes that are out there, so it’s still anyone’s game, but the early indications are looking good.”
Ms Landry said the six-week election campaign had been tough.
“I always work hard but election time is very intense, you are under scrutiny, there’s a lot of media interviews, and this is the time the people decide whether they think you have done a good job or not.
“It’s always good to wake up on the Sunday and think ‘we’ve done it’, but often I’ve had to wait for a week for the results so I’m hoping that’s not the case tonight.”
Ms Landry thanked the people of Capricornia for their support.
“This is an honour and privilege to do this job, I love every minute of it, sometimes it might be a little bit difficult but when I first started doing this in 2010, I never planned on being a politician and I have really grown myself since then.
“I have become a lot tougher, it’s sink or swim in this game and the thing that has been said to me right from the start is ‘Michelle, this is about your electorate, this is what you have to fight for’, and that’s what I’ve done. My whole focus is on this electorate.”
Meanwhile at the Red Lion Hotel in Rockhampton, Labor’s Mr Robertson’s team and supporters was celebrating the end of a long campaign and watching the votes roll in.
As at 8.15pm though, Mr Robertson had not arrived at the venue, but MP for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke was in attendance, along with a crowd of Labor backers.
Tough decision for voters
At Crescent Lagoon State School in West Rockhampton, voter Cheryl was standing outside the polling centre still trying to decide who to vote for at 3.30pm.
“This year it is difficult. Usually I do know who I am voting for but this year I am having trouble deciding,” she said.
“I often do early voting, but this year I just wasn’t ready to vote and it’s my son’s first time voting so he wanted to enjoy the full voting experience I guess.
“I can honestly say right now I am still undecided. I think my son knows who he is voting for. But I can’t pick it at all.”
Landry thanks voters for their support
Wet weather continued for Rockhampton voters as Capricornia incumbent Michelle Landry cast her vote at the James Lawrence Pavilion booth on Saturday at midday.
A Liberal National Party volunteer said it had been quite busy at the booth throughout the morning with a line up of about 15-20 people when the doors opened at 8am.
Ms Landry said she just wanted to thank Capricornia voters for all the support they have given her over the past nine years.
“If I have the honour of being re-elected I will be committed to keep working as hard as I have been,” she said.
“I have put more than $5.7 billion of infrastructure into this region and there is more to come.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to be the member for Capricornia and as someone who never thought they would be a politician I am very proud of what I have achieved.”
Meanwhile on the Capricorn Coast, United Australia Party candidate Nathan Harding cast his vote at Yeppoon.
In a post on social media, Mr Harding said voters were today fight for freedom.
“bout 2 million Australians over the last two years were segregated out of society in Australia,” he said.
“Today we are fighting for freedom, not just for now but for our future, for our kids.”
Sausage sizzles going steady
On Rockhampton’s southside Kerry Pease has been manning the sausage sizzle stand at Allenstown State School since 6am to raise funds for the P&C.
The P&C treasurer and volunteer tuckshop convenor said the pace picked up about mid-morning.
“About mid-morning to lunch time it was busy, it has been kind of steady on and off all day,” she said.
“I don’t know how many to expect, it has been a steady flow of people. I really couldn’t tell how many have been through.
“There is no particular project (we are fundraising for). The P&C provides a lot of vital resources to all of the kids in the school, and it is just ongoing.
“I spent all day in the tuckshop yesterday making the jaffles for today, it has been a busy week.”
One Nation heartland votes for the orange
It’s a rainy, drizzly day in Sarina, the small sugarcane township in the electorate of Capricornia.
Volunteer Tom Petitt stood outside St Luke’s Hall on Broad St handing out How To Vote cards for Labor’s Russell Robertson.
“I wish it wasn’t raining,” he said with a chuckle.
“But it could be raining harder.”
Hayden Whisson stood in line and said he was excited about the day.
“Just being able to vote for who I think should be in charge,” he said.
Mr Whisson said he would plump for Pauline Hanson and One Nation.
“She’s got Australia’s back.”
At the state level, Sarina is One Nation territory and insurance broker Katie Blackley, crossing Broad St in the rain after her vote, said she had gone for One Nation as well.
She said she was dissatisfied with the major parties and listed cost of living as the issue foremost on her mind when she was in the voting booth.
“All the prices have gone up quite a bit.”
Labor candidate casts his vote
Australian Labor Party candidate Russell Robertson asked Capricornia voters to be safe in the “dreary weather conditions” on Saturday while casting his vote at North Rockhampton State High School.
A Labor volunteer said there had been a steady flow of voters at the booth throughout the morning.
One voter even took their dog along to the booth.
Mr Robertson said people should take their time and study the how-to-vote cards carefully so they could make an informed decision.
“I thank everyone for participating in really dreary conditions today,” he said.
“I really appreciate the volunteers, it’s been a hard slog for people who give up their time.
“And I completely respect all Capricornia voters. The voters never get it wrong so I will support their decision however it may fall.”
Snags and smugglers
James Fitzgerald cast his vote at the Capricornia booth while wearing nothing but a pair of budgy smugglers.
“Budgy Smuggler put out that if you vote in your budgy smugglers and get a photo of it they will send you a $65 credit,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“Doing it for new budgies.”
He said he voted for Labor.
“That’s who I support in the election,” he said.
Democracy sausages were also on the menu at the North Rockhampton State High School booth.
“We are raising funds under the P&C to send our North Rocky High all-schools touch football teams off to the Gold Coast in October,” Tansy Manning said.
“It has been slow but steady. We are hoping to raise $1000.
“We also have chocolate cake, banana bread and loads of drinks for sale.
“Come and visit us.”
Voting begins across region
Polling started at the Rockhampton Baptist Tabernacle booth in the Capricornia electorate with the wet weather not deterring early voters on Saturday morning.
A Liberal National Party volunteer said people started rocking up about 7.50am to vote.
More than 10 people were waiting outside the booth for the doors to open at 8am, with voters steadily trickling in throughout the morning.
Ken Wilson, 71, got in early to cast his vote on Saturday and said he voted for the Liberal National Party.
“Labor wanted to take all the Super last time,” Mr Wilson said.
After six long weeks of listening to all the political parties campaigning, Capricornia residents from Rockhampton and Yeppoon to Mackay and west to Collinsville and Moranbah, finally get to decide who will represent their regions in parliament, and lead the country, moving forward.
On Saturday, May 21, Capricornia electorate residents will be able to cast their votes at polling booths across the state.
Vying for the seat of Capricornia, which is now considered LNP territory after three-straight election wins for the party, is incumbent MP Michelle Landry from Rockhampton, Labor’s Russell Robertson from Rockhampton and Moranbah, One Nation’s Kylee Stanton from Marian, Capricorn Coast resident Paula Ganfield for the Informed Medical Options Party, The Greens’ Mick Jones from Rockhampton, Yeppoon teacher Steve Murphy for the Liberal Democrats Party, independent Ken Murray from the Central Highlands, Nathan Luke Harding with United Australia Party from Yeppoon and Zteven Whitty from Cooee Bay, a member of The Great Australian Party.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PARTY'S KEY POLICIES?
Before casting your vote, you can check out the Coalition and Labor’s policy commitments, how they compare and what it means for you and your household right here.
VOTING
If you haven’t already pre-polled, you will be able to cast your vote from 8am on Saturday at polling booths across the electorate. Voting closes at 6pm.
This publication will have reporters on the ground all day Saturday in the Rockhampton and Mackay regions, with extensive coverage of polling-day happenings.
Keep up to date with election action from across Capricornia by checking this story throughout the whole weekend.
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Originally published as Federal Election 2022: Capricornia results and voting
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