Mixed bag for major parties in ballot draw for 2024 state election

Tuesday’s ballot draw was a mixed bag for the major parties, with Labor and the Greens well down the card in areas they are targeting.

• Full list: Order of every candidate

Nine parties and 525 candidates will battle it out for office on October 26, with four parties fielding candidates in every one of the state’s 93 electorates.

Labor, the LNP, the Greens and One Nation are tackling every seat.

Family First has made a comeback, fielding 59 hopefuls.

There are 38 Independents, 29 Legalise Cannabis Party, 12 Animal Justice Party, 11 Katter’s Australian Party and four Libertarian Party candidates to choose from as well.

Electoral Commissioner of Queensland Pat Vidgen said postal voters could expect to receive ballot materials in the mail shortly.

“Voters should note that postal votes must be completed by 6pm on election day, but I urge people to complete their vote, sign, witness and send their envelope back to the ECQ as soon as they can,’’ he said.

“For postal votes to be included in the count they must be returned to the ECQ by Tuesday, November 5, at the very latest.”

Tuesday’s ballot draw was a mixed bag for the major parties, with Labor and the Greens well down the card in areas they are targeting while the LNP and KAP had better luck overall.

Queensland Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen says the number of candidates is down 12 per cent on 2020. Picture: Glenn Campbell/NCA NewsWire

Premier Steven Miles did well to secure second spot in his Murrumba electorate in Moreton City — behind a cannabis legalisation party.

In what was a Melbourne Cup line-up of nine candidates, the LNP trailed in fifth spot.

Down on the Gold Coast, LNP Leader David Crisafulli was right at the bottom in his Broadwater electorate.

But, at least according to the polls, even that would not stop him reclaiming the seat.

The man representing the most marginal seat in Queensland, Labor’s Bundaberg MP Tom Smith, can count his blessings after a second placing on the draw. LNP rival Bree Watson was last on the ballot.

And Labor’s Thuringowa candidate Aaron Harper got the lift he desperately needed to help win his Townsville seat, which pollsters have written off for the ALP.

Mr Harper got top spot, ahead of One Nation, followed by the Greens, an Independent, the LNP’s Natalie Warr and KAP’s Reuben Richardson.

Returning Office for the seat of Aspley Tom Freeman draws the voting ballot order at Carseldine with candidates Fiona Hawkins (Greens), Bart Hellish (ALP) and Amanda Cooper (LNP) present. Picture: Lachie Millard

But in neighbouring embattled Labor electorate, Townsville, Resources Minister Scott Stewart drew fourth position behind the KAP, One Nation and Family First, albeit ahead of the LNP’s Adam Baillie (fifth).

The LNP had a boost in Nerang-based Gaven where Labor Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon was under heavy pressure.

LNP candidate Bianca Stone clinched top spot, with Ms Scanlon well down the card in fifth spot.

In Aspley, a vulnerable Labor seat, sitting Labor MP Bart Mellish scored third spot after One Nation and Family First, but crucially just ahead of the LNP’s Amanda Cooper and the Greens’ Fiona Hawkins.

Over in the Ashgrove-based seat of Cooper, the LNP’s Raewyn Bailey scored top position, a handy help after her late party preselection.

Frontrunners Jonty Bush (Labor) and Katinka Winston-Allom (Greens), were second last and last, respectively.

Jonty Bush campaigning in Bardon. Picture: John Gass

Ms Bush, locked in a tough fight with the Greens, said people would be voting for her based on her “values, experience and work ethic, rather than where I’m placed on the ballot’’.

“I’m looking forward to getting out onto prepoll and continuing to speak to locals about my plan for our community,” she said.

In the inner-south seat of Miller, incumbent and ex-Labor transport minister Mark Bailey was in last spot — not welcome news considering pollsters also forecast that he was under heavy pressure from the Greens.

The LNP got top billing, followed by One Nation, the Animal Justice Party and the Greens’ Liam Flenady.

State Development Minister Grace Grace scored third spot in her inner-Brisbane seat of McConnel, behind the LNP (second), but importantly ahead of the Greens’ Holstein Wong who was tipped to perform strongly.

Amy MacMahon, the Greens’ Member for South Brisbane, had the disadvantage of fourth position, behind the LNP (first), Labor (second) and One Nation.

Originally published as Mixed bag for major parties in ballot draw for 2024 state election