Federal Election 2022: Leichhardt, Flynn and Hinkler

The LNP has secured two key regional Queensland seats despite significant negative primary vote swings away from the party at the polls.

The contest in Flynn is edging towards the Liberal National Party candidate.

With 51 per cent of the votes counted, a winner has not yet been determined.

The LNP’s Colin Boyce leads the way on 53 per cent to 47 per cent two party preferred ahead of ALP’s Matt Burnett.

Mr Burnett continues to have the highest first preference votes, about 2000 more than Mr Boyce.

Overall there has been a 5.6 per cent swing to the ALP, but preferences from the United Australia Party and One Nation are keeping Mr Boyce in front.

Saturday 9.30pm

The LNP has secured two key regional Queensland seats despite significant negative primary vote swings away from the party at the polls.

Incumbent Warren Entsch retained Leichhardt with 9065 first preference votes so far, despite a negative 6.1 per cent swing.

The ALP’s Elida Faith recorded a 0.6 per cent swing, with 7743 first preference votes, making the seat a close contest.

Former Bundaberg mayor and independent Jack Dempsey has made an impact in Hinkler, with a 10.8 per cent swing from the LNP in the count.

The incumbent Keith Pitt will retain the seat despite a 9 per cent negative swing.

Mr Dempsey secured a 14 per cent first preference vote, capitalising on the major swing away from the LNP.

The LNP secured Hinkler with a margin of 14.5 per cent at the 2019 election.

Saturday 7.30pm

Electorates in regional Queensland could determine the fate of the LNP in the 2022 federal election with a suite of challengers hoping to secure key seats.

The Leichhardt, Flynn and Hinkler seats were held by the LNP relatively comfortably in 2019, candidate changes could open the door for votes to swing.

LEICHHARDT

In 2019 Leichhardt was won with a 4 per cent margin, as Warren Entsch continued to his second tenure, which began in 2010.

There are 11 candidates listed on the Leichhardt ballot, which is tipped to be a tight race.

Incumbent Warren Entsch’s main challenge should come from ALP candidate Elida Faith.

Ms Faith is a former Centrelink worker who lived in Cairns for 21 years. She was the unsuccessful Labor candidate at the 2019 election.

The LNP secured the Leichhardt seat at the four elections, with the ALP taking the seat in 2007.

Leichhardt spans most of Far North Queensland including Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands and Cape York.

Housing affordability and availability, health care and the Cairns economy post-Covid are on voters’ agendas.

FLYNN

At the 2019 election the LNP secured Flynn via the retiring Ken O’Dowd, who has represented this seat since 2010.

Three years ago the margin was 8.7 per cent, but new faces are listed on the ballot this time around.

ALP candidate and mayor of Gladstone since 2016, Matt Burnett will be one of the main challengers to the LNP.

The Coalition candidate is Colin Boyce, who has departed Queensland state politics to contest Flynn. Mr Boyce was first elected as member for Callide at the 2017 election and re-elected in 2020.

Flynn stretches west from Gladstone and Gayndah to include Mount Morgan, Monto, Biloela, Moura, Blackwater and Emerald with mining and agriculture key industries.

HINKLER

The LNP secured Hinkler for a tenth consecutive time in 2019 with a very safe margin of 14.5 per cent.

However, independent Jack Dempsey, who was elected mayor of Bundaberg Regional Council in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 could make a run at the seat.

Mr Dempsey was elected as the Nationals MP for the state seat of Bundaberg in 2006. However, he was ousted at the 2015 state election. Now he has turned his attention to local government and federal government.

Incumbent Keith Pitt was first elected to parliament in 2013, most recently acting as the Minister for Resources and Water.

Hinkler spans Hervey Bay to Bundaberg, with housing and healthcare on the radar as polls closed.