General News
20 January, 2025
Littleproud going around again
In 2025, becoming Deputy Prime Minister could well be on the cards for Leader of The Nationals and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud, who was recently re-endorsed by the LNP local Federal Division Council as its candidate.
“It is a huge privilege to be entrusted with the Maranoa local Party members’ vote of confidence and to be preselected again,” Mr Littleproud said.
“I am only here because of my local community and my local members, who I never take for granted and have a huge appreciation for.
“Each and every day, I consider it an honour to represent Maranoa and the people of regional Australia in the greatest institution of Australia, which is the Federal Parliament.
“I do not take my position lightly and I know that I will continue to fight for Maranoa families.
“As we head to the Federal Election, I am ready to step up a gear and work hard.
“In fact I am ready to work harder than I ever have before.
“Elected representatives should have to work hard because we are in a position that shapes our great country.”
Representing Maranoa is no easy task as it is one of the largest electorates in Australia, taking in over 700,000 square kilometres.
Clifton, Nobby and Allora are on the edge of the vast electorate which stretches out west along the New South Wales border, all the way to the South Australia and Northern Territory borders and up to Longreach, Winton and Barcaldine.
Mr Littleproud said the future of Australia depends on the 2025 election.
“I’ve got enormous motivation to get back in as the Federal Member for Maranoa and to get this country moving again in the right direction,” he said.
“Our country needs strong leadership and it needs to get back on track.
“The cost-of-living crisis is hurting families in Maranoa and all over the country, especially in regional Australia.
“People will ask themselves, are they better off after almost three years of Labor?
“Unfortunately, most Australians will say ‘no’ because the cost of everything, including electricity, gas, food and housing has skyrocketed under Labor policies.
“As the local candidate and Federal Member of Maranoa, I am proud of the Coalition’s plan for cheaper energy, with nuclear energy in the long-term and increasing gas supply in the short-term.
“Our energy plan will also secure high-paying jobs in Maranoa.”
Mr Littleproud has been the Member for Maranoa since 2016 and the Leader of The Nationals since 2022.
He is also the Shadow Agriculture Minister and previously served as the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Northern Australia, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management under the former Coalition Government.
As Leader of The Nationals, precedent would see Mr Littleproud become Deputy Prime Minister in the event of a Coalition victory.
No other candidates have officially announced their intention to run for Maranoa at this stage.
In the last election, in 2022, there were candidates from Labor, The Greens, United Australia Party, One Nation, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and Australian Federation Party.
Maranoa has not been in the hands of the Labor party since 1943.
The neighbouring seat of Groom, centred on Toowoomba and encompassing surrounding towns including Cambooya, Greenmount, Pittsworth and Oakey, is likely to be a much more interesting battle come election time.
Incumbent LNP member Garth Hamilton faces a tough challenge from independent Suzie Holt.
Ms Holt surprisingly finished second in the two-candidate preferred measure at the most recent election in 2022.
Fellow independent Kirstie Smolenski, who was another candidate in the 2022 election, has also announced her intention to run this year.
An official election date is yet to be announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who previously said he intends to serve a full three-year term.
The latest possible date is four months away, Saturday, 17 May.
