General News
4 November, 2024
Weir and Lister poll well as LNP takes the reins
Member for Condamine Pat Weir and Member for Southern Downs James Lister belong to the governing party for the first time following comfortable victories in their electorates and the Liberal National Party’s election win in Queensland.
Mr Weir first became the local member in 2015, the year the Campbell Newman-led government lost to Labor.
After nine years in Opposition, Mr Weir extended his already comfortable margin with a very strong showing at the polls.
Mr Weir will be part of an LNP majority government under new Premier David Crisafulli, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and presumptive Treasurer and Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki.
The re-elected MP said he looked forward to working for Condamine in Government rather than opposition.
“This is the first time we’ll be in Government, so I am looking forward to working with Ministers from our team,” he said.
“It’s clear that voters were looking for change, and across Queensland the minor parties weren’t doing too well so people weren’t playing with their votes.”
Mr Weir said his local policy priorities would be making sure police stations were fully-staffed as well as delivering road infrastructure projects.
“I’ll be advocating for road projects that have been neglected for far too long...”
Mr Weir thanked his volunteers, friends and relations during the campaign and on election day for their support.
Although not all votes are yet counted, at this stage there has been a 6.1 per cent swing towards the LNP in Condamine in the first preference count.
Mr Weir has nearly 61 per cent of first preferences, followed by Labor candidate Ben Whibley-Faulkner with 17 per cent, One Nation’s Clay Harland with 10 per cent, Family First’s Alan Hughes with 5 per cent and the Greens’ Ellisa Parker with 5 per cent.
This was Labor’s worst result in Condamine since the 2012 wipeout, the poll producing a poor showing for One Nation as well.
In the two party preferred measure, there has been a 5.5 per cent swing towards the LNP and against Labor, giving Mr Weir close to 75 per cent.
Meanwhile, in the Southern Downs electorate, the story was much the same with James Lister, the local member since 2017, increasing his already healthy majority.
“I am very grateful to the people of Southern Downs for making me our MP again with a bigger vote than ever,” Mr Lister said.
“I spent four hours at the polling booth in Allora on election day and I thank the people of Allora for their support for me.
“My team and I ran an honest and positive campaign which focused on the things which everyone has been raising with me as I get around.”
So far, Mr Lister has about 54 per cent of the first preference vote, followed by One Nation’s Liz Suduk with 18 per cent, Labor’s Greg Johnson with 18 per cent, The Greens’ David Newport with 5 per cent and Family First’s Melinda Keller with 3 per cent.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald has congratulated new Premier David Crisafulli along with local MPs Pat Weir and James Lister following the results of Saturday’s State Election.
“I have reached out to Premier Crisafulli to congratulate him on his election victory and have invited him to visit the Toowoomba region in the near future,” he said.
“As a former Deputy Mayor and Minister for Local Government, Premier Crisafulli has a sound political background and understanding of local government and is well placed to deliver positive outcomes for regional Queensland, and particularly the Toowoomba region.
“Our elected local state members know this region well and having spent significant time in opposition, they are now well placed to deliver results for our region via their positions in Government.
“My hope is that the loyalty the community has shown to our recently re-elected local members is now repaid when decisions around investment in our region are made within the State Government.
“I’m keen as always to work with the State Government and have invited them to meet and discuss key priorities, opportunities and challenges on the horizon for the Toowoomba Region,” Mayor McDonald said.
