Wide Bay’s Llew O’Brien has been returned to his seat for a third term but his first one in Opposition, after LNP’s loss to Labor in the 2022 federal election and the appointment of new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Despite the national swing against LNP Mr O’Brien, with a 13.1 per cent margin in the 2019 election, won the seat of almost 86,000 voters comfortably, picking up 43.4 per cent of the primary vote and 61.4 per cent after preferences, but with an overall 1.7 per cent swing to Labor.
Labor gained 21 per cent of the primary vote and 39 per cent after preferences. Following the major parties the field of candidates placed: One Nation (10 per cent), Greens (9 per cent), United Australia (4.7 per cent), Independents Kelli Jacobi (4.3 per cent) and Tim Jerome (2.9 per cent), Informed Medical Options (2.2 per cent), Values Party (1.4 per cent), Federation Party (0.4 per cent) and informal votes (5.8 per cent).
Mr O’Brien began his election day joining a long queue of voters waiting in the rain at Sunshine Beach State School to cast their votes when the doors opened at 8am.
He said his campaign had been unlike those in previous elections with almost double the number of candidates contesting the seat, the impact of Covid and people focused on the big issues.
Political supporters handed out hand to vote cards amid a sea of umbrellas at polling booths across Noosa.
At Tewantin State School, former Brisbane Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson joined the party faithful to hand out cards for LNP as she has done every election since 1972.
Having travelled to Noosa for an 80th birthday party the night before, she stayed on to back the local candidate, but was surprised to find in Noosa, as she had in Brisbane, that people were unwilling to discuss politics, and few were accepting the offered how to vote information.
“It’s interesting no one wants to engage in conversation. People usually want to have a chat or an argument. No one wants to have an argument. It’s the first time I’ve found this,“ she said.
“People know who they want to vote for. Once upon a time people, out of politeness, would take everything offered to them.“
Ms Atkinson was on the money when she tipped the Greens to win Griffith and possibly Ryan in Brisbane and was not confident Scott Morrison would retain the prime ministership.
