The Queensland election campaign became official on Tuesday 1 October with the dissolving of government and move to caretaker mode until the determining of the state election on 26 October.
In Noosa there are four contenders, so far, with veteran Labor campaigner Mark Denham, first-time LNP candidate and former mayor Clare Stewart, and second-time Queensland Greens candidate Rhonda Prescott trying to unseat incumbent Independent Sandy Bolton.
The seat of Noosa in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland was created in 1992 following the redistribution of the former electorate of Cooroora.
With Noosa at its centre and the ocean its easterly border, it runs from Peregian in the south to Eumundi in the west and the southern border of Gympie in the north.
Noosa has been held by the Liberals and the LNP for 20 of its 32-year history, with State Ministers Bruce Davidson and Glen Elmes representing it for nine and 11 years respectively. Labor’s Cate Molloy held it from 2001 to 2006 before quitting her party over the Traveston Dam, and serving briefly as an independent.
Since 2017 Noosa has been held by Independent Sandy Bolton, a former Noosa Councillor, who achieved an 18 percent swing to unseat Glen Elmes.
The 2020 election saw Sandy Bolton win outright with about 44 per cent of first preference votes and almost 66 per cent after preferences.
Her nearest rival was then LNP candidate James Blevin with about 29 per cent of the vote (34 per cent after preferences), followed by Labor’s Mark Denham with about 14 per cent of the vote and Queensland Greens Rhonda Prescott with about 7 per cent. Also running in 2020 was Animal Justice Party candidate Darrell Redford (1.7 per cent of the vote) and Tracey Bell-Henselin of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party (3.4 per cent of the vote).
Candidate nominations for the 2024 election opened on Wednesday 2 October.
Enrolled voters will be able to cast their vote at early voting centres from Monday 14 October to Friday 25 October from 8am-6pm (excluding the weekend) or on Election Day on Saturday 26 October from 8am-6pm.
Postal votes can be applied for until Monday 14 October at 7pm with postal vote returns deadline on Tuesday 5 November.
To apply for a postal vote phone the Electoral Commission Queensland on 1300 881 665 or visit ecq.qld.gov.au
