By Margaret Maccoll
Independent candidate Sandy Bolton retained her seat of Noosa with a comfortable win increasing her primary vote to 44 per cent and in a two-candidate preferred count amassed an amazing 65 per cent. The 2017 election saw a 16 per cent swing away from LNP candidate Glen Elmes. In 2020 LNP James Blevin has retained the polls held by Elmes with 29 per cent of the primary vote.
Labor candidate Mark Denham edged forward by 2 per cent this time to gain 14 per cent of the primary vote from 12 per cent in 2017 and retain third spot.
The Greens saw a drop in votes this year gaining about 7 per cent of the vote compared to 11 per cent in 2017.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party experienced the biggest swing in this election dropping from 11 per cent of the vote in 2017 to only 3 per cent in 2020.
While the Animal Justice Party candidate Darrell Redford gained just 1.5 per cent of the vote.
Voting varied widely across the Noosa electorate.
Support for Ms Bolton was strongest at Kin Kin and Boreen Point where she gained about 54 per cent of the primary vote. At Peregian Beach Ms Bolton polled 38 per cent of the vote with Labor gaining 17 per cent and the Greens 16 per cent. LNP voters were strongest in Noosaville giving first time candidate Blevin 34 per cent of the vote while at Kin Kin he scored only 13 per cent.
Pre-polling, postal votes and telephone votes made up about half this year’s vote but there were still plenty of people at the polling booths on Saturday and stall holders were making the most of the crowds with fundraising efforts.
