By MEGAN OGLE
WARREN Truss’s retirement from Wide Bay means a new face will occupy the coastal seat after the 2 July election, with a field of seven candidates vying for voters’ attention.
Taking out number one in the ballot draw for Wide Bay is Glenn Lazarus Team candidate Jannean Dean. Ms Dean is a long-time resident of Hervey Bay and has worked in multiple management and leadership roles within government and private sector enterprises as well as running her own business.
Ms Dean listed Fraser Island Dingoes, medical cannabis, and protecting the environment as three priorities for her campaign.
In second place on the ballot paper is Elise Cottam, who is standing for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party.
Ms Cottam said she has watched Pauline Hanson from her early twenties and has “admired her guts and determination to have a go and be the voice of our nation”.
“One Nation’s motto ‘never give up’, definitely describes my work ethic, it has been my driving force for all my life. I am asking the people of Wide Bay not to ever give up, no matter what. You now have a real choice besides the major parties. Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is back and we need your vote so that we can give you a voice in Parliament,” she said.
Next on the ballot is local Australian Labor Party candidate Lucy Stanton of Boreen Point. Ms Stanton has more than 30 years of experience in business and currently volunteers as a phone counsellor with the Salvation Army.
Ms Stanton said she believed it was important to retain a Labour Government in Canberra to “fight the slash and burn tactics of our local LNP representatives”.
“With the Queensland LNP slashing services, now more than ever, we need to retain a federal Labor government that will prioritise accessible health care, better school funding, and employment opportunities for Wide Bay,” she said.
Sitting fourth on the ballot is police officer and Liberal National Party candidate Llew O’Brien, who was chosen to replace long-serving local member and former Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss.
“It is a privilege to be given an opportunity to stand as the LNP’s representative in Wide Bay and follow Warren Truss who has worked so hard for this region over many, many years,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Wide Bay is a wonderful and diverse part of this state and I’m committed working hard as strong local representative to ensure we can provide opportunities our families and industries to grow and prosper.”
Representing the Greens and coming in fifth on the ballot draw is former paramedic and ex-soldier Bron Marsh. The Gympie local said she was passionate about protecting the natural environment, ground and surface water quality, and agricultural land in the Wide Bay, as well as the mental health of returned soldiers and farmers.
“I am greatly concerned by the increasing rate of suicide among our returned service personnel and the increasing mental health issues amongst our farmers and their families. I will work hard as a member of the Greens to improve legislation around all these issues,” she said.
Following Ms Marsh on the ballot is Bruce Mayer, former electric train constructor and Family First candidate. Mr Mayer lives in Maryborough and has been a regular Family First supporter in state and federal elections in previous years.
Mr Mayer listed affordable housing, lower taxes and safer roads as some of the Family First policies he supports.
And last, but not least, the final candidate in the ballot draw is Barry Cook representing Katter’s Australian Party (KAP). Mr Cook, now retired, said was motivated to run in the election by his frustration at both major parties’ “failure to understand the plight of rural communities, and redress or acknowledge regional issues”.
Mr Cook said he would provide a “new approach” to issues such as that of unemployment, the struggling dairy and cane industries, prohibition of illegal international investment in the Taxi industry and keep Australian assets nationally owned.
The Federal Election is set to take place on Saturday 2 July, and for a full list of polling booths head to www.aec.gov.au/where.
Postal vote applications are now open – applications can be submitted online at www.aec.gov.au/opva or via a hardcopy application available from the AEC website, any AEC office or Australia Post office.
