Queensland election 2015

Warrego

Margin: Liberal National 25.1% versus Independent
Region: Southern Outback
Federal: Groom/Maranoa
Outgoing member: Howard Hobbs (Liberal National)

Candidates in ballot paper order

warrego-lnp

warrego-alp

RUTH GOLDEN
Independent

ANN LEAHY
Liberal National (top)

GUY SARA
Palmer United Party

MARK O’BRIEN
Labor (bottom)

SANDRA BAYLEY
Greens

ELECTORATE MAP

2012 ELECTION RESULTS

DEMOGRAPHICS

Electorate boundary outline courtesy of
Ben Raue of The Tally Room.

To be vacated at the coming election by Nationals veteran Howard Hobbs, Warrego is a safe conservative seat covering the interior two-thirds of the Queensland-New South Wales border, from which it extends northwards to relatively populous territory along the Warrego Highway (Chinchilla west through Roma to Charleville) and Balonne Highway (St George west to Cunnamulla). The electorate has existed without interruption since 1865 and was held by Labor from 1908 until 1974, when it switched decisively to the Country Party. It has since had two members: Neil Turner, who held it until 1986 (and returned as member for Nicklin in 1989), and his successor Howard Hobbs.

Hobbs was not seriously troubled by the One Nation onslaught in 1998, but had a very close shave at the following election in 2001, when independent candidate Wally Gleeson outpolled One Nation and Labor and finished 96 votes short after preferences. He was dumped from the opposition front bench when Campbell Newman assumed the leadership of the Liberal National Party in March 2011, a move Hobbs had reportedly opposed. Hobbs complained that the only remaining representative of western Queensland in shadow cabinet was Jeff Seeney, whom he described as “the most hated man in the bush”. He will be succeeded as Liberal National Party candidate by his electorate officer, Anne Leahy, who won preselection ahead of Maranoa mayor Robert Loughnan and St George businessman John Travers.

Corrections, complaints and feedback to William Bowe at pollbludger-at-bigpond-dot-com. Read William’s blog, The Poll Bludger.

Back to Crikey’s Queensland election guide

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