YOUR VOTE COUNTS: The Douglas Shire guide to tomorrow's Federal Election
National Poll
Leichhardt candidates and their parties have been receiving national publicity on several controversial fronts, but the Douglas Shire has otherwise been largely ignored by federal politicians and would-be politicians in the lead-up to the Federal Election this Saturday, May 3.
The most high-profile election promise so far has been a $5m grant from LNP candidate Jeremy Neal to go towards a $5.7m disaster-relief centre, should his party be voted in.
Douglas Shire Council Mayor Lisa Scomazzon has been petitioning Labor candidate Matt Smith to match the promise, but there has been no pledge from him yet.
Neal visited the Shire about three weeks ago to make that announcement, but, despite Smith telling ABC Radio he would “get up there at one point”, he has made no official public appearances in the region.
The council has also been lobbying both candidates for about $6.6m to build a new 10 million litre water tank at Crees Road, with Neal saying in March he was “working hard on it to get it through” and Smith saying he “will advocate for anything that is important to the region”, but both have gone quiet on that front as well.
Neal has toured Crees Road reservoir recently.
He has also reiterated the LNP’s support for an $18.7m Daintree Microgrid Program, but federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has spoken out against the LNP’s policy, saying Labor would not support that plan in its current form.
However, in terms of national controversies, LNP candidate Neal has apologised about long-deleted social media posts about China, Covid-19 restrictions and feminists helping Donald Trump lose the 2020 presidential race.
There was also Tuesday’s report about Neal saying he felt threatened after receiving an anonymous recording of gunshots, which has been referred to police.
And Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party has been in the news this week for all the wrong reasons after sending out random unsolicited text messages across Australia.
Following that, widespread posts have appeared online of the reported personal phone number of the man who authorised the messages encouraging people to send text messages back to him.
Queensland Senate candidate Harry Fong is that person, and Douglas Shire residents have the opportunity to vote, or not vote, for him in the Senate this Saturday.
It is difficult to say whether the annoying text messages will help or hinder the chances of local ToP candidate Greg Dowling.
On the one hand, they have created a lot of anguish in the electorate, but, on the other hand, the saying goes: "any publicity is good publicity".
Who to vote for in Leichhardt
So, here is a handy guide to what you need to know to be that little bit more informed when you enter the polling booth on Saturday:
Leichhardt is a marginal seat held by Liberal with a 3.4 per cent margin, but sitting MP Warren Entsch is retiring.
Despite 10 people running for the seat, Leichhardt, which covers Cairns and extends north along the Marlin Coast all the way to the Torres Strait Islands, is expected to be a two-horse race between Liberal National candidate Neal and Labor candidate Smith.
Neal is a former paramedic and Smith is a former professional basketballer.
Labor has been pouring resources into campaigning for the seat, fielding a high-profile candidate and feeling more hopeful with Entsch retiring.
Both PM Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have visited Cairns during the campaign.
The Liberals have held Leichhardt since 2010, and 80 per cent of the population lives in Cairns.
During the 2022 election, 53.1 per cent of total preference flows went to Labor, while 46.9 per cent went to Liberal.
Those who voted Greens directed more than 83 per cent of their preferences to Labor, while One Nation directed more than 70 per cent of theirs to Liberal and Katter party voters directed nearly 59 per cent of their preferences to Liberal.
It is important to note that each individual voter decides where their preferences go.
Figures show that about 60 per cent of people vote according to the how-to-vote cards they are handed by volunteers on the way into the booth, but it does not have to be that way - you can preference who you want.
Here is a brief rundown of every candidate:
Matt Smith, Labor
Smith moved to Cairns two decades ago to play basketball for the Taipans.
He says he believes in the power of community and strives to be a part of that through working and volunteering.
He is also concerned about the pressure families are currently under and sees a strong need to build good, secure jobs in Far North Queensland.
Website: queenslandlabor.org/matt-smith
Jeremy Neal, Liberal National
Neal lives in Cairns and has spent 15 years with the Queensland Ambulance Service.
Helping people struggling with the cost of living, mortgage payments and petrol prices is a strong focus.
“The Australia we all want is still within reach – it’s just going to take some hard work to get there,” Neal said.
Website: online.lnp.org.au/jeremyneal
Daniel Collins, Katter's Australian Party
Daniel Collins is a qualified ecologist with a PhD in forest science and land management who believes in balancing industry and environment.
He says he’s developed practical land management approaches that support both economic growth and environmental sustainability.
He is also campaigning for safer streets and for more investment in local timber and agriculture industries.
Website: kattersaustralianparty.org.au
Phillip Musumeci, The Greens
Born in Babinda and now living in Cairns, Musumeci is a trained engineer.
He has lectured in computer science and engineering in Melbourne, Canberra, and Cairns.
“As an academic adviser at JCU Cairns, I found that students needing too many part-time jobs to try and pay their bills was a major cause of failure,” he said.
“Now is the time for free, lifelong public education and training, from school, through TAFE and university.”
He said a lack of affordable housing has made homelessness a real possibility for so many ordinary people.
Website: greens.org.au/qld/person/phillip-musumeci
Les Searle, Family First
Searle is a retired land surveyor and businessman who says families are fundamental to society and require strong advocacy for their wellbeing.
He has volunteered through church, youth organisations, and business associations.
Searle’s guiding principle is to prioritise family and he is particularly concerned about the significant impact activist groups.
He said their ideologies often conflict with religious communities and may have a detrimental impact on family units.
Website: familyfirstparty.org.au/les_searle
Robert Hicks, Pauline Hanson's One Nation
Hicks is advocating for “Australian values, fairness and national sovereignty”.
He believes successive governments have failed Australians, allowing cost-of-living pressures, failing infrastructure and government overreach to erode the freedoms and quality of life that generations have worked hard to build.
Hicks said he has lived in Far North Queensland for many years and has seen first-hand how government mismanagement has left regional communities behind.
He is determined to stand up for the everyday Australians who feel ignored by the political elite in Canberra.
Website: onenation.org.au/robert-hicks
Nicholas Daniels, Legalise Cannabis Party
Daniels has been a political cannabis activist for decades, saying it is used for building, biofuels, plastics that could replace petroleum-based products, seed for food and it can even be used to run electrical power stations.
He has previously opened the Queensland state branch of the federal Hemp Party and became a life member of the party before it changed its name to the Legalise Cannabis Party. After moving to the area for work after the 2012 floods, he co-founded the FNQ Hemp Embassy in Kuranda.
Website: legalisecannabis.org.au
Lloyd Russell, Libertarian Party
Russell is dedicated to giving Australians more control over their lives and their futures.
The party stands for personal freedom, lower taxes, and a government that respects your privacy and choices.
It believes in reducing government overreach, protecting rights to free speech, association, and religious freedom and ensuring people’s hard-earned money stays in their pocket.
The vision is a freer, more prosperous Australia where individuals, not politicians, decide what’s best for themselves and their families.
Website: libertarians.org.au
Norman Miller, Independent
Miller believes the nation is at a crossroads.
“We need a game changer. I can bring the change you’re looking for,” he said.
“As well as scrutinising bills that are put to parliament, debating them and voting for amendments that work for you, I can also introduce legislation that will benefit you.”
He said he will speak up on Indigenous issues and other issues that affect all Australians.
Website: normanmillerforleichhardt.com
Greg Dowling, Trumpet of Patriots
A former Australian rugby league player, Dowling is a long-time business owner and resident of North Queensland who says “we need Trump-like policies in Australia.”
Dowling said only the Trumpet of Patriots can deliver real change for the people of the region.
“Our people deserve better and should be rewarded with a better standard of life now and for their children and their grandchildren,’’ Dowling said.
“Australia needs commonsense solutions. We need real people, not professional politicians.”
Website: trumpetofpatriots.org/candidates/greg-dowling
Nearest places where you can vote
Polling stations across Douglas Shire and surrounding regions are open from 8am to 6pm, on Saturday, May 3, including:
-Port Douglas Community Centre, 13-29 Mowbray Street, Port Douglas
-Mossman State School, 30-34 Front Street, Mossman
-Miallo State School, 138 Miallo-Bamboo Creek Road, Miallo
-Wonga Beach State School, 48-74 Snapper Island Drive, Wonga Beach
-Daintree State School, 5 Power Street, Daintree
-Alexandra Bay State School, 1630 Cape Tribulation Road, Diwan
-Palm Cove Surf Club, Cedar Road, Palm Cove
-Clifton Beach Tennis Clubhouse, 13-23 Clifton Road, Clifton Beach
-Wujal Wujal CDP Centre, 1 Hartwig Street, Wujal Wujal
-Cooktown Event Centre, 3 May Street, Cooktown
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