General News
16 October, 2024
Election well and truly underway in Traeger
The pre-polling centre was a hive of activity when voting began.
There was a relaxed atmosphere when North West Weekly checked out Mount Isa’s early voting centre on Rodeo Drive this week as a steady stream of residents casually moved through the line of gazebos and corflutes to cast their ballot.
There was none of the hostility or tension being reported at Brisbane voting locations, with our local volunteers of all political stripes even happily distributing opposition party how to vote cards when someone had to step away from the area.
Early voting kicked off on Monday with a handful of eager voters waiting out the front of the centre before the official 8am opening.
Labor’s candidate Georgia Heath said she had been buoyed by the enquiries from local voters.
With Robbie Katter making statewide headlines last week when he indicated plans to bring forward legislation that would reintroduce a ban on abortion, Ms Heath said the future of healthcare had become a major election issue.
“The message from the women in Traeger I am hearing is that they have fought long and hard for their reproduction healthcare and they are very concerned about what would happen if this legislation was introduced,” she said.
“I also think that if an LNP government were to make any cuts to healthcare funding it would seriously impact on our ability to attract and retain medical professionals in Traeger.”
Ms Heath said she believed Labor’s $1.4 billion pledge to provide free school lunches to state school students would benefit disadvantaged families across the electorate.
“We all know there are children in Traeger that do not always have enough to eat, and we also know that makes it hard for them to focus in class and learn,” she said.
“I think a lot of voters want a return to representation that focuses on the issues that impact on their everyday lives.”
LNP candidate Yvonne Tunney said she believed youth crime and cost of living pressures were the major issues swaying voters at the election.
Queenslanders have until 6pm on October 26 to cast their vote.