| Today, and the last few week have really signalled a change in the LNP in Queensland – at least it would seem so. I have not attended the convention or the launches but today I attended the preselection of the LNP candidate in my local area. Whilst I can’t talk specifics, what I want to comment on does not relate to any one person or candidate. In the past we have had trouble getting good state candidates, they all tried to go for federal parliament, this year, the people we had nominate to run for us for my local seat were all excellent outstanding people. Actually they were all men, but it’s not a perfect world, perhaps we will get more next time. It was a really tough choice for every one who turned up, but also unlike other preselections I’ve been to, we actually had well over the minimum number of people for the meeting, without people turning up to vote along the lines of a particular group within the party. We all seemed to be there genuinely hopeful that we had a good candidate for our area (in the past we have really just run someone for the sake of doing so) as we are all so sick of our incompetent, non-issue of a local member. He’s been in for over a decade and has not fought for funding for our local schools, has ignored huge traffic problem and intersections so dangerous they are frequently the site of accidents, and don’t get me started on health or his lack of community involvement. Members of our state executive who spoke acknowledged that there were several good candidates for every seat. Also all of our candidates for my area were relatively new members with no history in any issues that have divided the Liberals or Nationals. That coupled with the fact that the press has not been on Blight’s side puts me in a very positive frame of mind – and this was very much the frame of mind of the other party members there.
The next sate election will be a tough battle, and we by no means face poor opposition. The ALP is better funded, has a very sophisticated election machine and a volunteer workforce bolstered by the unions (actually rumour has it they actually pay people to do their campaigning, but I don’t see how they could afford that!) There are also still many people out there who support the ALP through thick and thin – some of the comment on my blog from time to time – but I think that there is a change in the air for the people of Qld. |
