THE POLL BLUDGER
Queensland Legislative Assembly Election 2006

DARLING DOWNS
Nationals 17.8%

RegionRural Southern
FederalGroom/Maranoa/Blair
Sitting MemberRay Hopper (Nationals)
CandidatesDavid Nelson (Labor)
Ray Hopper (Nationals)
David Totenhofer (Family First)
Click here for PDF map at Parliament House site

Darling Downs was created at the 2001 election from dependable Nationals territory, but was won on debut by independent candidate Ray Hopper, who polled 39.1 per cent on the primary vote and defeated Nationals candidate Peter Taylor by 1.1 per cent on two-party preferred. Hopper was subsequently welcomed into the Nationals fold and was effortlessly returned in 2004 with 50.5 per cent of the primary vote.

ASSESSMENT: Nationals retain