THE POLL BLUDGER
Queensland Legislative Assembly Election 2006

KEPPEL
Labor 3.8%

Keppel covers about 100 kilometres of coast around Yeppoon and extends 30 kilometres inland to take in the outer suburbs of Rockhampton. Labor's vote is markedly higher in the latter area than in the towns surrounding Yeppoon. Keppel has existed in one form or another since 1888, under the name Rockhampton North from its creation until 1912 and then again from 1960 to 1992. It has mostly been in Labor's hands barring a few Country Party interruptions, but was won by the Nationals in 1992 when the redistribution pitted Peak Downs MP Vince Lester against the Labor member for Rockhampton North, Rob Schwarten (later to return as member for Rockhampton in 1995). The strength of Lester's personal vote was indicated when Keppel became the only seat to fall to Labor at the 2004 election, their candidate Paul Hoolihan (left) succeeding on his second attempt with a 5.3 per cent swing. Lester nonetheless needed One Nation preferences to overcome Labor in 1998, when his primary vote plunged from 57.4 per cent to 29.8 per cent, and his margin against Hoolihan in 2001 was just 1.5 per cent.

Paul Hoolihan came to parliament at the age of 56 after running a Rockhampton law practice for 25 years. Depending on your perspective, he has either made little impact or kept out of trouble in his first term. The Gold Coast Bulletin reported in February last year that while Hoolihan entered parliament a factional independent, he "was apparently struggling to decide whether to join Forum or Unity". Nationals candidate Mary Carroll (right) is a Livingstone Shire councillor and head of the Capricorn Coast Tourist Organisation. Carroll was also a candidate for preselection in 2004, when the poisoned chalice went to Rockhampton councillor Neil Fisher.

ASSESSMENT: Labor retain