THE POLL BLUDGER
Queensland Legislative Assembly Election 2006

MOGGILL
Liberal 6.3%

Moggill covers some of the outermost suburbs of western Brisbane, including Kenmore to the north of the suburb of Moggill and Mount Crosby to the west, and the semi-rural hinterland beyond. It has been in Liberal hands at all times since its creation in 1986. The member from 1989 by David Watson, who led the party to its disastrous 2001 result when it was reduced to three seats. Watson himself survived by just 0.9 per cent and relinquished the party leadership to Bob Quinn, before retiring at the 2004 election. Bruce Flegg held the seat in fine style in 2004, adding 11.8 per cent on the primary vote and 5.4 per cent on two-party preferred, and has wasted little time in becoming the second successive member for Moggill to lead the Liberals.

Bruce Flegg (left) is a former doctor who came to the seat after a bitter preselection battle against Russell Galt, later to come to fame when he claimed Liberal Senator George Brandis had described the Prime Minister was a "lying rodent" whose "arse" needed covering over the children overboard affair. Galt launched a Supreme Court challenge against his defeat, and only withdrew after the party agreed to cover his legal costs. Flegg's subsequent rise was all too swift: he immediately became the Liberals' deputy leader and transport spokesman, and was given the hugely significant health portfolio when the coalition agreement was reached in September 2005. The following month, the Courier-Mail reported that "senior Liberal figures" were already attempting to draft him for a leadership challenge, an offer he declined to take up at that point. His subsequent success in getting under the government's skin as Shadow Health Minister was illustrated by its attacks on him for maintaining his medical practice, and Health Minister Stephen Robertson description of him under parliamentary privilege as "that high fee-paying doctor who takes more than he is entitled to under the Medicare Agreement". The moment of truth came in early August when sudden retirement announcements from four Labor members brought speculation of an imminent election to fever pitch, activating members' long-standing concerns for their chances of re-election under Bob Quinn. Flegg's subsequent leadership spill, launched on an unsuspecting Quinn at a party-room meeting, won the support of four of the five other Liberal MPs, with ambitious Chatsworth MP Michael Caltabiano abstaining. Contrary to normal practice, Flegg maintained the health portfolio to emphasise the Coalition's credentials in this electorally crucial area, while Caltabiano assumed the Shadow Treasury position that was normally the prerogative of the leader. Labor's candidate for the second time running is party staffer Lisa Rayner (right).

ASSESSMENT: Liberal retain