THE POLL BLUDGER
Queensland Legislative Assembly Election 2006

NICKLIN
Independent 29.6% vs Labor

Nicklin was created at the 1986 election at which it was won by Brian Austin of the National Party, who retired a casualty of the Fitzgerald inquiry in 1989. His successor Neil Turner was one of many victims of the backlash against the major parties at the 1998 election, although his seat fell to independent candidate and Maroochy Shire councillor Peter Wellington (right) rather than One Nation. Wellington's surprise win left him as one of two independents holding the balance of power between Labor and the Coalition-plus-One Nation. Wellington anointed Beattie as premier, and would soon have the weight removed from his shoulders when Labor secured a one-seat majority after the Mulgrave by-election in December 1998. His first term satisfied local voters enough to secure him an easy victory with 46.3 per cent in 2001 (a Federal Parliamentary Library study says this result was possibly unique in the last 50 years of state or federal elections in that no major party made the two-candidate preferred cut), which he increased to 59.5 per cent in 2004. In between came an horrific farm accident, his inspirational persistence in the face of which would make him a very hard man to vote against. Nationals candidate Steve Morrison (right) operates a Nambour farm machinery dealership.

ASSESSMENT: Independent retain