QUEENSLAND ELECTION 2009

CALLIDE
Nationals 20.4%
Region: Central Queensland
Federal divisions: Flynn/Wide Bay/Hinkler/Maranoa
DAVID PULLEN
Labor

CAMILLA PERCY
Greens

JEFF SEENEY
Liberal National (top)

CLARE MILDREN
Independent

Callide covers rural areas inland of Bundaberg and Rockhampton, its main population centres being Gayndah, Mundubbera, Eidsvold, Monto and Biloela on the Burnett Highway, and Taroom and Theodore on Leichhardt Highway. The redistribution has added new areas north of Biloela from abolished Fitzroy, along with the Bucca area outside Bundaberg from Burnett, respectively accounting for 2600 and 1100 voters. Callide has been in National/Country Party hands since its creation in 1950, barring the period from 1981 to 1986 when Lindsay Hartwig held it as an independent after being expelled by the party. The One Nation earthquake combined with the retirement of sitting member Di McCauley cut the party's vote from 74.4 per cent to 37.7 per cent in 1998, and new member Jeff Seeney again needed Labor preferences to secure a narrow win over One Nation in 2001. Normality was restored in 2004, when he polled 60.4 per cent and One Nation finished third behind Labor.

Seeney rose to his first shadow ministerial position in the wake of the 2001 election wipeout, and promptly developed a reputation as a combative performed after frequent ejections from parliament. He rose to the party leadership when Springborg stepped aside after the 2006 election, emerging uncontested after Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson and Cunningham MP Stuart Copeland counted the numbers. Seeney's tenure in the position was marked by disputes with the Liberals and woeful opinion poll ratings, and a view developed after the 2007 federal election that Springborg should be re-enlisted to put the party on a better footing for merger negotiations. After initially expressing reluctance, Springborg challenged Seeney in the party room on January 21, 2008, and reportedly won the party room vote 10 to six. He has since held the position of Shadow Mines and Energy Minister.

PREDICTION: Liberal National retain