QUEENSLAND ELECTION 2009

KEPPEL Labor 8.1%
Region: Central Coast Federal division: Capricornia
	PAUL HOOLIHAN Labor (top) PAUL BAMBRICK Greens STEVE McKENNA Liberal National (bottom)

Keppel covers about 100 kilometres of coast around Yeppoon and extends 30 kilometres inland to take in the outer eastern Rockhampton suburbs of Norman Gardens and Koongal. It thus consists of two electorally distinct parts: Labor-voting Rockhampton, and the Nationals-voting rural areas and small towns further east. The redistribution has boosted Labor by expanding the Rockhampton area to include parts of Frenchville and Kalka, adding 2500 voters and 0.9 per cent to the Labor margin.

Keppel has existed in one form or another since 1888, being largely equivalent to the seat of Rockhampton North which existed from 1888 to 1912 and again from 1960 to 1992. It was mostly in Labor hands barring a few Country Party interruptions, but was won by the Nationals in 1992 when a 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). Lester's personal vote probably made the difference when One Nation and Labor respectively made strong challenges in 1998 and 2001, and the seat was Labor's only gain when he retired in 2004.

Labor's winning candidate was Paul Hoolihan, the narrowly unsuccessful candidate in 2001, who went on to a third strong performance in a row when he was returned with a 3.4 per cent swing in 2006. Hoolihan came to parliament at the age of 56 after running a Rockhampton law practice for 25 years. He entered parliament a factional independent, but has recently been identified with Labor Unity. Liberal National Party candidate Steve McKenna has “worked in personnel administration, HR management, training, finance and customer service”, and is Rockhampton region chairman of the Australian Institute of Management.

At the start of the second week of the campaign, Lawrence Springborg warned property tycoon Terry Agnew that the lease to operate the Great Keppel Island resort would be given to another operator under an LNP government unless the existing resort, which was closed last year, was reopened. Agnew's plan to build two new resorts on the island has hit resistance from the government on environmental grounds. Springborg has also promised to rezone the bulk of the island as a recreation reserve to open it to eco-tourism.

PREDICTION: Labor retain