QUEENSLAND ELECTION 2009

NANANGO Independent 4.2% versus Nationals*
Region: Rural South-Eastern Federal divisions: Maranoa/Dickson/Groom/Fisher * 2006 election result unadjusted for redistribution
	DOROTHY (DOLLY) PRATT Independent (top) DANIELLE RANDALL Labor JOHN BJELKE-PETERSEN Liberal National (bottom) FRIDA FORSBERG Greens

Nanango covers semi-rural hinterland to the west of Brisbane, including the towns of Kilcoy, Kingaroy and Esk along with Nanango proper. It has been shifted westwards by the redistribution, which has shifted 2900 voters around Mount Mee to Glass House and added 7400 in Crows Nest and smaller centres north-west of Toowoomba from Darling Downs. Both areas are strong for the National Party, the latter perhaps slightly more so.

An electorate bearing the name of Nanango first existed between 1912 and 1950 when it was held by three members from the Country Party and similar groups that preceded it, the last of whom was Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Bjelke-Petersen served his first term of parliament as the member for Nanango before assuming the successor seat of Barambah in 1950, which he held until he retired in December 1987. The ensuing by-election was won by Trevor Perrett, an independent linked to the Citizens Electoral Council. Perrett joined the National Party shortly afterwards, going on to serve as Primary Industries Minister in the Borbidge government. In 1998 he was defeated by Dorothy “Dolly” Pratt of One Nation, who outpolled him 43.5 per cent to 31.0 per cent (down from 67.2 per cent in 1995) on the primary vote and prevailed by 5.9 per cent after preferences.

Pratt quit One Nation in February 1999 and has retained the new seat of Nanango as an independent at three elections since, polling between 43.5 per cent and 46.2 per cent of the primary vote. The Liberal National Party has nominated the unsuccessful Nationals candidate from 2006, John Bjelke-Petersen, who is of course the son of the legendary former member. He also operates the family's mixed farming and tourism business near Kingaroy (the peanut farm of legend).

PREDICTION: Independent retain