QUEENSLAND ELECTION 2009

WARREGO
Nationals 22.7%
Region: Southern Outback
Federal divisions: Maranoa/Groom
ELLIOTT THORNTON
Labor (bottom)

TONY KUSTERS
Family First

HOWARD HOBBS
Liberal National (top)

ALLEN HASSALL
Independent

KATHRYN WILDERMUTH
Greens

WALLY GLEESON
Independent

Warrego covers the interior two-thirds of the border with New South Wales, extending north to relatively populous territory along the Warrego Highway (Chinchilla west through Roma to Charleville) and Balonne Highway (St George west to Cunnamulla). The redistribution has added 3100 voters around Charleville from Gregory and 1800 just outside Dalby at the far eastern end from abolished Darling Downs. The electorate has existed without interruption since 1865 and was held by Labor from 1908 until 1974, when it switched decisively to the Country Party. It has since had two members: Neil Turner, who held it until 1986 (and returned as member for Nicklin in 1989), and his successor Howard Hobbs. Hobbs was not seriously troubled by the One Nation onslaught in 1998, but had a very close shave at the following election in 2001 when independent candidate Wally Gleeson outpolled One Nation and Labor and finished 96 votes behind Hobbs after preferences.

Howard Hobbs was Natural Resources Minister for most of the period of Rob Borbidge's government, but was forced to resign in February 1998 after his wife told the Sunday Mail that he was using public funds to travel with a female staffer with whom he was having an affair. Borbidge found it worth his while to travel to Charleville to talk round local party branches who wanted him disendorsed, and he was back on the front bench after the election and has remained there ever since. Since the Liberal National Party merger of August 2008 he has held the portfolios of local government, planning and regional development.

The candidates include independent Wally Gleeson, the Chinchilla meat company owner Wally Gleeson who came within 96 votes of defeating Howard Hobbs in 2001 after outpolling One Nation and Labor.

PREDICTION: Liberal National retain