Annastacia Palaszczuk has offered the woman she hopes will replace her the ‘same advice my dad gave me’ when she cast her by-election ballot.
The former prime minister made a rare public appearance on Saturday afternoon at the polls with Labor candidate Margie Nightingale, saying the day was about ‘new beginnings’.
‘I’m going to give her the same advice my dad gave me and that is: whoever comes through your door always comes there for a reason and to treat everyone with respect and to make sure you really listen, because they’ve come to you for help,’ she told ABC.
“So if Margie does that, she will be a very, very good local member.”
Palaszczuk retired from politics on her own terms late last year after months of speculation about her leadership.
The former prime minister made a rare public appearance at the polls on Saturday afternoon with Labor candidate Margie Nightingale, saying the day was about ‘new beginnings’
Saturday’s by-election will be the first time in over 30 years that Inala is not held by someone with the surname Palaszczuk.
The seat was held by her father, Henry, since it was created in 1992. She inherited it when she entered the political arena in 2006.
Ms Nightingale, a former teacher, said she would focus on ‘progress’ if she wins.
“I’m going to look at doing it and I understand what this community needs and I’m ready to listen and I’m really ready to do the hard work,” the hopeful told ABC.
Ms Palaszczuk was not the only high-profile visitor to the campaign trail.
Ms Nightingale was also joined by Treasurer Cameron Dick and Premier Steven Miles at the hustings.
The pair laughed as they posed for pictures with dog Noodles outside Inala State School.
Ms Palaszczuk was not the only high-profile visitor to the campaign trail
The battle for Inala, which Labor has a margin of 28.2 per cent, is just one of two by-elections to be held in Queensland on Saturday.
Both Inala and Ipswich West – which was prompted after Labour’s Jim Madden resigned to stand for the local council – are deep in the traditional Labor heartland.
Ipswich West is owned by Labor with a margin of 14.2 per cent.
Both results are expected to a large extent as an early measure of where the voters sit ahead of the general election in October.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a swing in the two by-elections would not necessarily spell the beginning of the end for Mr Miles.
“We will wait and see when the election takes place in October, I expect there will be a swing away from the government in these by the election today,” Mr Albanese said.
Ipswich West is owned by Labor with a margin of 14.2 per cent
“That’s what usually happens in by-elections, but I think, you know, people will be watching the LNP in Queensland very closely before October.”
Ahead of polls opening, a Newspoll published by The Australian showed the LNP opposition ahead of Labor 54 to 46 per cent on preferences.
If repeated in the October general election, it would result in a loss of 18 Labor seats – four more than the LNP needs to win a majority.
Sir. Miles has previously said it would be ‘very, very challenging’ for Labor to be re-elected for a fourth term.
Municipal elections
Millions of Queenslanders will also be lining up across the state to vote in local council elections.
The state is home to Australia’s two largest local councils, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Buoyed by their success in the 2022 federal election, the Greens are playing a game for Brisbane City.
LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is expected to hold on to Brisbane’s top job despite challenges from Labor’s Tracey Price and high-profile Greens councilor Jonathan Sriranganathan.
Millions of Queenslanders will also be lining up across the state to vote in local council elections
On the Gold Coast, Tom Tate is expected to be returned as mayor, a position he has held since 2012.
Incumbent councilor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden is seeking re-election despite a murder charge.
At least 1,010,000 Queenslanders had already cast their ballots ahead of Saturday’s local elections, with about 235,000 of the 440,000 postal votes remaining as of Wednesday.
At least 1,010,000 Queenslanders had already cast their ballots ahead of Saturday’s local elections, with about 235,000 of the 440,000 postal ballots returned on Wednesday
The Queensland Electoral Commission said 3.65 million people registered to vote, representing 97.6 per cent of the state’s eligible voters.
About 45 per cent of Queenslanders had voted early at about 170 early voting centers across the country.
The voting booths opened at 8:00 a.m. and the counting begins at 6:00 p.m. when the polling stations close.