Queensland State Election 2012: Toowoomba South
Electorate: Toowoomba South
Margin: Liberal National 8.2%
Region: Regional City
Federal: Groom
Outgoing member: Mike Horan (Liberal National)
Click here for Electoral Commission of Queensland map
The candidates
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CHARLENE PHILLIPS
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Electorate analysis: Located on the crest of the Great Dividing Range 130 kilometres west of Brisbane, the city of Toowoomba formed as a single electorate until it was divided into Toowoomba East and Toowoomba West in 1960, before being reconfigured into Toowoomba North and Toowoomba South in 1972. Toowoomba South was held by Labor for its first term before falling in the 1974 landslide to the Country Party, which together with its successors has held it ever since. The party’s hold was not seriously threatened during either the One Nation onslaught of 1998 and the Labor landslide of 2001.
Since 1991 the seat has been held by Mike Horan, who is retiring at the coming election after a career which included a stint as Health Minister in the Borbidge government and leadership of the devastated Nationals after the 2001 election wipeout. The LNP preselection was won by Toowoomba councillor John McVeigh ahead of council colleague Mike Williams, Easterfest chief executive Isaac Moody, Heritage Building Society corporate lawyer David Janetzki and Wagners Concrete and Quarries laboratory manager Darryl Low.
Analysis written by William Bowe. Please direct corrections or comments to pollbludger-AT-crikey.com.au. Read William’s blog, The Poll Bludger.