Bundamba by-election 28th March 2020

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1230633450723405824

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The Australian --> CFMEU Queensland boss Michael Ravbar lashes Labor over 'backroom deal' in Bundamba

One of Queensland's most powerful union bosses has accused Labor of "arrogance" over a purported backroom deal to pick a state government executive as a candidate in a by-election for the safe seat of Bundamba.

CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar said Queensland Labor was showing "disdain and disrespect" to local voters in the Ipswich-based seat by backing Lance McCallum after an agreement between rival unions.

Mr McCallum is understood to have secured the candidacy – to be signed-off by Labor's administrative committee this week – with the support of the Electrical Trades Union officials and United Voice union state secretary Gary Bullock over rival Nick Thompson, backed by the CFMEU.

A former Electrical Trades Union national policy officer, Mr McCallum moved from Melbourne last year after being appointed to the $200,000-a-year role as inaugural executive director of the Palaszczuk Government's "Just Transition Group.

The by-election, likely to be held on March 28, was sparked by the sudden resignation last week of former police minister Jo-Ann Miller, Queensland's longest-serving Labor MP.

The seat around Ipswich, west of Brisbane, is held on a margin of 21.5 per cent.

After being contacted by The Australian about the rumoured deal, Mr Ravbar said on Sunday night that "parachuting" a candidate into Bundamba was "ludicrous".

"There's a big margin in the seat, they're confidant and it shows the arrogance of the party,'' he said.

"It is an absolute disgrace not to have a candidate who lives in the area, it is disrespectful and shows disdain to the locals."

Queensland unions have proved particularly influential in internal Queensland Labor politics in recent years, with Mr Bullock publicly boasting after the 2015 election of the seven "United Voice MPs'' from his union.

Mr Ravbar said he would normally accept that "you win some, and you lose some'' when it came to ALP preselections and candidates backed by the CFMEU.

"Annastacia Palaszczuk should hit the roof over this,'' he said.

Mr Ravbar said the endorsement of Mr McCallum – who could not reached for comment – was hypocritical.

In the past few weeks, the premier has attacked the Liberal National Party over preselecting a candidate from outside of the electorate in the looming Currumbin by-election.

"How can Labor bang on about Currumbin and then not have a local candidate in Bundamba?,'' he asked.

Mr McCallum was last year appointed to the $200,000-a-year role as inaugural executive director of the Palaszczuk government's "Just Transition Group," a body the ETU demanded be created to help energy workers who might be left without a job amid the renewables evolution.

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1231600022447259650

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Queensland Times --> Meet One Nation's candidate for Bundamba by-election

ONE Nation has announced its candidate for the Bundamba by-election, after former Bundamba MP Jo-Ann Miller quit politics last week.

Local resident Sharon Bell, who also ran in the 2019 federal election as the One Nation candidate for the seat of Blair, praised Mrs Miller's dedication to the community.

"The community has lost a hardworking, in-tune, local politician and it goes without saying, Bundamba deserves someone with identical principals to take her place," she said.

"I've enjoyed a number of catch ups with Jo-Ann over recent years and only caught up with her just a week before the announcement while we were both doing our shopping. I didn't have an inkling she would be resigning from parliament so soon."

Mrs Bell described her tilt at Bundamba as a chance to send Labor and the LNP a very clear message.

"Labor and Jackie Trad do not own this seat of Bundamba, and their arrogance towards the residents here will be punished," she said.

"I will follow in Ms Millers footsteps with a firm commitment to stop Ipswich being turned into a mega dump site by putting forward a Private Members Bill that would prevent another dump being built here."

"We are Ipswich, not Tipswich", Mrs Bell said.

The mother of three has worked for the past 20 years in the construction and civil engineering industry as a senior estimating assistant.

"My family and I are blue collar workers. My husband works in manufacturing, my son's in the Army, and both of my daughters work in nursing and aged care," she said.

"I spent a lot of time on the sideline, cheering my son along during his football days. He played for Redbank Plains, then North Ipswich and finally the Ipswich Jets, before joining the Army.

"I'm proud of all of my kids and it's been great having them all live in the Bundamba Electorate. It allows me to be a grandmother to my three grandkids."

Mrs Bell said she was focused on supporting timely invoice payment for subcontractors and small business, addressing the ICE drug epidemic, helping drive down cost of living for families and pensioners, the introduction of affordable energy, building more water infrastructure, and improving the problems involved in family law.

A One Nation win would break a Labor held seat of 28 years and give the minor party two votes ahead of the October 31 state election.

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https://twitter.com/sarahelks/status/1231814819369480195

Key Dates - Bundamba By-election

Issue of writ
Monday, 24 February 2020

Cut-off day for electoral rolls
Friday, 28 February 2020

Cut-off day for nominations
Tuesday, 3 March 2020

Polling day
Saturday, 28 March 2020

Return of writ
Wednesday, 29 April 2020

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Queensland Times --> Labor endorses former ETU official in Bundamba by-election

LABOR has officially endorsed Lance McCallum to contest the seat of Bundamba at the upcoming by-election on Saturday, March 28.

It comes after Queensland Labor's longest-serving MP Jo-Ann Miller quit politics last week.

The QT understands the endorsement of Mr McCallum, who is a former ETU official, has sparked anger from the CFMEU over the party's decision to back a candidate not from the area over its preferred candidate Nick Thompson.

There were reports Mr McCallum moved to the electorate only last week, but Mr McCallum told the QT he moved to the region a few months ago.

"I came into the community quite recently, a couple of months ago."

"I've had a fantastic reception in terms of people have been amazingly open and welcoming.

"I'm from Redlands and I know what it's like to grow up in a community just like Bundamba. I understand what the community needs and this is because I'm talking to them."

It's understood Mr McCallum moved from Melbourne to Brisbane last year to take up a $200,000 role as the Palaszczuk Government's inaugural director of its Just Transition group.

There were also claims of veteran Labor branch members being excluded from the vote for the preselection of a candidate.

Mr McCallum wouldn't comment on the internal ballot and said he was only focused on "fighting for a fair go on behalf of the Bundamba community."

"Sorting out the dump, in terms of Cleanaway would be a key priority," he said.

"A key priority for me is Swanbank Power Station which was recommissioned not so long ago.

"I was proud to be part of the anti-privatisation campaign that saved Swanbank, along with the rest of Queensland's energy assets and kept them in public hands.

"Obviously local infrastructure in terms of roads would be a priority and I note the upgrade to the Ipswich Motorway that's currently under way, I think more can be done in that regard."

Mr McCallum thanked outgoing member Jo-Ann Miller for her longstanding contribution and commitment to the Bundamba community.

Meanwhile, Steve Axe who worked alongside Mrs Miller for 20 years and put his hand up for preselection last week, thanked the community for its best wishes.

The LNP is yet to confirm who they will put up for the by-election next month, while One Nation has backed local resident Sharon Bell, who also ran in the 2019 federal election in the seat of Blair.

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1233552770868764672

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Queensland Times --> LNP announces candidate for Bundamba by-election

The LNP has announced Rob Shearman has been selected to stand in the seat of Bundamba at the upcoming by-election to be held on March 28.

The former Australian Army soldier also ran in the 2019 federal election for the LNP in the seat of Blair.

The LNP candidate joined the Australian Army aged 18 and did 23 years of service, including three operational tours.

After leaving the army, he spent a decade in small business and now manages the Queensland office of a national equipment sales business.

Mr Shearman claimed Bundamba was being taken for granted by Labor.

"Labor has done nothing in this electorate except boast about defence jobs that are actually being created by the Federal Government," he said

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said the LNP planned to cut hospital waiting lists in Ipswich, improve education and cut crime.

"'Rob Shearman is an outstanding candidate, a former soldier who now runs a successful manufacturing business," Ms Frecklington said.

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The Australian --> LNP preference One Nation over Labor in Currumbin, Bundamba by-elections

The Queensland Liberal National Party will preference One Nation ahead of Labor at the two upcoming state by-elections in Currumbin and Bundamba, but the LNP has denied doing a deal with Pauline Hanson's party.

In a statement from LNP president David Hutchinson on Friday afternoon, the party confirmed it would ask its voters to put Labor last in both by-elections, to be held on March 28. ....

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https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/palaszczuk-government-on-brink-of-winning-currumbin-byelection/news-story/753bdac5dee808e153f4af8c829d0852

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Results

>> https://prodresults.elections.qld.gov.au/bundamba2020

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https://www.qt.com.au/news/rolling-coverage-bundamba-election-results/3983872/

THE final tally for the night keeps Labor candidate Lance McCallum at a strong first with 42.88 per cent of the votes.

More than half of the overall votes were recorded before 10pm tonight, with counting to resume in the morning.

One Nation candidate Sharon Bell was the second-preferred candidate so far with 27.8 per cent, followed by LNP candidate Robert Shearman and finally Greens candidate Danielle Mutton.

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Labor retain.