30/03/2026
With the failure Central and North Queensland (CANQ) voter enrollments to keep pace with those of SEQ it was inevitable that without an increase of seat in parliament as happened in 2017, CANQ would lose electorates.
In its wisdom the QRC earmarked the FNQ electorate of HILL for abolition despite that it and the other 4 FNQ electorates are well within tolerance and would continue to be through to June 3032.
The NQ electorates markedly deficient of enrolled voters are those centred on and about the City of Townsville with 5 predicted to exceed the allowable tolerance prior to June 2032. Contrary to conventional wisdom and providing a ready remedy within the affected area, QRC summary judgement vanquishes a FNQ electorate, maximizes boundary disruption to all NQ and FNQ electorates to ensure the preservation the three urban electorates about the City of Townsville.
With each subsequent redistribution the CQ designated electorate of Callide hangs on to life with the further injection of Wide Bay/Burnett Regional Area enrolled voters. Not to be out done, this QRC will take grafts from Fraser Coast, Gympie and South Burnett LGAs to provide for Callide’s palliative care. As a result, more than 60% of its area and enrolled voters will now be outside the Central Queensland Regional Area.
The QRC determination bears a striking similarity to the LNP ‘suggestion’ submission in response to the initial Discussion paper of July 2025.
