By Jeremy Sollars
ONE Nation has endorsed a candidate to contest the Southern Downs electorate at the next State Election but won’t be revealing who it is until Thursday 15 December.
The news follows the announcement by long-standing Southern Downs MP Lawrence Springborg at the weekend that he will retire from politics at the next State election, due in January 2018.
But with the ALP government on a parliamentary knife-edge there is widespread speculation Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk could go to the polls much sooner, in early or mid-2017.
Senator Pauline Hanson’s chief of Staff James Ashby told the Free Times on Monday 5 December that the party had picked its candidate for the Southern Downs.
“We have a candidate already endorsed for Southern Downs, but the party won’t be revealing the candidates until next Thursday,” Mr Ashby said.
One Nation is spooking both the major parties in Queensland – not to mention nationally – with polls showing its support is surging ahead and currently stands at 16 per cent in the Sunshine State.
It is understood pre-selection for Mr Springborg’s replacement as the LNP candidate could be held as early as January 2017, another strong sign an early election is on the cards.
More to come.
