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Phillip Thompson (LNP-Herbert) – Maiden Speech

This is the maiden speech by Phillip Thompson, the Liberal National Party member for the Queensland electorate of Herbert.

Thompson

It was the first maiden speech of the 46th Parliament.

Thompson, 31, won Herbert at the May 18, 2019 federal election. The seat is based around Townsville, Hinchinbrook and Palm Island.

Thompson won 37.11% of the primary vote, an increase of 1.61%. He secured 58.36% of the two-party-preferred vote, an increase of 8.38%. He defeated the one-term ALP member Cathy O’Toole, who won the seat by 37 votes in 2016. Ahead of the election, it was the most marginal seat in the nation.

Thompson is a former infantry soldier who served and was seriously wounded in Afghanistan. He competed in the Invictus Games in London, in 2014. In 2018, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the welfare of veterans.

Watch Thompson’s speech (22m):

Listen to Thompson’s speech (18m):

Hansard transcript of maiden speech by Phillip Thompson, LNP member for Herbert.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECH

Mr Thompson, for the committee elected to prepare an address-in-reply to the speech of His Excellency the Governor-General, presented the proposed address, which was read by the Clerk. The proposed address read as follows: [Read more…]


Cathy O’Toole (ALP-Herbert) – Maiden Speech

This is the maiden speech to the House of Representatives by Cathy O’Toole, ALP member for Herbert.

  • Listen to O’Toole (20m – transcript below)
  • Watch O’Toole (20m)

Hansard transcript of maiden speech by Cathy O’Toole, ALP member for Herbert.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Goodenough): Before I call the honourable member for Herbert, I remind the House that this is the honourable member’s first speech, and I ask the House to extend to her the usual courtesies. [Read more…]


2016 Primary Vote Winners, Preference Vote Losers

There were 16 seats in the 2016 federal election where the primary vote leaders were defeated after the full distribution of preferences.

The ALP benefited in 15 seats and the Nick Xenophon Team in one. In 14 seats, (7 held by the ALP and 7 by the Coalition), the coalition candidate led on primary votes but the seat was won by the ALP after preferences. In one seat, the Liberal lead was overtaken by the Xenophon candidate. In another, the ALP overcame a Greens lead.

The 16 seats were spread across the states: Queensland (4), Victoria (3), South Australia (3), New South Wales (2), Western Australia (2) and Tasmania (2).

Overall, 48 (32%) of the 150 House of Representatives electorates were decided on primary votes, whilst 102 (68%) required preference distribution to obtain a winner.

It is worth noting that 86 of the 102 electorates were won after preferences by the candidates who led the primary vote count. Even with preferences, a primary vote lead is difficult to overcome. [Read more…]


Seats Changing Hands At The 2016 Federal Election

A total of 19 seats changed hands at the 2016 House of Representatives elections.

The Coalition went into the election holding 90 seats and finished up with 76. It lost 17 (16 to the ALP and one to the Nick Xenophon Team). One seat moved from the Liberal Party to The Nationals. The Liberals won one seat from the ALP.

The ALP went into the election holding 55 seats and ended up with 69. It won 16 from the Coalition, lost one to the Liberals, and lost one to the redistribution in NSW.

As in 2013, there are 5 crossbenchers. The Greens and Katter’s Australian Party retained their seats, whilst the two independents (Wilkie and McGowan) increased their majorities. Clive Palmer did not contest Fairfax and it returned to the LNP. The Nick Xenophon Team took Mayo from the Liberal Party.

The 19 seats that changed hands represent 12.66% of the House. 131 seats (87.33%) did not change hands, demonstrating once again the stability and predictability of Australian voting habits and the narrow range of seats that change governments. In the 2013 election, 22 seats (14.66%) changed hands. [Read more…]