Regional Queensland voted for the Liberal National Party. What do they make of the Labor government and ‘greenslide’? – ABC News

While Labor's election victory has been celebrated in parts of the country, regional Queensland remains Coalition heartland.

Labor does not hold a single seat north of Blair, just south of Noosa, with the LNP retaining 70 per cent of federal seats in Queensland, leaving many in the agriculture and mining sectors worried the inner-city electorates' embrace of the Greens could deepen the regional divide between city and country.

George Scott is grazier on Thylungra Station in south-west Queensland and said support forthe Greens in the south-east was a surprise.

"It's certainly something that gives me concern in terms of where agriculture aligns itself and where we sit and the bigger picture," Mr Scott said.

"We certainly feel that at times we're taking an unfair level of responsibility for emissions in Australia, particularly cattle, but a lot of agriculture seems to be an easy whipping boy for climate change.

"A lot of that is undeserved and uneducated to an extent."

He said agricultural voters were mostly loyal to the LNP, but Labor's election win and changing attitudes in the south-east were reasons for him to self-reflect on his own beliefs and where they align.

"We're generally a very, very loyal voting bloc, therefore, one side takes us for granted, and the other side takes no interest because nothing much is going to change how we vote.

"So I think our rural seats and agriculture, in general, suffers from that.

"It's a time for us, and me personally to consider whether or not where we are becoming too disconnected.

"The majority of public opinion seems to be moving further away from us as participants in society we have to consider where we're sitting and why we're there and whether or not we actually do need to adapt."

Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt said the partymade a real effort after the 2019 election to reconnect with regional Queensland, and believed swings away from the LNP this time were the result of that.

"We spent a lot of time out there listening to people, meeting with different groups to understand why people reacted so badly against us in 2019," he said.

"We put forward a lot of really strong policies about new industries, how we could create jobs, how we could maintain our traditional industries and importantly how we could continue to improve health serviceswhich is such a big issue in regional Queensland.

"I think it's a matter of continuing to engage really strongly, spending lots of time in our regions, making those connections, continuing to understand the issues that people confront."

Mr Watt said the election resultsshowedthecity-country divide was closing.

"We're coming more to the centre in Queensland than where we were three years ago.

"I think after the last election there was a really massive divide between the city and the bush in Queensland...but as I say this time those margins have come in a lot more.

He said although the Greens have been elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in Queensland at this election, "overall I think that the results are much more coming towards the middle".

"Even in Albo's victory speech on Saturday night he made a real point that he wanted to be a prime minster that brings people together.

"He's someone who will try and bridge any divides between the regions and the cities."

For Clermont pharmacist Grant Oswald, Labor's win made him nervous for the future of the mining town he serves.

He said he believedthe regional divide would deepen unless the new government made a conscious effort to work with regional communities.

"As much as I agree that we need to do something about climate change and everything like that, we also still need to protect our industries and our jobs, and our regional towns," Mr Oswald said.

He said people in cities needed to understand the needs oftowns like Clermont.

"Talking to a few people in the shop yesterday we wish we could get those people up here to the bush and actually see what we do up here, what the agriculture industry means to us and of course, what the mining industry does too and what they do for our little towns up this way.

"We really need to see them, get up here, get out in the bush and don't just forget that, that we're here."

Central Queensland farmer Richard Fairley was also concerned aboutthe new government's transition to renewables, which will include a 43 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, will be too fast and hurt regional Queensland.

"Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with caring for the environment, but drastic movement and getting away with it is going to hurt a lot of people," Mr Fairley said.

"I think I'll be one of them."

Mr Fairley's property near Biloela lies in the electorate of Flynn, which was narrowly won by the LNP's Colin Boyce after incumbent Ken O'Dowd retired from the party after 12 years.

Flynn is rich in agriculture and mining and is home to the coal-fired Callide Power Station, a major employer in Biloela.

"I'm glad we can still have our voice heard in parliament [through the local LNP member] and they will look after mining jobs, power station jobs as much as they can but I think unfortunately the green movement is going to do a lot of harm in the economy and general businesses."

Mr Fairley said Labor needed to do more to address industry needs like dam infrastructure, labour shortages as well as improving energy security.

CQ University political commentator Jacob Deem said there was the potential for the increase in progressive votes in the south-east to widen the city-country divide.

"In terms of these regional seats being held by Coalition members, I think that there will need to be greater engagement with the regions and in particular, as we transition to renewables," Dr Deem said.

"There isa lot of opportunity for these areas in central Queensland to take a leading role in that, but it's important that [Mr] Albanese takes a consultative approach moving forward."

Greenscandidate Penny Allman-Payne is likely to win a seat in Queensland's senate.

The Gladstone-based teacher said she will keep her office in the industrial port city.

"I travelled around Queensland, including north Queensland and central Queensland talking to people about our plan for the transition," Ms Allman-Payne said.

"I spoke to workers on pre-poll in Townsville and Gladstone and when they actually heard what our plan was to look after coal workers for the next decade, to make sure we are investing in green metals, manufacturing and other renewable energy industries and they actually really liked what they heard."

Posted9h ago9 hours agoTue 24 May 2022 at 10:37pm, updated7h ago7 hours agoWed 25 May 2022 at 12:30am

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Regional Queensland voted for the Liberal National Party. What do they make of the Labor government and 'greenslide'? - ABC News