News
28 October, 2024
True blues deliver Caloundra to LNP
BUSINESSWOMAN Kendall Morton has won the seat of Caloundra from incumbent Labor member Jason Hunt following a 5 per cent to the LNP. The first-time candidate is the first female MP to hold the seat since Joan Shelden (1992-2004).
BUSINESSWOMAN Kendall Morton has won the seat of Caloundra from incumbent Labor member Jason Hunt following a 5 per cent to the LNP. The first-time candidate is the first female MP to hold the seat since Joan Shelden (1992-2004).
“It’s a great thing that women get the opportunity to be in politics, and it’s an amazing opportunity for anyone to be able to do this and hopefully it will be something for other women to aspire to,” Ms Morton said.
“We’ve got other women like Ariana Doolan in Pumicestone who is probably going to be the youngest female in the Queensland parliament ever which is incredible and I’m so proud of her.
“We’ve also got some incredible new female MPs and sharing this whole journey with them and the friendship has also been a part of cultivating this incredibly strong team.”
Ms Morton said she felt honoured that the people of the Caloundra electorate have given her the opportunity to represent and serve them. “This electorate has been neglected largely for 30 years and we know we can deliver good things, it’s just an incredible honour and I will not take it for granted not even for one minute,” she said.
Ms Morton said her priorities were to deliver improved infrastructure, address youth crime issues, manage the cost-of-living crisis and improve health and housing. “My priorities for this electorate are the things people told me over and over again, which is largely infrastructure, busting traffic congestion, building the TAFE, generational infrastructure that will set the Caloundra electorate up for the future,” she said.
Ms Morton said she knew it would be a close race until the very end, and didn’t believe she had secured her spot until the Caloundra pre-poll booth was counted. She received 44.15 percent of the official first preference count, while Jason Hunt, who trailed behind her, received 36.35 percent of the vote.
