Maroochydore – Queensland 2015

LNP 20.93%

Incumbent MP
Fiona Simpson, since 1992.

Geography
Sunshine Coast. Maroochydore covers the central Sunshine Coast suburbs of Marcoola, Mudjimba, Twin Waters, Maroochydore, Alexander Headland and Mooloolaba.

History
The seat of Maroochydore was created in 1992, and has always been held by the same MP.

Fiona Simpson was elected as the National Party Member for Maroochydore in 1992, at the age of 27.

Simpson was re-elected in 1995 and 1998, and joined the opposition frontbench in 1998 after the National-Liberal coalition lost power. She has since won re-election in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2012.

Simpson also served as Deputy Leader of the National Party from 2006 until the merger of the National Party with the Liberal Party to form the LNP in 2008.

Simpson has served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly since 2012.

Candidates

• Trudy Byrnes (Greens)
• James McDonald (Palmer United)
• Fiona Simpson (Liberal National)
• Bill Gissane (Labor)

Assessment
Maroochydore is a safe LNP seat.

2012 election result

2012 two-party-preferred result

Booth breakdown
Booths in Maroochydore have been divided into three parts based on key suburbs: Coolum in the north, Maroochydore in the centre and Mooloolaba in the south.

The Liberal National Party’s primary vote ranged from 52% in Coolum to 62.7% in Mooloolaba.

Labor came second, with a vote ranging from 16.6% in Mooloolaba to 22.7% in Coolum.

The Greens came third, with a vote ranging from 11.7% in Maroochydore to 16% in Coolum.

On a two-party-preferred basis, the LNP’s vote ranged from 66.2% in Coolum to 75.4% in Mooloolaba.

The Electoral Commission does not publish two-party-preferred figures by polling place, so two-party-preferred figures in the following table and map are estimates.