Willcox Wins Dawson Amid National Shift

By Amanda Wright

With the dust barely settled on a national election night, Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox has already rolled up his sleeves.

Re-elected with an increased two-party preferred swing of 1.76 per cent at the time of print, Mr Willcox defied the national trend to claim victory in one of Queensland’s most diverse and industrious electorates. His campaign, driven by on-the-ground community engagement and a clear commitment to Dawson’s future, secured 62.18 per cent of the two-party preferred vote, up from 60.42 per cent in the previous election. It was a bittersweet night for the Liberal National Party overall, but for Andrew Willcox, it marked a renewed mandate to fight for regional Queensland.

Boots Back On The Ground

Mr Willcox didn’t waste any time expressing his gratitude after the polls closed.

“Thank you, Dawson,” he wrote.

“While the overall result was bittersweet, it’s a great honour to be re-elected as your Federal Member.

“I’m truly grateful to everyone who’s put their faith in me again.”

Having first won the seat in 2022, Mr Willcox said the result reaffirmed the trust placed in him to continue fighting for the region.

“I will continue to work hard and fight for a stronger future for Dawson, taking your views and voice to Canberra.”

There was no rest for Andrew Willcox the morning after the election. While others might have paused to celebrate, he was back on the ground with his team, returning to polling venues to ensure they were left clean and tidy — a gesture he said was important out of respect for the schools and community spaces that hosted them.

“We ran a grassroots campaign with a lot of boots on the ground, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the people who stood behind me and my vision for Dawson.”

Mr Willcox extended his thanks to his family – Raylene, Jack, Shannon and Tom – and to his campaign team and all the volunteers who turned up in all weather and sometimes hostile conditions.

“Family is everything. You make the challenges lighter, the successes sweeter, and life better.”

In a national climate that favoured Labor, Dawson bucked the trend.

Mr Willcox secured 54,892 votes in the two-candidate preferred count, with Labor’s Neil Wallace polling 33,384. First preference results showed Willcox received 42.15 per cent of the vote, ahead of Wallace (26.38 per cent), with the remainder spread across six other candidates.

He attributed the swing toward him to hard work and staying in touch with constituents.

“It’s not lost on me that I have the support of the people – that only motivates me more to fight harder for this region. The people here know I don’t bring issues from Canberra to Dawson – I take issues from Dawson to Canberra.”

One of the biggest of those issues is the Bruce Highway.

“I’m pleased my Labor opponent acknowledged the Bruce as needing attention. Now that one of their own agrees, I expect Parliament to take note and act,” he said.

“The Bruce is what connects everything – it links our mining towns, our farming regions, our ports, our tourism destinations. I drive the Dawson segment every week. It needs serious work.”

His “Back Our Bruce” petition has been running for more than a year and, he said, would remain a key focus of his second term.

While the LNP will remain in opposition federally, Mr Willcox said he wasn’t heading to Canberra with his tail between his legs.

“This result has only driven me to go harder,” he said.

“I made a lot of election commitments that were reliant on the Coalition being in government – but that doesn’t mean I’m turning my back on them. They’re worthy causes, and I’ll be pushing for funding through other avenues.”

With three years of parliamentary experience under his belt, Mr Willcox said he was ready to be a stronger advocate than ever.

“Experience is key. I know the beat of Parliament House and how it hums. Things change quickly and you have to be across every amendment to legislation.

“I’m not going to Canberra quietly – I intend to be a force to be reckoned with.”

He spoke passionately about Dawson’s contribution to the national economy.

“This region punches significantly above its weight. We’re the largest sugar-growing region in Australia, exporting 80 per cent of our crop. Bowen is the heart of the winter salad bowl. We have cattle scattered throughout the electorate, and we’re the biggest service hub to the mines over the hill – which put $9 billion into the state coffers annually. We need to keep all of that operational.”

He also took aim at the Albanese Government’s economic track record, warning that cost-of-living pressures were not going away.

“The greatest concern to people is the cost of living, and I’m worried the breadcrumbs this government throws out will continue to see a slide in living standards. There’s been no real shift in their economic policy – and that concerns me.”

Labor candidate Neil Wallace said while time was against him, he was grateful for the support he received across the Dawson electorate.

“I want to thank the Labor Party for the opportunity to represent the electorate of Dawson,” he said.

“With only a nine-week campaign we hit the ground running. Whilst time was an issue, I do apologise for not getting to the northern end of the electorate as much as I would have preferred. The people of Dawson were very supportive.”

He also acknowledged those who backed him throughout the campaign.

“Thank you to all those who volunteered and of course to my wife Joanne and children for their love and support.

"I will continue to follow issues here in Dawson and ensure Andrew Wilcox is kept to account for his promises on issues such as the Bruce Highway."

Mr Wallace said he would be taking time to reflect on what comes next.

As this Parliament enters its next chapter, Mr Willcox said his role remained crystal clear.

“My priority is always the people of Dawson.

“They’ve given me their trust again – and I won’t waste it.”

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Mixed emotions at Dawson’s LNP function as Andrew Willcox celebrates his re-election alongside wife Raylene, campaign team, volunteers and supporters – pleased with the local result, but reflective following the Coalition’s national loss. Photo supplied

Andrew Willcox and his team of dedicated volunteers at pre-poll – part of the grassroots effort that helped secure another term in Dawson. Photo supplied

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