Hard work to begin for Dooley in Redcliffe

Kerri-Anne Dooley says she has proven her determination, winning the seat of Redcliffe on her sixth attempt, a quality she believes will serve her community well as she steps into the role of LNP State Member for Redcliffe.

Ms Dooley won the seat, vacated by Labor’s Yvette D’Ath who has retired from politics, and defeated a field which included Labor’s Kass Hall.

Redcliffe was among the swathe of seats won by the LNP to secure a majority government in the Queensland Parliament, with David Crisafulli Queensland’s 41^st Premier.

The other two state electorates covering the Redcliffe Peninsula were retained by Labor. Outgoing Premier Steven Miles was re-elected as the State Member for Murrumba and Chris Whiting will return as the State Member for Bancroft.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland has not yet declared winners in the seats. “Declarations will only be made when the outcome is certain and once all votes have completed all required counting stages including the preliminary and official count and a distribution of preferences (where required). For some electorates, this will not happen until all postal votes are returned,” it said in a statement.

Ms Dooley says the magnitude of winning the seat probably won’t hit her until she is sworn in and walks into Parliament House.

She expects this is likely to happen next week but is unsure of a date yet. An induction and orientation process is expected to follow from November 12-15.

This was the sixth time she had contested the seat – once for Family First (2012) and five times for the LNP.

“It just feels surreal, at the moment, and I’m obviously so grateful to the people of Redcliffe that have put their faith and trust in me,” she says.

“To be an elected representative for a community I’ve been born into, and I’ve served my whole life, is one of the greatest privileges I think you can be given.”

Ms Dooley says Redcliffe is in her DNA and she has served the community in various capacities since she was 16 years old, when she was elected as the first Deputy Youth Mayor of the Redcliffe City Youth Council in 1986.

“Experiencing that type of advocacy ... I remember fighting for more bike paths in Redcliffe... I look at that now and think from humble beginnings I learnt how the political process works,” she says.

Ms Dooley says advocacy has been a big part of her nursing career, but it was the fight for funding of Queensland’s first children’s hospice, Hummingbird House, that taught her most about its value.

“I was the Vice-President for Palliative Care Queensland and in 2013 was fighting for a bipartisan commitment to see that (facility) established. In that process, knocking on the doors of Members of Parliament – red, blue, green – anyone who would listen to us,” she recalls.

She said when former disgraced State Member for Redcliffe Scott Driscoll was forced to resign in 2013, and by-election was called, she joined the LNP.

“I really wanted to bring political healing to Redcliffe after that,” she says.

“I knew that sometimes it’s not all about you, you can be a good candidate, but it’s the wrong political timing. I’ve continued to run to try to reduce that margin (between the LNP and ALP) and believed at some point, the tide would turn. On Saturday, it did.

“I thought, I want to be on that wave. I’ve worked too hard in previous elections to not be riding the wave, when it’s going to turn to our side of politics.”

Priorities for Redcliffe

Now, the job is hers, Ms Dooley says her top priorities for Redcliffe are addressing homelessness and youth crime.

She says these are two main issues residents raised with her and her team during doorknocking and phone polling.

Ms Dooley says she has advocated for something similar to The Backyard Project, which is run by Newcastle City Council and the New South Wales State Government.

“It’s a dedicated camping space for people who identify as being homeless to access. There’s an amenities block – shower, toilets, kitchenette, laundry – and there are service providers who come in Monday to Friday, security guards at night so women and children can feel safe and protected. That’s something I put forward on a wishlist for Redcliffe,” she explains.

“I’ve spoken to the Mayor twice about it. Obviously, it’s about finding the right location. Everybody just thinks the (Redcliffe) Showgrounds but that’s not an ideal location because of the amount of events that they have. You can’t have people there and then ask them to move every couple of weekends if there’s an event.

“The previous government has committed to social housing, they’ve committed to the homelessness hub at Portwood St but that will only be for services. It’s not accommodation. So, how do we find appropriate accommodation and the wrap-around supports that they need?”

Ms Dooley says the LNP has committed $2 million for Redcliffe Area Youth Space’s Edu Space program.

“That dovetails with the LNP’s commitment to gold-standard early intervention and trying to support those youth who are known to Youth Justice or on detention orders ... they need education and to divert them out of a life of crime,” she says.

“I’m very passionate about that. I’ve been a big advocate for the services at Redcliffe Area Youth Space. Amy and the team do a mighty job. Being able to deliver that is a top priority as well.”

Ms Dooley is keen to hear from residents she hasn’t yet connected with and will be at the Redcliffe Markets once a month for the next few months for those wanting to meet her.

She also has plans to run mobile offices, forums and morning tea events so the community has a chance to get to know her.

“I will be a member for all of Redcliffe – those who voted for me and those who didn’t. You can’t always please 100 per cent of any community but I have demonstrated that I’m determined,” Ms Dooley says.

“I think most people know that I’m married to Redcliffe. Redcliffe is in my DNA and I will do my very best to serve the people of Redcliffe and represent us well in Parliament.”