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ABC News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Karen Andrews's retirement opens up competition in Gold Coast seat of McPherson
The Gold Coast seat of McPherson has always been conservative. But among the city's three long-held beachfront Liberal seats, it may have the greatest appetite for an alternative. "Of all the seats on the Gold Coast, McPherson is the one where the Greens do particularly well," said former Queensland Labor politician John Mickel. Stay updated: Catch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on The Greens achieved 15.4 per cent of the vote in McPherson in the 2022 federal election, when the so-called teal independents had a national impact. Karen Andrews served as home affairs minister in the Morrison government. ( ABC News: Andrew Kennedy ) But this election has come with the retirement of former home affairs minister Karen Andrews after 15 years representing the seat for the LNP. Mr Mickel said independents could take advantage of her departure amid a broader swing "I can understand why an independent is having a red hot go at it," said the political commentator and Queensland University of Technology adjunct associate professor. Away from major parties McPherson constituent Matilda Morgan said she usually voted for the Liberal Party. But the 34-year-old artist said both major parties seemed "pretty much the same" ahead of this year's election. Matilda Morgan paints at Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast. ( ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale ) "They're saying the same things [but] in different words," she said. Ms Morgan, who lives in her van, said she had not seen any radical change from the major parties. "It's really hard to be a young person in this day and age when it comes to cost of living, inflation and finding work," she said. Currumbin Beach is in the federal seat of McPherson. ( ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale ) Mr Mickel said Ms Morgan's age group had demonstrated Photo shows A young woman wears her blond hair tied up and a brown jumper as she smiles at the camera While younger Australians are tuning out of politics, researchers say people aged in their 30s to early 40s are the most disengaged group. With about 38 per cent of the McPherson electorate aged 15-44, he said it was a significant demographic. "It is currently a death zone for the major parties," Mr Mickel said. "This is a group, the younger groups, who are no longer attached to the major parties and look for alternatives. "In McPherson this time, they've got plenty of them." Housing in focus Ms Morgan is the type of voter the LNP's Leon Robello and Climate 200 independent Erchana Murray-Bartlett are aiming to attract. The two are among the highest-profile candidates in a busy field. They both said housing was a key concern. Leon Robello (left) takes a photo with volunteers at Palm Beach. ( Supplied: Instagram ) Mr Rebello, 29, said he recently bought his first home. "In the last five years I've rented, I've bought my first home, I've gone through that and seen it from different perspectives and I understand the challenges," he said. Read more about the federal election: Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 Ms Murray-Bartlett said she did not own a home in the electorate she wanted to represent. "We need more affordable homes on the Gold Coast," said the ultra-marathon runner, who has leveraged her 39,000 Instagram followers during the campaign. "I'm a renter on the Gold Coast, I don't own a home, and so making sure renters are just as looked after is just as important." Erchana Murray-Bartlett is the Climate 200 independent candidate for McPherson. ( Supplied: Instagram ) Long list of candidates They are among 12 candidates for McPherson, up from eight in the 2022 election. Alongside independent Michelle Faye, the minor parties include One Nation, the Greens, Trumpet of Patriots, Legalise Cannabis, Animal Justice, the Libertarians, People First and Family First. Photo shows An election sign of Wil Anderson in a neighbourhood with a dog urinating on it with Gruen Nation Election edition and iview. It's election season and politicians are trying to sell you the world. The team at Gruen isn't about to buy it. They're taking a big swing at the election, showing you how the democracy sausage is made, all the sizzle and none of the meat. Griffith University associate professor of politics, Paul Williams, said the LNP should retain the seat easily but "might go backwards a couple of percentage points". "There are four or five, what you'd call hard right, even far right candidates in that field," he said. "They'll get a very small percentage of the vote but those preferences will filter up to the LNP." Associate Professor Williams said many voters felt the major parties were not solving problems and that independents contesting safe seats such as McPherson had become the new norm. "It's about flying the flag, it's about building support," he said. Matilda Morgan paints at Currumbin Beach. ( ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale ) "You've got to start somewhere, you've got to take losses, you've got to build credibility." Ms Morgan was skeptical of whether the shift away from major parties would make a difference. "They'll do the election thing, but then does it actually make waves when they're elected?" she said. Loading Having trouble seeing this form? Try
ABC News
27-04-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Rain eases but set to return in south-east Queensland for long weekend
As Queenslanders prepare for a third consecutive long weekend, the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting increased shower activity and hazardous beach conditions over the break. Heavy rain, flooding, and dangerous lightning in Queensland's south east forced the cancellation of some Senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy said most parts of the state could expect a more "settled" start to the week before a return of wet conditions ahead of the Labour Day long weekend. It was a rain-soaked Anzac long weekend in south-east Queensland. ( ABC News: Liz Pickering ) "In south-east Queensland, we may see another round of increased shower activity just due to the fact of another upper feature moving through," Mr Hanniffy said. "Looking further ahead to next weekend, the focus of the rainfall shifts up to the north tropical coast where we could see some moderate rainfall amounts as well." The weather bureau said the inclement weather would also lead to a slight cool change this week. "Across parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt, we may see the overnight minimums drop down into single digits," Mr Hannify said. A strong wind warning has already been issued for Gold Coast waters. ( ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale ) Marine warnings for strong winds are in place on Gold Coast waters. In flood-devastated western Queensland, moderate flood warnings for Eyre Creek, Cooper Creek, and the Diamantina River remain. The bureau expected a coastal hazard warning would be issued by the weekend, and warned large waves and hazardous surf were on the cards. "The south-easterly winds are going to be quite blustery," Mr Hanniffy said. " So for our boaties there's likely to be plenty of marine wind warnings and quite windy conditions along the coast. " Surf lifesavers are expecting a busy finish to the patrol season in Queensland. ( ABC News: Harriet Tatham ) Surf lifesavers busy Along Australia's east coast, there have been a number of coastal deaths in recent weeks. New South Wales recorded its Earlier this month, According to Surf Life Saving Australia, there have been 630 unpatrolled beach drowning deaths in the past decade, with more than 130 in Queensland. Lifesavers are asking swimmers to stay between the red-and-yellow flags. ( ABC ) This weekend also coincides with the end of the patrol season for lifeguards and volunteers. Surf Life Saving Queensland regional manager Darren Everard said he expected the third long weekend to be another busy one on Queensland's beaches. "It doesn't matter whether it's been Rainbow Bay or Port Douglas in the north of the state, there's been great visitation and lots of families over the past two long weekends," Mr Everard said. " It's been a busy season and, sadly, we've had a few fatalities. " Volunteers at Broadbeach Surf Lifesaving Club on the Gold Coast. ( ABC Gold Coast: Jess Lamb ) Mr Everard said the message was simple for all beachgoers. "If you are planning on heading to one of our beaches in Queensland, make sure you visit our patrolled areas and swim between the flags," he said. "If we can't see you, we can't save you." ABC Capricornia — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Friday Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
ABC News
24-04-2025
- Health
- ABC News
'Exciting' new study shows anti-smoking pill Varenicline could work for vape addicts
A new study exploring the use of a popular anti-smoking pill to help young people quit vaping is being hailed as "exciting" by Australian researchers. The study, conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital in the United States and published by peer-reviewed journal JAMA, recruited more than 200 young people to test out the effectiveness of anti-smoking drug Varenicline on those who frequently vape. Varenicline, commonly branded Chantix in Australia, is a prescription-only pill for adults that binds to nicotinic receptors in the brain, effectively blocking the pleasant effects of nicotine on the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, it shouldn't be used as a person's only method of quitting smoking but in conjunction with other supports like behavioural therapy. How does it work? Researchers divided up 254 people aged between 16 and 25 years old who used e-cigarettes regularly into three groups. All three groups had access to behavioural counselling and text message support. Photo shows A boy sits on a school bench holding a vape. The first national anti-vaping campaign doesn't revive graphic imagery of tar-filled lungs or people in their deathbeds, but raises a different fear. Group one was given the Varenicline pill to take twice a day and group two was given a placebo. Group three was only given access to the counselling and text support program. Researchers found 51 per cent of group one weren't vaping at 12 weeks compared to 14 per cent in the group two. Group one also continued to have higher rates of abstinence after 24 weeks. Researchers said while there were signs of withdrawal and some side-effects, it appeared the pill helped people quit vaping over a near six-week period. "Varenicline, when added to brief, remotely delivered behavioural counselling, is well-tolerated and promotes vaping cessation compared with placebo in youth with moderate to severe addiction to vaped nicotine," the report said. The study used bio-verification to ensure participants were sticking to the experiment. Researchers did acknowledge there were potential limitations based on how people interacted with the behavioural counselling aspect of the survey, and some of those surveyed had engaged in intermittent tobacco use before the experiment. Why do we care? There are about 1.63 million youths in the United States who currently use e-cigarettes regularly. "To our knowledge, this is the first pharmacotherapy trial for nicotine vaping cessation in youth," the report said. Australian researchers say the study would need further checks before clinicians could start prescribing the pill to young people for vaping. ( ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale ) Researchers said finding effective treatment for nicotine addiction in young people was particularly important given recent evidence indicated it made them more likely to "rapidly transition" to having a substance abuse disorder. It also increased their chances of smoking tobacco. "Most youth who develop addiction to vaped nicotine have never regularly smoked tobacco and wish to quit vaping, highlighting the importance of these findings that an available pharmacotherapy is effective and well tolerated for vaping cessation in this population," the report said. The federal health department found about 5 per cent of 12- to 17-year-olds vaped regularly, and more than 9 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds used e-cigarettes daily, according to a 2023 study. University of Western Australia public health professor Jonine Jancey said recent legislation changes around vaping has restricted children's access to e-cigarettes. "Although this is positive finding, we should not become complacent," she said. Dr Jancey said while varenicline had proven to be effective, particularly for adults attempting to quit vapes, the jury was still out on whether the same approach would work for young people. "Young Australians are different to the rest of the population in regards to their developmental factors, the unique ways they look at vaping, and their social and cultural contexts, which can influence their vaping behaviours and reasons to quit," she said. "There is emerging evidence on the effectiveness of Varenicline to support over 18s to quit vapes but this medication has not proven to be effective in promoting long-term quitting in this group. " University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health associate professor Emily Stockings said the research was exciting due to its targeting of young people. Vaping and smoking expert Dr Emily Stockings has written extensively about how important it is for young people to avoid nicotine addiction. ( ABC News: Molly Slattery ) "Varenicline is highly effective and safe for smoking cessation in adults, but there has not been enough evidence to support the use of it for youth under age 18," she said. "This will be very welcome news to young people who are struggling with vaping dependence, and for clinicians who are grappling with how to address the very high levels of nicotine addiction in young people that don't seem to be responding to traditional treatments like nicotine replacement therapy." Dr Stockings said further investigation needed to be done into how safe and effective varenicline is for young people before it can be prescribed in Australia. She said it was also critical patients were offered behavioural supports in order to quit, and to not just rely on the drug. "The earlier young kids can quit vaping, the easier it is, and the better it is for their long-term health," she said. "If nicotine use goes untreated, nicotine dependence can develop, which can make it incredibly difficult to quit down the track." The study was funded by National Institutes of Health grants, and it was peer-reviewed.
