Jeremy Neal (left), pictured with Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, has been preselected to fly the Liberal National Party colours as the candidate for Leichhardt at the next federal election. Photo: Facebook.
A paramedic and former Cairns councillor has been preselected by the Liberal National Party to replace retiring party stalwart and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.
In what is understood to have been a heated preselection stoush, Jeremy Neal emerged as the candidate whose name will appear on the ballot paper for the LNP when Mr Entsch hangs up his hat after more than 25 years’ service to the electorate.
Mr Neal served briefly as a Unity Team councillor for Division 4 in Cairns after he was chosen by the council to fill a casual vacancy in January 2024, but was unsuccessful in retaining it at the 16 March local government elections.
He said he was excited about the prospect of representing Cape York and Torres Strait constituents if elected, adding he believed there was significant scope for sustainable growth.
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to fight hard for the electorate of Leichhardt and Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait Islands,” he said.
“Warren Entsch has been a champion for the Cape and the Islands, and I’m ready to pick up the ball and run with it.
“Cape York Peninsula has enormous potential for sustainable growth; I want to make it clear that I will support agriculture, resources, tourism and other economic development opportunities for our communities, which I believe can progress without adverse impacts on the environment.”
Mr Neal’s preselection is said to have come as a shock to many in the local LNP branch, with one member telling Cape York Weekly 2024 Cairns Woman of the Year Alanna McKenna was “Warren’s pick” and expected to succeed the outgoing MP.
When contacted for comment about the preselection result, Mr Entsch was uncharacteristically reserved.
“He won the preselection and he’s a young guy with a family, and he’s ambitious,” the long-serving Leichhardt MP said.
“I wish him well.”
Mr Neal’s selection squares up the two major party’s runners in the looming federal election, with Labor announcing in July former Cairns Taipan Matt Smith would attempt to wrestle Leichhardt back to a red electorate for the first time in almost 20 years.
Labor has not held Leichhardt since 2007, when Jim Turnour claimed the vast electorate following Mr Entsch’s first retirement, only to lose the seat when the outspoken politician returned three years later.
The other parties are yet to reveal who their candidates will be in the battle for Leichhardt.
In 2022, 11 candidates contested the electorate, which was won by Mr Entsch with 53.44 per cent of two-party preferred voted.
LNP candidate for Leichhardt Jeremy Neal is a paramedic and former Cairns Regional Council elected member. Photo: Facebook.
