Mr CAMERON THOMPSON —I rise today to congratulate Michelle Cole, the Liberal candidate in the state seat of Bundamba.

Mr Hardgrave —She was a local.

Mr CAMERON THOMPSON —She was definitely a local. I want to congratulate her on her excellent performance. Her husband, Paul, also made a very good effort. I want to congratulate the campaign director, Bob Harper; the Oxley FEC Chairman, Andrew Fairman; and others, including the previous candidate and the current Bremer branch chairman, Jeff Matijasevic.

It is a very tough row to hoe to stand in a seat in ALP heartland like that. The former member, Bob Gibbs, is now in Hollywood. The one issue that has been a constant in that electorate over the last several elections has been Bob Gibbs's complete lack of attention to it. He is the man who was living in accommodation in parliament house, and his address was listed as `care of the hotel'—or something or other—in Bundamba. He was so rarely seen there. He was a phantom just like the other phantom, and we know what is happening to him.

Despite all that, people in that electorate still voted for the ALP. These people are wedded to it and you cannot blame them for that. When Labor wanted to run a candidate in this electorate the first thing they thought of was to drag in the local ACTU President, John Thompson. They stuffed around with that for a while.

Mrs Elson —He called a strike two days later.

Mr CAMERON THOMPSON —That is right. After the election was over he threw a strike. He took all the trains off to really torment the people of Bundamba who then had to walk, drive their cars or whatever. But I am getting off the subject. When John Thompson was obviously such a lemon, they resorted to the electorate secretary and put her up.

Mr Hardgrave —She lives outside the area.

Mr CAMERON THOMPSON —Not only that; I think at one stage she was also an electorate secretary for Vince Lester. She is obviously part of the Labor clan from way back. The outcome is that Michelle Cole got a swing to her of almost three per cent, which I think is quite an achievement, given the fact that the destructive influences of One Nation continue to apply in that seat. The last time that seat was contested, One Nation received a total of 34 per cent of the vote. They also ran Heather Hill this time. How many elections can Heather Hill try to contest? It is incredible. She will be running in Bundaberg next. But notwithstanding Hill's destructive influence, Michelle Cole did an excellent job. I congratulate her and her campaign team on a job well done.