Anthony Albanese has announced Ali France as the Labor challenger to take on Opposition Leader Peter Dutton at the next federal election.
Ms France will battle Mr Dutton for the marginal seat of Dickson, her third tilt at the electorate that ropes in Brisbane’s outer northern suburbs.
Mr Dutton beat Ms France in a close 2022 battle, taking 51.7 per cent of the vote after preferences.
He has held the seat since 2001, but winning the electorate is often closely fought contest and the LNP holds it with a 1.7 per cent margin.
The Prime Minister, speaking in Brisbane on Friday, said Ms France was “tough” and “tenacious” and the right person to beat Mr Dutton.
“We’ve got the right candidates,” he said.
“The opportunism of the Greens and the reactionary policies of the LNP are what we will be campaigning against here in Queensland.”
Mr Albanese has now announced three candidates to take on the LNP and the Greens in Queensland.
Rowan Holzberger will front up against the LNP’s Bert van Manen for the seat of Forde, which takes in Brisbane’s outer southern suburbs and parts of the Gold Coast.
Rebecca Hack will fake on Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown for the seat of Ryan after the Greens snatched the seat for the first time in the 2022 election.
“Rowan Holzberger is someone who will be a dynamic member for Forde,” Mr Albanese said on Thursday.
“He is someone who, if he gets the same swing that he got last time in the 2022 election, then they’ll be whoop-whooping here in Forde on election night because a 4.2 per cent margin, we got a 4.4 per cent swing in Forde at the last election.
“And one of the things that happened at the last election here in Queensland is that we reduced what were very longshot campaigns into marginal seats. One of those is Forde.”
Speculation is circulating Mr Albanese could call a snap early election this year.
On Friday, Mr Albanese said he would return to Queensland next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to announce more candidates.
“What we did here in Queensland was reduced margins that were double digits, in places like Flynn, down to winnable seats,” he said.
“If we get the same swing that we got here last time, then we will achieve an outstanding result and we will see more seats in the Labor column.”
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