6 April 2009

Mixed results for Adventists in Queensland election

Brisbane, Queensland
Nathan Brown

The two Seventh-day Adventist members of the Queensland parliament had mixed fortunes in the state election held on March 21.

Both members of the Queensland Labor government, Phil Gray narrowly lost his Gold Coast seat of Gaven, while Desley Scott increased her vote in the southern Brisbane seat of Woodridge, confirming the seat as one of the "safest" in the Queensland parliament.

Mr Gray was elected at the previous state election in September, 2006, but suffered a decline in his vote of almost 4 percent, similar in magnitude to that experienced by the Labor government across the state, which was sufficient to see the seat go to his Liberal National Party challenger.

But going against this trend, Mrs Scott increased her primary vote by about 1 per cent in the seat she has represented since 2001. A member of the Springwood Adventist church, she credits her success to the significant benefits the Queensland government has brought to her community in the past few years and her involvement with the people of her electorate.

"There are just myriad issue here [in my electorate] and I am really like social worker in the community," says Mrs Scott. "So I'm just out there and enjoying it. If you can come to work everyday and do the things that you love doing, it's fantastic. So I'm really comfortable with my role.

"My faith underpins the way I relate to people," she says, "and I put a lot of effort into how I can help them."

For an extended interview with Desley Scott, see the April 25 issue of Record or watch it here.

Back to News.