One Nation national director James Ashby has not ruled out running for the federal seat of Capricornia in central Queensland. He said business and community members have asked him to run, and the party's Capricornia branch will make the final decision. The move follows the retirement of long-serving MP Michelle Landry, which opens the seat to a new contest. One Nation's national primary vote has risen, with a recent poll placing it just behind Labor and ahead of the Coalition.
Coffs Harbour voters will go to the polls on Saturday 12 December to fill a single councillor role. The NSW Electoral Commission will run the by-election after Paul Amos resigned from the council. Voting is compulsory, and residents are urged to check their enrolment details online, especially if they have recently moved. Mayor Nikki Williams said the community will choose a candidate to represent them on council. Early voting opens on 5 December, and results are due on 31 December.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan has not confirmed he will switch from the Senate to contest the lower house seat of Capricornia. Michelle Landry announced on Friday she will not recontest the northern Queensland seat at the 2028 election, citing heavy travel demands and family. Speculation has grown that Senator Canavan could make the move, which would avoid a tough Senate fight with One Nation, whose support is rising in the polls. Canavan said the LNP would take time to work out its position and that membership would decide who represents them.
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Nationals leader Matt Canavan could seek a move to the House of Representatives after colleague Michelle Landry announced she will not recontest the Queensland seat of Capricornia. Pollster Kos Samaras said Canavan faces losing his Senate seat in 2028 if the One Nation polling surge continues. Canavan has said he would do whatever it takes to hold a seat, but did not rule out the move when asked. Landry criticised One Nation, saying most of her dealings with the party had not been pleasant. Coalition leader Angus Taylor praised Canavan as an extraordinary colleague.
A path has opened for Nationals leader Matt Canavan to enter the House of Representatives by contesting the Queensland seat of Capricornia at the 2028 election. The move follows Michelle Landry's announcement that she will retire at the next election. Landry and Canavan appeared together at a press conference in Rockhampton, though Canavan has not formally declared his bid. He has previously said he would consider leaving the Senate for a lower house vacancy. Landry, the seat's member since 2013, cited the heavy travel demands of the electorate as a key reason, and denied being pushed out.
The City of Coffs Harbour will hold an information session for prospective by-election candidates on Wednesday 28 October. The one-hour session, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm in the River Oak Room at Yarrila Place, will explain the work and responsibilities of a local councillor. Candidates do not need expert knowledge of local government, as councillors come from diverse backgrounds. General Manager Murray Wood said the role involves major decisions affecting the community's future, and urged people considering a run to attend and ask questions.
Capricornia MP Michelle Landry has announced she will retire from federal politics at the next election. Her departure could allow Nationals leader Matt Canavan to move from the Senate to the House of Representatives. Ms Landry, who has held the seat since 2013, said it was the right time to step aside. She pointed to funding for the Rookwood Weir and the Rockhampton Hospital car park among her achievements. Canavan said Ms Landry had been a strong advocate for the region, and he did not confirm whether he would seek the LNP nomination for Capricornia in 2028.
Queensland MP Michelle Landry has announced she will retire from federal politics at the 2028 federal election. She has held the central Queensland seat of Capricornia since 2013. Nationals leader Matt Canavan, a senator, attended the announcement in Rockhampton but did not say whether he would seek preselection for the seat. Ms Landry said she would not nominate a successor, leaving that to the party. She also criticised One Nation, which could pose a serious challenge to the LNP in the seat.
Federal Nationals MP Michelle Landry is set to announce her retirement from politics on Friday, according to several LNP sources. Her office said she would make a significant announcement alongside Senator Matt Canavan. Canavan, the Nationals leader, is expected to nominate as the LNP candidate for the Queensland seat of Capricornia, which Landry has held since 2013. Canavan has said he would do whatever it takes to hold the seat as One Nation surges in the polls.
David Thorpe, who won last week's Lockwood Ward by-election, is preparing to be inducted as a City of Greater Bendigo councillor. The lifelong Kangaroo Flat resident says he wants to leave his mark on the ward and be readily available to residents. His priorities include roads, rubbish collection, public safety and community amenities. Thorpe says he has been welcomed by fellow councillors and city staff. The council will meet on Monday 9 November to elect a mayor and deputy mayor for 2026–2027.
Prospective candidates for a Coffs Harbour City Council by-election can attend an information session on Wednesday, 28 October, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the River Oak Room, Yarrila Place. The session will cover the responsibilities of councillors and the decisions they make. General Manager Murray Wood urged anyone considering running to attend and ask questions. The by-election fills the seat left vacant by Paul Amos's resignation, with polling day on Saturday, 12 December. The new councillor will serve until the September 2028 general election. Candidates do not need prior local government experience.
Independent candidate Tracee Hutchison says she will not contest Victoria's state election in November because of organised harassment. She said she received death threats, images of her being gagged and a co-ordinated letterbox drop, and reported threats to the Victorian Electoral Commission every day during pre-polling. Hutchison said the attacks followed her campaign for the Nepean by-election, where she won almost a quarter of first preferences. Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell has called for more security before the November poll, saying she has received thousands of death and sexual assault threats.
Coffs Harbour voters will go to the polls on Saturday, 12 December, to elect a new councillor. The date was confirmed by the NSW Electoral Commission after councillor Paul Amos resigned earlier this week. Voting is compulsory, and eligible residents are urged to check their enrolment details. Mayor Nikki Williams encouraged everyone eligible to make sure their details are current. Further voting information is expected early next week, with updates available from the council and the NSW Electoral Commission website.
Nicola Rooks has been elected Councillor for Beale Ward at Banyule City Council. The Victorian Electoral Commission declared the result at the Declaration of the Poll on 15 October 2026. The by-election filled one vacancy left by the resignation of former Councillor Elizabeth Nealy. Mayor Alison Champion welcomed Ms Rooks, citing her experience in local government and strategic town planning. Ms Rooks will be sworn in on Monday 19 October 2026.
Christine Leahy has been sworn in as the new councillor for Briars Ward on the Mornington Peninsula. The Victorian Electoral Commission declared her elected after she won 64.17 per cent of the vote against Sue Ellison-Whyte. The by-election followed the resignation of Anthony Marsh, who had won the Nepean state by-election. Leahy was sworn in before the shire's chief executive, Mark Stoermer, in the Rosebud Council Chamber. She will serve until October 2028. Mayor Stephen Batty welcomed her to the council.
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Long-serving Coffs Harbour councillor and former mayor Paul Amos has officially stepped down, ending nearly a decade in local government. His resignation took effect on Wednesday, 14 October. Amos served as mayor until 2024 and oversaw the opening of several major community facilities. Council staff and Mayor Nikki Williams thanked him for his service. The NSW Electoral Commission will oversee a by-election to replace him, generally held within three months.
Yiwarr McGrath, a registered nurse from Elcho Island, has been sworn in as the new Member for Mulka in the Northern Territory parliament. He won a recent by-election for Labor in the Arnhem Land seat, following the resignation of independent member Yiŋiya Guyula. McGrath says his first task is to listen, and he wants to focus on young people and educating MPs about the causes of poverty. Growing up after losing both parents as a child, he credits education for his escape from poverty. He has also criticised the closure of Darwin's short-stay accommodation YiSSA.
