Tipsters predict a state election is imminent with TNQ campaign move


Could this young Labor Party supporter be the key to the timing of the next Queensland election?

With speculation mounting that an election will soon be called for an October or November poll date, TropicNow received a tip from a political insider late today that turns out to be intriguingly accurate.

The source suggested Brisbane's Liam O'Regan had been appointed to oversee the Labor Party's election campaign in North Queensland, managing the campaigns of candidates in the Cairns and Townsville regions.

Mr O'Regan worked in the office of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk before shifting to the office of Labor Senator Anthony Chisholm late last year. Senator Chisholm is the former Labor Party state secretary and campaign director who helped steer the party's stunning election win against the LNP in 2015.

The tip-off emailed to TropicNow reads: "Labor Party goes on election footing in Cairns with the hiring of Liam O'Regan who will oversee the campaign locally. He will oversee all of the Townsville and Cairns campaigns. So Barron River, Cairns, Mulgrave, Cook, Townsville, Mundingburra and Thuringowa. 

"Liam is on leave from Anthony Chisholm's office who was the campaign director in 2012 and 2015. Chisholm is known for his negative election campaigns and O'Reagan is known as Anthony's protege. This is a clear sign that the election will be called this year."

Senator Chisholm's office this afternoon confirmed to TropicNow that Mr O'Reagan is indeed on leave.

With so many multi-million dollar announcements in the Cairns region in recent months - including the $120 million dredging of Trinity Inlet, the $176 million extension of the Cairns Convention Centre and $152 million Smithfield Bypass project - local political pundits predict the election will be held on November 4. 

TropicNow attempted to contact Mr O'Regan for comment but we were unable to reach him.