Stuart Copeland - Redistribution

Redistribution

In the State electoral redistribution prior to the 2009 Queensland election, the electorate of Cunningham was abolished and divided between the existing electorates of Toowoomba South and Southern Downs and the new electorate of Condamine.

Under the terms of the constitution of the newly formed LNP following the amalgamation of the National and Liberal Parties in Queensland, all sitting Members of Parliament, State and Federal, were automatically endorsed (or “grandfathered”) for their next election. In the case of a redistribution the LNP’s constitution stated “If a redistribution changes the boundaries of a current State or Federal electorate, the sitting Member will be entitled to claim the electorate that contains 50.1% of the enrolments in the member’s old seat and contest it as the sole candidate of the Party for that seat at the next State or Federal election”.

Under such definition Copeland was not regarded as a sitting Member and was precluded from contesting the preselection of any electorate covering the abolished Cunningham.

While it had been reported that the Member of Toowoomba South Mike Horan MP had intended to retire allowing Copeland to contest Toowoomba South, this did not eventuate and Copeland was left without a seat.

Despite having previously been nominated by Lawrence Springborg as a potential leader, Copeland announced he would be retiring and moved to the backbench.