Townsville leads as Preferred Capital

A plurality of northern Queenslanders support North Queensland becoming its own state, and NQ state supporters believe Townsville should be the capital, according to a new poll released today by market research and polling company, DemosAU.

Conducted between 30 September – 25 October, 913 respondents were asked “If a referendum was held on the following question, how would you vote? Are you in favour of a new state of North Queensland?” 42% of respondents said Yes, 37% said No and 21% said Don’t Know. 

Respondents who were in favour of a new North Queensland state were asked the question, “Which city should be the capital of a North Queensland state?” 49% said Townsville, 27% Cairns, 9% Mackay, 8% Rockhampton and 7% Don’t Know.  

The poll surveyed adults who all lived in communities from Gladstone (inclusive) west to the Queensland border and north to the Torres Strait. Responses were categorised based on demographics including, age, gender, education, location, income and voting intention.

DemosAU Head of Research George Hasanakos said the demographics revealed interesting trends.

“One in two men (50%) indicated they would vote in favour of a new state, but that drops to 34% among women,” Mr Hasanakos said. “So while more men are supportive of the idea, many women are yet to be convinced.”

Support is Strongest North of Bowen

Mr Hasanakos said there was some clear regional divides in respondents’ attitudes.

“The Townsville region was the most likely to be in favour of the proposal but we found that support trailed off south of about Bowen.”

Location was split into five key regions: Far North Queensland, Townsville Region, Mackay Isaac Whitsunday, Central Queensland and Western North Queensland. 

The Townsville Region was most likely to have voted yes for a separate state (51% Yes – 27% No), followed by Far North Queensland, (49% – 36%), Western North Queensland (44% – 42%), 

However in the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday (35% – 44%) and Central Queensland regions (30% – 44%), pluralities of respondents were against a North Queensland state.

By voting intention, Katter’s Australian Party voters were most likely to vote Yes (54%), followed by LNP voters (51%). Just over a third of Labor voters (36%) were supportive of a North Queensland State.

“While support for a North Queensland state is sometimes seen as a populist cause, support is far more evenly spread across voters of all political persuasions,” Mr Hasanakos said.

Please see our report for detailed breakdowns.