Federal Labor is sharpening its focus on Queensland's coal country with a mine worker chosen to contest the seat being vacated by high-profile LNP MP George Christensen.
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Coal mining maintenance project manager Shane Hamilton has been selected as the opposition's candidate for Dawson.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese announced the decision at an underground mining training centre in Mackay.
"We regard this seat as an absolute priority for us and in Shane we are very confident that we have a candidate who will be a great representative for the people of Dawson," he told reporters on Tuesday.
Mr Hamilton failed to unseat One Nation MP Stephen Andrew in the seat of Mirani at last year's state election.
Mr Christensen built an imposing margin of 14.6 per cent after achieving a swing of more than 11 per cent towards him on a two-party preferred basis at the 2019 poll.
But his personal vote is considered to be high with his crushing win coming despite revelations he spent 294 days in the Philippines over four years.
The last campaign centred heavily on Labor's stance towards mining with Adani's Carmichael coal mine a rallying point for conservatives.
The opposition is trying to claw back ground in Queensland after copping a brutal hiding at the last election.
The coalition won 23 of the 30 lower house electorates with huge swings away from Labor making marginal seats safe for the government.
Popular Gladstone mayor Matt Burnett is running in Flynn where Nationals MP Ken O'Dowd is also retiring.
Australian Associated Press
