Greens set to claim Griffith, ahead in Brisbane and Ryan

A number of key battleground seats across South East Queensland remain in doubt after a swell of support for the Greens.

A swell of support for the Greens across South East Queensland was threatening to oust Labor in Griffith while helping push the party ahead in marginal seats like Brisbane and Ryan with votes too close to call last night.

The minor party recorded a six per cent swing towards it in Brisbane and more than 10 per cent in Ryan as the party’s Max Chandler-Mather looked poised to beat Terri Butler in Griffith in one of the biggest upsets of election night.

If the swing continues to grow, the Greens strategist will become only the second Lower House Greens MP in the country.

“It would be an enormous privilege if I were to win it,” Mr Chandler-Mather told a packed Montague Hotel Greens’ election party in Brisbane’s West End.

“It is the result of the efforts of hundreds, if not thousands, of people.

“I’m just one person in this. It’s a vindication of a strategy that has been years in the making.’’

The Greens' Max Chandler-Mather celebrates winning the Queensland seat of Griffith. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

Labor has held a stronghold in Griffith largely since 1977 with incumbent Terri Butler holding it since 2014.

But the seat’s largest movement on Saturday was in the LNP vote, with candidate Olivia Roberts’ vote going backwards by nearly 12 per cent.

She was hampered by a lack of big-spending local promises, with the LNP focusing their cash on Ryan, Brisbane, Longman and other must-wins.

Mr Chandler-Mather said aircraft noise from Brisbane’s new flight paths was a significant issue which he campaigned hard on, as well as poor development including the controversial Bulimba Barracks riverfront estate proposal.

“We had some polling earlier today which showed we would get well over 32 per cent. I honestly did not believe it, but it has turned out to be true,’’ he said.

“We knew months ago we were riding a wave, the concern was if we could keep riding it and we did.’’

Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters reacts to a swell in support for the party. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

In another huge upset, Labor was threatening to oust federal Minister Peter Dutton in his seat of Dickson.

While ahead on first party preferences, Mr Dutton had suffered a 4 per cent swing against him while Greens candidate Vinnie Batten recorded a more than 3 per cent swing towards him.

In Brisbane, LNP incumbent Trevor Evans conceded defeat after suffering an almost 11 per cent swing against him as preferences from Greens candidate Stephen Bates looked set to help Labor’s Madonna Jarrett across the line.

Mr Evans told a group of supporters in Albion that it was not yet clear if Greens or Labor will prise the seat from the LNP.

“It won’t be the LNP that holds it for at least the next three years,” Me Evans said.

“What’s very, very clear is that both of Australia’s major political parties have lost seats today, and they’ve lost primary votes, Mr Evans said.

Ms Jarrett told a cheering room at The Paddo Tavern that this was the best outcome for Labor in the seat of Brisbane for 12 years.

“This has always been about you … and the people of Brisbane who have been looking for a better future,” she said.

“Trevor has conceded the seat … but what this means is that … the people of Brisbane have said get rid of Scott Morrison.

“At this point in time it is too close to call as who will be the next member for Brisbane.

“We are very, very hopeful … that we will get across the line.”

Greens supporters celebrate election results in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

Palaszczuk government Minister Grace Grace told the cheering crowd that Ms Jarrett would be “the next member for Brisbane”.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who was at Ms Jarrett’s election party, said the Brisbane candidate was in a “very strong position” to take the seat.

But he was less confident about Griffith.

“I think we’ve lost Griffith,” he said.

“It’s a very mixed set of results here in South East Queensland.

“It’s been a very difficult challenge for Terri Butler.”

The LNP's Julian Simmonds and his wife Maddy. Picture Supplied

In Ryan, LNP incumbent Julian Simmonds was trailing behind the Greens’ Elizabeth Watson-Brown on first party preferences, suffering an almost 10 per cent swing against him.

Ms Watson-Brown trailed Mr Simmonds by less than 4000 first preference votes but was projected to win when preferences were counted.

And Labor’s Peter Cossar was trailing third but had suffered a 2.4 per cent swing against him.

Meanwhile Labor’s incumbent Shayne Neumann in Blair looked poised to increase his narrow margin of 1.2 per cent to more than 4 per cent.

Mr Neumann said it was a solid victory for Labor in his seat.

“The big story is the collapse of One Nation in Ipswich and the Liberal vote utterly falling through the floor,” he said.

“My margin is going to go up, it’s growing solidly.”