Labor adds two new seats to target list for federal election

Labor is so confident of winning next year’s federal election it is planning to add two more LNP-held seats to its target list ahead of the campaign.

LABOR is so confident of winning the next election it is quietly making plans to add two more seats to the eight it will target in the campaign.

The Opposition already has eight target seats - Leichhardt, Dawson, Flynn, Capricornia, Dickson, Petrie, Bonner and Forde - which would see Bill Shorten double his party’s foothold in Queensland, easily outstripping the LNP.

But Labor strategists have added two other seats to the list of those in play.

The changes mean now a third of Queensland’s 30 seats could shift hands from the LNP to Labor or independents, a move that would dramatically reshape politics in the state.

The seat of Brisbane was moved to a Labor “watch” list amid a backlash against the removal of Malcolm Turnbull.

A senior Labor source said the party was confident Brisbane would become a target seat early in the new year despite the popularity of LNP MP Trevor Evans.

Popular LNP MP Trevor Evans.

Another seat Labor would usually never consider winning, Ryan, is now on a “wait and see” list amid suggestions dumped LNP MP Jane Prentice could run as an independent.

Labor strategists do not believe they can win Ryan, which stretches northwest from St Lucia, but has it pegged as one “we might be able to have a bit of fun with”, according to a senior party figure.

The Opposition is considering directing preferences in Ryan to Mrs Prentice if she runs, or possibly the Greens or another independent, in the hope it could at least knock another plum seat from the LNP heartland.

There is only one seat Labor fears losing out of the eight it holds in the state, the Townsville-based electorate of Herbert.

Opposition strategists are war-gaming a preference deal with minor party leaders, including Bob Katter and Clive Palmer, in a bid to save sitting MP Cathy O’Toole.

The LNP is running military veteran and Queensland’s Young Australian of the Year, Phillip Thompson, as its candidate.

Mr Thompson is likely to gain support in the garrison town and is touted by the LNP as the party’s main hope of picking up a seat in the state.

But Labor strategists believe the wildcard in Herbert will be how minor party preferences flow.

Katter’s Australian Party and One Nation are expected to gain support in the seat.

Mr Palmer is spending up big and making big promises about new investment in the town. However, it remains to be seen if voters turn to him again after his Queensland Nickel company left workers without paid entitlements when it went under.

Labor has ruled out a preference deal with One Nation but is already drawing up plans to negotiate with Mr Katter and Mr Palmer, The Courier-Mail can reveal.