Six Labor seats lost, at risk if Greens surge repeats in October
Some of Labor’s most high-profile MPs face an uphill battle to retain their Brisbane seats if swings to the Greens seen at weekend translate to October’s state election. SEE WHO IS AT RISK
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Six Labor MPs face an uphill battle to retain their Brisbane seats at the state election as swings to the Greens in Saturday’s council poll builds momentum for the minor party.
The Greens hold Maiwar and South Brisbane in the Queensland Parliament but have their sights firmly set on at least three more Labor-held seats in the inner city.
Cooper and McConnel, held by first-term MP Jonty Bush and senior State Development Minister Grace Grace respectively, are most at risk.
Greenslopes, occupied by Labor Deputy Speaker Joe Kelly, is also in the Greens’ sights.
Greens MP Michael Berkman said the party would set its sights on winning seats in October.
“We’re on the path to a state election now and Labor is clearly in serious trouble in Brisbane,” he said.
“They are bleeding voters on housing, particularly renters and first homebuyers and just moving to the Greens in droves.”
The Greens are taking more votes off Labor compared to the LNP, with at least three government seats lost if Saturday’s poll was replicated in October and three more at risk.
“If last night’s numbers were reproduced at a state election they would lose Cooper and McConnel and Greenslopes and they’d be in serious trouble in Miller, Bulimba and Stafford,” Mr Berkman said.
“So Labor needs to take stock and take a message from this.”
Saturday night’s Brisbane City Council election recorded strong swings to the Greens across the three state electorates and sets the scene for a tight battle in the October poll.
In the Paddington Ward, which covers Cooper, the Greens are locked in a tight battle with the LNP following a favourable 1.3 per cent two-party swing.
The Coorparoo ward, covering Mr Kelly’s Greenslopes, recorded a 3.2 per cent two party swing to the Greens.
Ms Grace’s Labor seat of McConnel – where she has lived almost all her life – saw a 4.3 per cent swing to the Greens in Brisbane’s Central Ward on Saturday night.
The LNP’s two seats of Moggill and Clayfield were thought to be most at risk of being lost to the Greens – but both recorded favourable swings in Saturday’s council poll.
The Pullenvale ward, covering Moggill, swung by 4.4 per cent to the LNP and Marchant, overlaying Clayfield, edged 2.2 per cent to the LNP.
Premier Steven Miles insisted there was nothing surprising as the Greens’ vote affected Labor.
“We won’t get to see preference flows until during the week but there’s nothing particularly new there,” he said.
“We’ve been seeing a Green vote increase, particularly in the inner city and our inner city members are really very good at representing those communities.
“I expect they’ll continue to do that.”
“Jonty, you mentioned Cooper – she is a great local member in Cooper and I expect she’ll be re-elected.”
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