Queensland election results 2017: Brisbane takes huge swing away from LNP

THE battle for Brisbane turned into a blue bloodbath last night, with Labor claiming a string of seats across the city and its surrounds.

THE battle for Brisbane turned into a blue bloodbath last night, with Labor claiming a string of seats across the city and its surrounds.

A huge 9.2 per cent swing to the Government in Greater Brisbane saw it claim a swag of LNP scalps as it strongly cemented its strength in the southeast corner.

High-profile MP and Newman government minister Scott Emerson looked headed for a shock defeat in the newly created seat of Maiwar in Brisbane’s leafy west.

Queensland Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson looks likely to lose his seat, the newly created Maiwar. Picture: AAP Image/Jono Searle

An angry Mr Emerson blasted Labor for changing electoral laws to lock in compulsory preferential voting in a bid to target seats such as his.

“(To) save Jackie Trad in South Brisbane, to shore up Grace Grace in McConnel – that’s why they changed that voting system with 18 minutes notice,” he said.

“They didn’t take it to a committee, they didn’t consult with the public, and they did it and trashed the Fitzgerald reform process.”

With Greens candidate Michael Berkman picking more than 28 per cent of the primary vote, the changes meant preferences should be enough to help Labor’s Ali King – or potentially even Mr Berkman – across the line in Maiwar.

Two other former LNP ministers lost their seats in Labor’s city sweep – Ian Walker succumbing to Corrine McMillan in Mansfield, and Tracy Davis falling short of Bart Mellish in Aspley.

Labor also seized the marginal seat of Mount Ommaney.

While candidate Jess Pugh was reluctant to claim victory, ALP state president John Battams did for her, addressing party faithful in Oxley.

Ms Pugh said she was ready to start work tomorrow.

Mount Ommaney was the LNP’s most marginal seat at 0.2 per cent at the last election and a shift in boundaries this time tipped it notionally in Labor’s favour, bringing in 1500 voters from working-class Darra. LNP incumbent Tarnya Smith said she knew from the start it was going to be ‘’a tight battle out here’’.

Labor candidate Jess Pugh looks the likely winner in Mount Ommaney. Picture: AAP Image/Steve Pohlne

Redlands also fell to Labor. Sitting LNP member Matt McEachan bled support to One Nation, enabling Kim Richards to pinch it for the ALP.

The rout looked like being even worse as early results rolled in but Andrew Powell in Glass House, between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, and Steve Minnikin in the southside seat of Chatsworth managed to hold on to their seats for the LNP.

It could be a long wait for a final result in Pumicestone, covering Bribie Island north of Brisbane.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk used the latest controversy involving scandal-plagued MP Rick Williams to dump him and call the election. But new candidate Michael Hoogwaerts faces a nailbiting battle to hold the seat.

LNP candidate Simone Wilson said: “It’s probably a three-way split, but I’m in it to win it. I’m feeling very positive.”

Mr Williams, who vanished without a trace with less than 1000 votes on the night, said “I had a life before politics’’.

ALP’s heavy-hitter candidate – former party national executive member and Australian Workers’ Union campaign co-ordinator Charis Mullen – won the new electorate of Jordan, which covers the fast-growing residential areas of Greater Springfield.

“I’ve lived and breathed the issues for the past nine months,” she said.

“I promise to deliver on all those things which are important to the people of this electorate.”

Chris Whiting, who won the seat of Murrumba for Labor in 2015, repeated the feat in the newly-created neighbouring electorate of ­Bancroft which includes the booming population centres of North Lakes/Mango Hill as well as Deception Bay.

Labor also strengthened its support in nearly a dozen seats it already held, including Algester, Bulimba, Cooper, Greenslopes, Lytton, McConnel, Stafford, Springwood and Premier Annastacia’ Palaszczuk ‘s own electorate of Inala.

Yvette D’Ath comfortably retained Redcliffe despite a small shift towards the LNP. Tim Mander – once tipped as a future LNP leader – increased his margin in Everton in a rare bright spot for the party.