Maiwar winner revealed: What it means for you

The Greens’ Michael Berkman, LNP’s Lauren Day and Labor Palani Thevar went to battle in the seat of Maiwar. Here’s who came out on top and what it means for inner-west locals.

Queensland’s first Greens MP, Michael Berkman, has comfortably won his inner-westside seat of Maiwar for the second time.

Counting early this evening indicated Mr Berkman will pick up about 42.7 per cent of the primary vote, easily enough to beat LNP challenger Lauren Day.

He said the outcome was decided on a handful of key issues including overdevelopment, political corruption, climate change, job creation, public transport and traffic.

QLD ELECTION RESULTS 2020: LIVE COVERAGE OF VOTES, UPDATES

Mr Berkman, paid tribute to his party’s volunteers across the state for helping deliver an historic result and said it was a humbling outcome.

“We have run an enormous campaign here. We have worked really hard to

give good local representation,” Mr Berkman said.

“We made no assumption about the outcome. It recognises how much people appreciate

genuine grassroots representation.

“This is an election where we have made the case for the resources sector to stop exporting the wealth we need to fund a decent lifestyle.

“We have argued more of that wealth needs to be kept in Queensland to pay for the basic services we all need.”

Michael Berkman with his daughter Juniper, dressed up in Halloween theme at the Greens party at Milton’s Newstead Brewery.

One of Mr Berkman’s biggest fans at the Newstead brewery Greens party was young daughter Juniper, appropriately dressed in a Halloween pumpkin outfit.

He said it was thought by many that the party was confined to inner brisbane but Saturday’s result showed that hard work by party volunteers could expand its presence in the regions.

Mr Berkman said he knew there was a swing on after speaking to one quarter of the electorate, but did not anticipate the 15 per cent swing he achieved.

“A large part of it is down to my staff who have worked their arses off to help people at the grassroots,” he said.

Mr Berkman said he would continue to push for the new State Government to deliver on his campaign promise of a major regional public park at the former Toowong ABC site.

He would also fight for other key promises including fast-tracking of Council’s two proposed inner-west green bridges, no transfer of a pokies licence to any new owner of the Indooroopilly Pig ‘N Whistle restaurant, free public transport and expanding cross-electorate bus services such as Toowong-to-Bardon and Fig Tree Pocket-to-Indooroopilly.

Mr Berkman said he would push for an overhaul of the Planning Act to give real power to the people and hold developers to account, full accessibility upgrades for Taringa railway station, rehabilitation of Mt Coot-tha Quarry and separated bike lanes on Sylvan Rd, Toowong.

He also pledged to put pressure on the Government to ensure continued public access to the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology playing fields.

Mr Berkman fought off a strong challenge from former Channel 10 reporter and LNP candidate Lauren Day, who campaigned vigorously on law and order and a number of local issues.

Labor’s Palani Thevar came third. The Labor vote collapsed, with most of the voters who deserted it moving to the Greens.

Ms Day, who revealed on Saturday night that she is 15 weeks pregnant with her third child, said she would now concentrate on her family.

She congratulated Mr Berkman and wished him well.