Labor candidate Craig Marshall refuses to concede Rockhampton seat

While one candidate claims an historic victory, another is refusing to concede defeat in Labor heartland.

Labor candidate Craig Marshall refuses to concede defeat to LNP candidate Donna Kirkland, saying Independent candidate Margaret Strelow’s preferences might get him across the line.

While businesswoman and LNP candidate Donna Kirkland has claimed an historic victory as the person to wrest the seat of Rockhampton from Labor after 92 years, and the first woman to ever represent the electorate, her rival candidate refuses to concede.

Craig Marshall, Labor’s candidate in place of the retiring Barry O’Rourke said he was still in with a “fighting chance” as he trailed Donna Kirkland 51.71 per cent to 48.29 per cent on preferences with 72.55 per cent tallied.

A Liberal has not held the seat of Rockhampton since 1912.

The LNP’s Donna Kirkland voting on election day at October 26, 2024. Contributed

“I think it’s going to take a few days to find out a clear result,” he said.

“We still have a lot of votes to count from preferencing in the pre poll booths, but time will tell.”

A major factor coming to bear is the distribution of preference votes from former Rockhampton mayor Margaret Strelow.

She had directed preferences to the LNP ahead of Labor on her how-to-vote card but Mr Marshall said the flow of votes is actually about 50-50.

During the week leading up to election day, Ms Strelow posted a how-to-vote card on social media demonstrating how people could preference Labor.

Ms Strelow maintained she would still preference the LNP because she believed they were the best party to represent Rockhampton.

“Even though she preferenced the LNP, I think a lot of people who voted for Margaret preferred not to see an LNP government,” Mr Marshall said.

He said he always thought it was going to be a tight race.

Labor is holding hope it can retain Rockhampton off the back of former mayor Margaret Strelow’s preference votes after she ran as an Independent.

“But being a new candidate you always lose a few votes,” Mr Marshall said.

“We also know there were people out there who had seen us in several terms of government looking for change.”

But Ms Kirkland had already claimed her landmark win on Sunday, discussing her future plans for the electorate and thanking her party, family, team and rival candidates.

“I think it’s exciting times... we’ve certainly heard loud and clear people are ready for a fresh start,” she said.

Rockhampton Labor’s Craig Marshall. Picture: Aden Stokes

After learning Mr Marshall was yet to concede, Ms Kirkland said she was just focused on reconnecting with family and friends after a tough campaign.

“That’s a matter for Craig,” she said.

Early on in the count, Labor party stalwart and Park Avenue polling booth scrutineer Robert Schwarten said preference voting was “all over the place”.

The former Rockhampton MP predicted preference voting would decide the seat.

Labor stalwart Robert Schwarten with Premier Steven Miles at Beef 2024 in Rockhampton. Photo: Steve Vit.

He is now calling for an end to the days of handing out how-to-vote cards at polling booths, suggesting they be inside the booths.

“The number of people that didn’t take how-to-vote cards is enormous,“ he said.

“I think the majority just don’t take how-to-vote cards any more.

“People don’t like being harassed at the gate. I don’t like it and I don’t like doing it.

“It’s time we changed the model and put them in the polling booth.”