Sunshine Coast voters, candidates turn out for 2025 federal election

The LNP has lost its margins in Fairfax and Fisher and look set to retain their seats on the Sunshine Coast.

Sunshine Coast voters line up at Buderim on federal election day, May 3, 2025.

Incumbent Fisher MP Andrew Wallace is likely to retain his Sunshine Coast seat, as his northern LNP counterpart, Ted O’Brien, faces a slimmed down margin.

The LNP will likely hold on to Fairfax.

However, in Fairfax a swing towards Labor of 5.9 per cent on a two-party preferred count has been recorded.

This morning, May 4, it looks likely Ted O’Brien has won the seat by more than 5200 votes.

Before the election, Mr O’Brien had held the seat with a margin of about nine per cent.

Early votes showed Mr O’Brien led with 31 per cent of 25,779 votes counted.

Labor’s Naomi McQueen held on to about 24 per cent of the vote and teal independent Francine Wiig has ended the count on about 12.5 per cent.

The Greens’ Sue Etheridge gained more than 8600 votes, or about 10 per cent.

Mr O’Brien copped criticism throughout the election campaign for the LNP’s controversial nuclear energy policy. A protest attended by the Greens, Labor and independent candidates, who claimed to have put their differences aside for the cause, attracted more than 100 people at Coolum Beach.

On a two party preferred count in Fisher, at 10pm, Mr Wallace retained the seat with 53 per cent of the vote compared to Labor’s 46 per cent.

The result showed a 5.4 per cent swing to Labor.

Mr Wallace had said earlier in the night he was “quietly confident” he would managed to hold the seat.

LNP loses margin in Sunshine Coast, maintains lead

Incumbent Fisher MP Andrew Wallace is “quietly confident” he will retain his Sunshine Coast seat after the electorate’s first teal candidate offered a fresh challenge.

Results at about 8.30pm show an early lead for the LNP’s Mr Wallace, with about 28 per cent of 21950 votes counted.

Labor’s Morrison Lakey holds about 20 per cent of the early vote, followed closely by teal candidate Keryn Jones on about 18 per cent.

Voters in the historically safe seat of Fairfax, in the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, have shown early signs of support for incumbent LNP MP, Ted O’Brien but he has lost his margin.

Early votes in at about 8.30pm show Mr O’Brien leading with 32 per cent of 19,691 votes counted. Labor’s Naomi McQueen holds about 24 per cent of the vote and teal independent Francine Wiig on 13 per cent.

On a two-party preferred count in Fairfax, Mr O’Brien holds 50.71 per cent with Ms McQueen on 49.29 per cent as at about 8.40pm, showing a swing of 8.21 per cent to Labor.

In Fisher, Mr Wallace has also lost his margin slightly as at about 8.40pm.

Mr Wallace holds 52.84 per cent of the two-party preferred count and Mr Lakey holds 47.16 per cent.

Shock Fairfax exit poll result shows tightening race

Election day exit polling has shown a close race emerging in the traditionally safe seat of Fairfax, with just a few votes separating the LNP, Labor and teal candidates.

The polling from booths in Buderim, Maroochydore, Coolum Beach and Nambour showed a narrowing gap for incumbent Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien.

Mr O’Brien currently holds the safe LNP seat with a nine per cent margin.

It comes as exit polling done by this publication, in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax on Thursday and Friday, revealed where some of the support for the Climate-200 backed independent, the Greens and the LNP was coming from.

According to the poll of 150 voters, 39 had put Mr O’Brien as their first preference, 34 people had voted for Labor’s Naomi McQueen and 34 had put teal candidate, Francine Wiig, in the top spot.

The Greens’ Sue Etheridge wasn’t far behind, securing 31 first preference votes.

The results from Thursday and Friday showed Mr O’Brien still holding a nine per cent margin, despite a rise in votes for the Climate-200 backed independent, Francine Wiig, in the Coolum Beach and Nambour areas.

The rural electorate has proven to be an LNP stronghold in past elections since 1990, only losing to Clive Palmer for one term in 2013.

Candidates make last ditch effort to sway voters

Earlier today, Coolum Beach polling booths were extremely quiet with only a couple of people attending as time ticks closer to the end of the voting period.

Rain was pouring down in the Nambour with volunteers huddling under umbrellas with hardly any voters to be seen there.

It seems the Sunshine Coast has taken the opportunity to vote early, matching the record numbers seen across the country.

Incumbent Fisher MP Andrew Wallace cast his vote alongside his family this morning in Baringa and Mr O’Brien also cast his vote with his family in Nambour.

Incumbent Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace with his wife, Leonie, vote in Baringa during the 2025 federal election this morning, May 3. Picture: Jarrod Tutbury

Incumbent LNP Member for Fairfax Ted O'Brien talks to media during on federal election day, May 3, 2025.

Fisher MP, Andrew Wallace, spoke to this publication on the eve of the 2025 federal election.

“I never take my seat for granted, I haven’t in nine years, I always fight for every single vote, I don’t think there is such a thing as safe seat,” Mr Wallace said.

Mr Wallace said he has led a campaign focused on community upgrades to sporting clubs and organisations.

“There are a lot of community organisations out there that are really crying out for funding,” he said.

Mr Wallace also referenced his Fisher independent opponent, Keryn Jones, who is funded by Climate 200.

“This is the first time I’ve had a teal running against me, I think people need to understand a vote for teal is a vote for Anthony Albanese,” Mr Wallace said.

Fisher candidate Morrison Lakey said it was a good feeling on the ground on the Sunshine Coast on election day morning.

“I recall Fisher was fourth in the country for early votes as of last Saturday,” he said.

Labor Fisher candidate Morrison Lakey talks to the media during the federal election on May 3, 2025.

“There’s a good feeling on the ground, there’s no negativity really, so it’s been quite a pleasant experience.”

Fairfax MP and shadow energy minister, Ted O’Brien, said his campaign showed he was committed to funding transport infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast.

“My message to voters is that I want to keep building on my track record of delivery for Fairfax and the Sunshine Coast,” Mr O’Brien said.

“My record includes $1.79 billion for local roads and infrastructure; $3.2 billion for local sections of the Bruce Highway; $3.15 billion for passenger rail; $61.1 million for local businesses; and $38.6 million for local community groups.

“But there’s more to do, including over $5 million of investment in community organisations if a Dutton-led LNP government is elected.”