Forde MP Bert van Manen surprised with win

One of the country’s most marginal seats has been returned to the LNP despite weeks of speculation about a Labor win.

VOTERS in Logan’s two federal seats returned their two sitting MPs on Saturday.

In a “surprise” win in Forde the LNP’s Bert van Manen was returned and Labor’s Jim Chalmers was reinstated in Rankin.

Mr Chalmers was remaining tight-lipped this morning about any possible chances of him contesting the federal Labor Party leadership.

Mr van Manen held his seat with a 7.8 per cent margin, fending off Labor’s Des Hardman, a radiographer at Logan Hospital.

Shaking off the slim margin of 0.63 per cent from the 2016 election, means the seat is no longer considered marginal.

Mr Chalmers held his seat but his huge 11per cent margin was reduced to 7.64 per cent.

With nearly 70per cent of the vote counted in Forde, Mr van Manen, won 41,023 of the 107,272 votes two party preferred and Mr Hardman 29,850.

There was only a 69 per cent turnout rate and a 5 per cent informal vote in the marginal seat which takes in centres such as Beenleigh and the northern parts of the Gold Coast.

Mr van Manen declarded victory from the River Lakes Tavern at Cornubia, just after 9.30pm.

“Yes, I’m surprised by the result, however it reflects the hard work of my staff and my team,” he said.

“I also want to thank the people of Forde for trusting Scott (Morrison) and I with leading Australia into a prosperous and exciting future.

“All the best to Des in his future endeavours. I thank him for running a clean campaign on policy not personality.”

Mr Hardman said he was disappointed and concerned with the result.

Labor candidate Des Hardman said he will continue to fight for better conditions for workers.

He gave up his posting as a radiographer at Logan Hospital for his second tilt at the seat but is likely to return to work at the hospital.

“I am proud of the respectful campaign I ran as respecting people is important to me,” Mr Hardman said.

“I can’t help being concerned for the future because I do not think this government is governing in the best interests of the whole country.

“One of the main reasons I was standing was to make sure there was equity.

“But now we are confronted with cuts to penalty rates, wages stagnation, and the economic outlook is not good.

“I just hope people don’t wake up in a few weeks and wonder what happened and are disappoined.”

This morning there were questions raised about Mr Chalmers taking up the leadership role of the federal Labor Party, following last night’s resignation of Bill Shorten from that role.

Calls for him to run were made by political analyst Nike Savva this morning.

Jim Chalmers addresses the party faithful and volunteers at Logan Brothers Leagues Club.

last night, Mr Chalmers thanked the community for trusting in him again and vowed to continue to work for Rankin.

“Thank you to all the other candidates who put their hands up to represent our local community and I wish them and their families all the best,” he said.

“I’m honoured to be given another opportunity to continue to represent the community I was born in, grew up in, live in, and love.

“Our local community voted for change for our nation, for better local schools and hospitals and for real action on climate change.

“Unfortunately, that was not the case in other parts of the country.

“While I’m bitterly disappointed about the national result, I’m more determined than ever to fight for a fair go for people in our local community and the essential services they rely on.”