LNP wins new Gold Coast seat of Bonney with Sam O’Connor their new MP

THE new Gold Coast seat of Bonney has been won by LNP candidate Sam O’Connor.

The LNP’s Sam O'Connor at Harley Park Labrador during the vote count. He met Hannah Renwick (9) who asked her mum to vote for him and was star struck when they bumped into each other at the park. Photo by Richard Gosling

THE new Gold Coast seat of Bonney has been won by LNP candidate Sam O’Connor.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland just after 10am declared Bonney, along with Coomera held by the LNP’s Michael Crandon and Gaven won by Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon.

Sam O'Connor at his election night party at Labrador — he was always confident of winning the new seat of Bonney. Picture Mike Batterham

The declaration of more seats today is tipped to lead to announcement late this afternoon about the state of play between the major parties as Labor works towards a majority government.

Mr O’Connor, 26, entered his first political campaign with what was judged to be a 2.2 per cent margin favouring the LNP.

But Labor was confident with its candidate Rowan Holzberger that it would win the seat along with Gaven.

Mr O’Connor secured 11,405 votes or 43.87 per cent of the total vote on first preferences.

Sam O'Connor will be sworn in as the new member for Bonney. Photo by Richard Gosling

Mr Holzberger trailed on 9279 votes or 35.69 per cent and was unable to make up that lead once second preferences were distributed.

As counting continued this week, the second preference votes from the Greens and independent candidates could not get Mr Holzberger across the line.

After the distribution of preferences, Mr O’Connor had 51.69 per cent of the vote and Mr Holzberger obtained 48.31 per cent. He was 879 votes ahead.

The win guarantees the LNP ageing line-up on the Coast some fresh blood in a seat which will remain one of the State’s most marginal.

The seat was declared today, nearly two weeks after the election. Photo by Richard Gosling

Mr O’Connor was delighted with the news today given the long wait after the November 25 poll.

“It’s a great honour to be elected the first Member for Bonney,” Mr O’Connor told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“I love our community and I am going to work hard to improve it. We fought a strong local campaigns on things that matter to people like traffic congestion, crime rates and cost of living.”