Fadden by-election: Candidates await voters verdict after polls close
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates have congratulated Cameron Caldwell on his election to federal parliament as planning begins for the future.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cameron Caldwell has declared victory in the seat of Fadden, with LNP leaders saying the win is the “first step” to making Peter Dutton Prime Minister.
Mr Caldwell won the traditionally safe conservative seat on the northern Gold Coast on the back of a surprise swing to the LNP on Saturday night.
Flanked by a jubilant Mr Dutton, Mr Caldwell thanked supporters and the LNP “must return to government” in Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated Mr Caldwell in a tweet and thanked Labor candidate Leticia Del Fabbro who conceded just before 8pm.
@DavidCrisafulli is pumping up the LNP faithful declaring Queenslanders “have never felt so let down by brand Labor†@GCBulletinpic.twitter.com/mV1Xvd9we5
— Andrew Potts (@GCS_Pottsy) July 15, 2023
Mr Dutton said: “people are hurting at the moment, Labor’s economic experiment is failing, its energy experiment is failing Australia and as you moved around the booths, you got people raising important issues such as their mortgages.”
“I say to Liberal supporters across the country tonight, the work we have done in the first 12 months to make sure we work together in a united way, to make sure we adhere to our values, that is what we are working on.
“There is a better way for our country.”
Congratulations to @Cam_M_Caldwell on being elected to the House of Representatives - thank you to @letitia4fadden for flying the flag for @AustralianLabor
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 15, 2023
Mr Caldwell, a long-serving Gold Coast councillor, thanked his supporters and vowed to work closely with Mr Dutton.
The result was not unexpected by Labor, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers pouring cold water on any chance of success earlier in the day.
Gold Coast-based Labor Senator Murray Watt said the result was not a surprise but said the government was far from disappointed.
“The figures as they stand now are actually a lower swing to the LNP than what we expected,” he said
And here they are @GCBulletinpic.twitter.com/HnB8aeSf5h
— Andrew Potts (@GCS_Pottsy) July 15, 2023
“We never expected we would win this and it looks like they will only get 2-3 per cent and our primary vote is about what it was last time
“We were massively outspent in this campaign, we delivery did that but to have held our vote stable with a shoestring campaign is itself not a bad outcome.
“This was never about winning, this was about continuing about building Labor’s presence on the Gold Coast and I think we have achieved it.”
Mr Watt said the result was not representative of national issues such as the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
“I didn’t meet a single person in this campaign who was talking about the voice, they were more focused on transport issues and cost of living,” he said.
“We know people want to see more relief on cost of living and this is something we are working on.
“It would be good if we can see the LNP support what we are doing on this rather than keep blocking it.”
8.05pm. Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates has congratulated Cameron Caldwell on his election to federal parliament.
In a statement issued just after Labor’s concession, Cr Gates welcomed the result.
“I extend our congratulations to Cam and his family as they embark on this new chapter of their lives,” she said.
“Arthur Fadden himself was a former councillor, so it seems fitting to have one of our own now occupy his namesake seat.
“We all have Cam’s number and he can certainly expect a few texts and calls when we need a hand with Federal Government support.”
Cr Gates said city leaders would soon move to fill the now-vacant Division 4 seat for the remainder of Mr Caldwell’s unexpired term, which will last until the March 2024 election.
An update on #Fadden from the LNP victory party. @GCBulletinpic.twitter.com/sEnRX2xCyE
— Andrew Potts (@GCS_Pottsy) July 15, 2023
“If the Australian Electoral Commission confirms Cr Caldwell’s election to Federal Parliament, the City will, in line with the Local Government Act, seek Expressions of Interest to fill the vacancy,” she said.
“The Act dictates that if a Councillor’s office becomes vacant with less than 12 months until the next Government election, the City must invite eligible individuals to nominate for the position within 14 days of it becoming vacant.
“The preferred candidate will be appointed by Council resolution.”
7.55pm. Cameron Caldwell will enter federal parliament, with the LNP winning the Fadden by-election,
Labor candidate Letitia Del Fabbro has conceded defeat.
Ms Del Fabbro, speaking at Helensvale this evening confirmed she had phoned LNP candidate Cameron Caldwell and congratulated him on his win.
7.30pm: LNP candidate Cameron Caldwell’s lead in Fadden is growing, with 13 of the 36 booths now counted.
Mr Caldwell holds a 60.63 per cent two-parter preferred lead in the northern Gold Coast seat and is on track to comfortably retain in for the LNP.
Labor candidate Letitia Del Fabbro has 36.80 per cent.
7pm LNP candidate Cameron Caldwell has taken a decisive lead with three of Fadden’s 36 booths having reported in.
The long-serving councillor has secured 37.23 per cent of the primary vote by 7pm, just one hour after polls closed.
Labor candidate Letitia Del Fabbro has got 23.12 per cent of the vote, a swing of 1.5 per cent away from the ALP since last year’s election.
In a surprise, the Legalise Cannabis Australia has picked up 11 per cent of the primary vote so far.
The mood at the LNP’s #Fadden function is optimistic as the first results roll in @GCBulletinpic.twitter.com/0uIX3ILIp1
— Andrew Potts (@GCS_Pottsy) July 15, 2023
6pm Polls have closed in the Fadden by-election, with counting beginning across the northern Gold Coast.
It will be a nervous wait for the 13 candidates, including odds-on favourite Cameron Caldwell who was selected by the LNP.
Mr Caldwell has taken an early lead, winning 49 per cent of votes at the first booth to come in.
The first results are in for #Fadden. @GCBulletinpic.twitter.com/ju1UFNRLIq
— Andrew Potts (@GCS_Pottsy) July 15, 2023
Among those who have gathered at his post-election party is state Opposition leader David Crisafulli and LNP Senator James McGrath.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is expected to appear later.
4pm Party volunteers are outnumbering voters at many Gold Coast polling booths as the Fadden by-election reaches its final hours.
The number of voters slow to a trickle as the afternoon wore on, with booth workers reporting a low turn out.
It’s quiet at plenty of polling booths across #Fadden with campaign volunteers outnumbering voters at Runaway Bay and Paradise Point. I’m told numbers slowed to a trickle after an early burst after polls opened at 8am x @GCBulletinpic.twitter.com/LEgVtmlSrW
— Andrew Potts (@GCS_Pottsy) July 15, 2023
Long-serving Gold Coast councillor Hermann Vorster was campaigning for LNP candidate Cameron Caldwell in Paradise Point and said the number of voters had dropped off after an early morning surge.
“There have definitely been peaks and troughs with voters coming in waves,” he said.
“A lot of people had already made their minds up but others took the how-to-vote cards and made their mind up as they went in.
“It’s been everything all at once.”
Mr Vorster said some voters had wanted to get in before booths opened at 8am to cast their ballots.
12pm: The Fadden by-election looks likely to be marked by general apathy in the electorate as quiet pre-polling was followed by a distinct lack of crowds at the booths.
The lull follows fears of a historically low voter turnout, flagged by the AEC in the wake of depressed pre-poll numbers this week.
Cooking up “democracy sausages” under cloudy skies at the Labrador Senior Citizens Centre with his mates from the Men’s Shed, Len Thomson said it had been very quiet.
“We’d be lucky if we’ve sold 100 sausages,” he said.
“Put it this way – we’ll all be having sausages for tea at home tonight.”
Party faithful handing out how-to-vote cards had plenty of time to chat.
Volunteering for LNP contender Cameron Caldwell, Pushpinder Oberoi had more skin in the game than most.
The Gold Coast Indian community leader hopes to take over the Division Four council seat vacated when Mr Caldwell began his campaign for Fadden.
“I’m hoping Cameron Caldwell will win, and I’m sure he will,” he said.
“It’s a bit quiet, but we’ve had a few people come around.
“I think there’s a mixed sense (of how people are voting), I think people are not sure how they want to vote.”
Volunteering for Labor hopeful Letitia Del Fabbro, Peter Lawlor knew more than most about successfully facing an uphill electoral battle.
Mr Lawlor was the first non-conservative politician to win the State seat of Southport when Peter Beattie’s Labor swept to victory in a 2001 landslide.
He said the party’s Fadden tilt was “going OK”.
“(Labrador) is sort of a Labor area, but it’s hard to judge,” he said.
“It seems like a bit of a lower turnout and I don’t know what that will mean.
“Hopefully we’ll get a bit of a swing, which will be nice.”
Sportsbet was paying $12 for a Labor win and $1.03 for a Coalition win at 1pm on Saturday.
Residents of Fadden who fail to vote without a valid reason could be slapped with a $20 penalty.
10am: Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Labor is “realistic” about the chance the government has of snatching the northern Gold Coast seat of Fadden from the LNP.
Mr Chalmers campaigned with the ALP’s candidate Letitia De Fabbro at Arundel State School on Saturday morning as a voters trickled in to cast their ballots.
Mr Chalmers said success in Fadden wasn’t winning the seat but cutting the LNP’s margin, which sits at more than 10 per cent.
“This part of the world has not exactly been federal Labor heartland over the years but we thought it was important we put forward a wonderful candidate and make a case,” he said.
“We have realistic expectations about this part of the world, the average swing against the government in a federal by election is 4 per cent.
“I think anything less than that for Peter Dutton would be embarrassing for him.”
Mr Chalmers, speaking outside the school, took aim at the Coalition as the “guilty party of Robodebt”.
His message to northern Gold Coast voter was to not “reward the pathological negativity” of Mr Dutton.
Ms Del Fabbro, who voted at the school before meeting Mr Chalmers, said she was happy with the campaign she had run.
“The reason I am standing this time is we had a great campaign last time and I was proud to see an Anthony Albanese government elected that time, so it was an easy decision to put my hand up again,” she said.
“It’s an opportune to talk about the great work the government is doing.”
9am: LNP Fadden candidate Cameron Caldwell says he is “excited but nervous” after polls opened in the northern Gold Coast by-election.
Voters across the city’s northern suburbs are heading to polling booths for the federal by-election which was triggered by the resignation of former MP Stuart Robert.
Despite being the prohibitive odds-on favourite, the long-serving councillor said was not ready to make any predictions.
“The whole time during pre-poll there have only been two issues on voters’ minds as they walk in – that’s cost of living pressures they are feeling as a result of interest rate rises and local crime,” he said.
“Delivery of infrastructure too, here in Coomera we are seeing the need for infrastructure to be delivered and Labor has put future stages of the Coomera Connector at risk with their review of infrastructure.”
Mr Caldwell voted at Coomera River State School with his wife Lauren just after 8.30am.
When asked if she was ready to be the wife of federal MP, Mrs Caldwell said she was “born ready”.
SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT WHERE TO VOTE
7am: The LNP and Labor are believed to have jointly spent more than $1m in the battle to win the safe conservative seat of Fadden.
The battle reaches its climax on Saturday when polls close in a by-election triggered in May by the resignation of former MP Stuart Robert.
Despite the LNP holding the seat with a 10.6 per cent margin and the odds-on favourite, the Opposition has thrown plenty at the campaign, with multiple expensive mailouts, candidate corflutes and visits from high-profile MPs including Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
Labor also brought in the big guns, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Government Services Minister Bill Shorten who have made high-profile visits to the city.
LNP sources are comparing the party’s preparations for Saturday’s by-election to the NSW Blues which won this week’s State of Origin“dead rubber”, defying expectations of a Queensland clean-sweep.
“The LNP are going to be absolutely everywhere this weekend stocking every polling booth and while everyone is confident, they want to put in a good showing,” one campaign figure said. “It’s like this week’s State of Origin dead rubber – you don’t go into the game thinking ‘Who cares?’ Cam’s team are in it to win it and they want to see a swing towards them.
“The party right now is trying to make the best of it.”
The LNP has been forced to spend significantly more than it has campaigning in the seat in at least 15 years, forking out for new T-shirts promoting Mr Caldwell, mail-outs, and other campaign costs.
“We are spending about half a million and Labor is throwing the same kind of figure at this fight,” the party source said.
“(Electoral signage) are $12,000 straight away, plus $10,000 on shirts and $120,0000 for each mail out, so you’re at $200,0000 before you can even blink.
“A lot of the stuff you see on each normal election day gets paid off over a number of years but because Stuart is gone and we cannot use any of his branded stuff anymore, the LNP is behind the eight ball right from the beginning, while Labor has a slight advantage because they picked a candidate who had run in the seat previously.”
A Melbourne Cup-field of 13 will be on ballot, despite the Australian Electoral Commission warning of a low voter turnout.
In a statement earlier this week, more than 16,000 people had cast their votes during the first week of pre-polling, down 27 per cent after the same period during the 2022 federal election.
Labor’s candidate in the seat is Letitia Del Fabbro who ran against Mr Robert in 2022, clawing a four per cent swing against the LNP.
Both parties tip a small further swing to Labor, though not enough to put an LNP victory in doubt.
A Labor source said the party was realistic about its chances of success.
“We know it would take a miracle to win so we are tempering the expectations of that outcome but the response at pre-poll and doorknocking has been really strong,” they said.
The LNP’s campaign has largely focused on cost-of-living and law and order issues, with Mr Dutton this week urging voters to send Mr Albanese a message.
“People are looking forward, not back and I think people are looking at who will be their local champion,” he said.
“It is an opportunity to send the Prime Minister a message that he just hasn’t done well enough to the cost-of-living pressures.
“The candidate standing for the LNP in the Fadden by-election on Saturday is Cameron Caldwell and that is the choice people have to make on the weekend.
“They’re not going to change the government but it is an opportunity to send a message to the government.”
Labor meanwhile focused on its own cost of living initiatives, recent budget commitments and Mr Robert’s role in the Coalition’s illegal Robodebt scheme.
“Labor is the party of Medicare. Labor is the party of education, so who better to run for Labor in this by-election than a Lecturer in Nursing – Letitia Del Fabbro,” Mr Albanese said when campaigning on the Coast.
“But let’s remember why we are having this by-election – Stuart Robert is resigning from Parliament having presided over one of the most shocking and cruel failures in the history of Australian politics: Robodebt. Targeting vulnerable people – and bragging about it.
“That’s the sort of person Peter Dutton thought was good enough for his Shadow Ministry, and that’s the sort of candidate the LNP thought was good enough for the Gold Coast.
“With Letitia Del Fabbro, we are proud to offer the people of Fadden and the residents of the Gold Coast so much better.”
WHERE TO VOTE
All polling booths open on Saturday 8am-6pm when polls close and counting begins.
St Peter’s Lutheran Church Hall
187 Alberton Rd, Alberton
Not wheelchair accessible
Arundel Presbyterian Church
132 Allied Dr, Arundel
Not wheelchair accessible
Arundel State School
185 Napper Rd, Arundel
Not wheelchair accessible
Biggera Waters State School
2 Morala Ave, Biggera Waters
Assisted wheelchair access
Coombabah State High School
550 Pine Ridge Rd, Coombabah
Not wheelchair accessible
Coombabah State School
164-172 Oxley Dr, Coombabah
Not wheelchair accessible
Marj Shipman Community Centre
91 Hansford Rd, Coombabah
Not wheelchair accessible
Coomera Rivers State School
81-87 Finnegan Way, Coomera
Assisted wheelchair access
Picnic Creek State School
25 Edwardson Dr, Coomera
Wheelchair accessible
Helensvale State High School
243 Discovery Dr, Helensvale
Assisted wheelchair access
Helensvale State School
8 Lindfield Rd, Helensvale
Assisted wheelchair access
Banksia Park Hall
27 Crescent Ave, Hope Island
Not wheelchair accessible
InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort
Sanctuary Cove, Hope Island
Assisted wheelchair access
Jacobs Well Community Centre
27 Bay Dr, Jacobs Well
Not wheelchair accessible
Labrador Memorial Senior Citizens Centre
370 Marine Pde, Labrador
Assisted wheelchair access
Labrador State School
Turpin Rd, Labrador
Not wheelchair accessible
Ormeau Woods State High School
148 Goldmine Rd, Ormeau
Assisted wheelchair access
Gaven State School
212 Universal St, Oxenford
Assisted wheelchair access
Oxenford State School
90 Michigan Dr, Oxenford
Assisted wheelchair access
Pacific Pines State High School
15 Archipelago St, Pacific Pines
Assisted wheelchair access
Pacific Pines State School
47-67 Santa Isobel Blvd, Pacific Pines
Assisted wheelchair access
Paradise Point Community Centre
Community La, Paradise Point
Wheelchair accessible
Gainsborough State School
180 Yawalpah Rd, Pimpama
Wheelchair accessible
Ormeau State School
29 Mirambeena Dr, Pimpama
Assisted wheelchair access
Pimpama Community Centre Sports Hub
139 Rifle Range Rd, Pimpama
Wheelchair accessible
Pimpama State Primary College
cnr Dixon Dr & Cunningham Dr Nth, Pimpama
Wheelchair accessible
Runaway Bay Community Centre
Lae Dr, Runaway Bay
Wheelchair accessible
Southport State High School
75 Smith St, Southport
Assisted wheelchair access
Woongoolba Public Hall
1226 Stapylton Jacobs Well Rd, Woongoolba
Not wheelchair accessible
Councillor calls for City to investigate information leak
An inquiry into an alleged leak of information at City Hall has caused a tense stand-off between two key figures.
‘Giant hail, 125km/h winds’: Severe storms to hit Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is in the firing line of a severe thunderstorm, which could bring destructive winds and 5cm-sized hail, prompting council to open sandbagging stations.