Queensland State election 2025: LNP candidate Bianca Stone in Gaven has conceded to Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon

Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon will become the ‘Gold Coast’s Opposition leader’ after securing her northern seat of GAVEN in the region’s toughest state poll battle.

Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon will become the ‘Gold Coast’s Opposition leader’ after securing her northern seat in the region’s toughest state poll battle.

LNP candidate Bianca Stone late on Wednesday morning conceded to Ms Scanlon, the Housing Minister in the Miles Government. She was trailing by only 715 votes.

Ms Scanlon is the only Labor MP in the 11 seats on the Coast, which includes new Premier David Crisafulli in Broadwater and potential ministers Ros Bates in Mudgeeraba, John-Paul Langbroek in Surfers Paradise and Sam O’Connor in Bonney.

Ms Scanlon will spend the next four years scrutinising the new government on its promises on the Coast and backing of long-term infrastructure projects like the Coomera Connector and Coomera hospital.

Ms Scanlon was confident at the start of the week that she had built up a strong lead with a large number of remaining postal votes counted.

At Bishoff Park at 2pm, a stroll from her electorate office at Nerang, Ms Scanlon thanked her supporters and loyal army of volunteers.

“I’m eternally grateful to our grass roots volunteers and the community I’ve grew up in,” Ms Scanlon said.

Meaghan Scanlon is celebrating retaining her seat Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Bianca called me this morning and was incredibly gracious. And I want to acknowledge the work that both she and her volunteers have put in. This has been a tough campaign and I have respect for anyone who puts their hand up to run in an election.

“The LNP and One Nation threw everything they had at this seat. This is the community I grew up in and love though, it’s obviously an incredible privilege to serve as an elected member of this area.”

Ms Scanlon admitted the waiting game on results had been stressful and she knew from the vote when she first ran, as a 24-year-old, that it would be close.

She acknowledged she would become the opposition leader on the Coast.

“I will continue to work hard for the community and there are a number of commitments I made that I will continue to push the case why they should be delivered for this community because they deserve nothing less than that,” she said.

Gaven has been called with Meaghan Scanlon holding her seat. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ms Scanlon confirmed she had spoken to former Premier Steven Miles since the weekend and he was in good spirits and would back him in the leadership.

“I said on the night if Steven wants to continue to be leader of our party, which I think he should do, he would have my support to do that,” she said.

“He was done an incredible job as the leader of the Labor Party to stand up for the things that matter.

“I think this election was going to be a really big battle, but he and the team are really proud of the things that we put forward.”

Ms Scanlon admitted many pundits had written her off and unlikely to win the seat.

“There were a lot of people saying it would be a complete wipe out and we’d be back in the Tarago, the fact that we have a lot of Labor members in the Parliament is good for democracy.

“But obviously I congratulate the new incoming government, they ultimately got the majority of votes, that’s what the people of Queensland have decided and we respect them for that.”

STONE CONCEDES

LNP candidate Bianca Stone has conceded to Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon in Gaven after the toughest State poll battle on the Gold Coast.

Ms Stone has released an private internal statement to party members updating them on the count in the northern Coast seat.

Ms Scanlon has 41.55 per cent of the primary vote and Ms Stone secured 38.99 per cent, placing the former Housing Minister 715 votes ahead.

“A short time ago, I contacted Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon to concede defeat in the seat of Gaven and wish her well in representing the community for a third term,” Ms Stone said.

“This was a hard-fought campaign, and I could not have done it without the support of my family, friends and volunteers.

“Each one of you has put your own life on hold to campaign beside me, and for that, I am truly grateful.

Housing Minister and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon (left) and Gaven LNP candidate Bianca Stone (right) are fighting out the toughest political battle in Gold Coast seats during the 2024 State poll.

“We stayed true to our values, and I will treasure the friendships we have forged. I take comfort in knowing we were all part of a team that changed the Government.”

Ms Stone thanked the LNP army which were beside her for every day of prepolling for two weeks and on election day.

“To the thousands of people in the Gaven electorate who voted for change by putting their trust in me, thank you. I know some of you voted LNP for the first time, and we won’t let you down,” she said.

“As for my future, right now, I’m looking forward to a couple of days off with my loved ones before diving into something new - whatever that may be.”

The Bulletin will be seeking comment from Ms Scanlon.

Earlier

The battle for the northern Gold Coast state seat of Gaven is tipped to drag on into next week with LNP insiders saying incumbent MP Meaghan Scanlon isn’t “out of the woods”.

Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon is 610 votes ahead of LNP rival Bianca Stone after the state election at the weekend, according to the latest official vote count.

The closeness of the count, in the Coast’s most hard fought seat, means a decision on a winner is unlikely this week.

An LNP source said: “We probably won’t have an answer until next Tuesday.”

LNP strategists believe “Ms Scanlon is not out of the woods yet – there is a long way to go on this”. But Labor remains confident.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland has issued the first official count of the primary vote which places Ms Scanlon on 11,165 votes, and Ms Stone receiving 10,555 votes.

One Nation candidate Sandy Roach has 2230 votes or 8.28 per cent of the vote. The Greens Sally Spain has secured 1329 votes or 4.9 per cent of the vote.

Preferences from the Greens are going to Ms Scanlon while One Nation, unlike the 2020 poll, this time directed its supporters to preference the LNP.

Housing Minister and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon (left) and Gaven LNP candidate Bianca Stone (right) are fighting out the toughest political battle in Gold Coast seats.

Both Ms Scanlon and Ms Stone are awaiting more results before making comment.

Ms Scanlon is also receiving preferences from the minor party candidates.

Family First candidate Ian Reid received 506 votes or 1.88 per cent of the vote. Janelle Porter from the Legalise Cannabis party obtained 1135 votes or 4.22 per cent of the vote.

An LNP strategist said while the Greens vote was smaller than One Nation, the flow through to Ms Scanlon had been stronger.

The strategist said Ms Scanlon had lost more about 200 votes from the weekend count. A pile of votes, which were all invalid, had been wrongly placed in Labor’s pile.

“Five hundred votes is doable (for the LNP) but the preferences are not going the right way. She (Scanlon) has picked up a lot of Sally Spain’s and a few others as well,” the source said.

Ms Spain stood at prepoll at Pacific Pines every day for two weeks where she asked voters to preference Ms Scanlon.

She acknowledged the spotlight put on juvenile crime but argued “this should not be a one issue election”.

“One issue should not govern the whole state. This state has many issues. Some people will regret they didn’t look further into wider policies,” Ms Spain told the Bulletin

“Meaghan Scanlon is an excellent local candidate. We’ve had some wins in general Queensland politics to the left in terms of animal rights, in terms of environmental heritage and transparency on election campaigns and who donates to it.

“The LNP seems fixed on one issue. One issue does not make an election make.”

EARLIER

The LNP was “not ready to call” the knife-edge Gold Coast seat of Gaven as counting prepares to continue.

Incumbent MP Meaghan Scanlon remained ahead of LNP candidate Bianca Stone on Monday, with no significant counting taking place following the election weekend.

On a two-party preferred basis, Ms Scanlon was on 51.1 per cent of the vote, with Ms Stone on 48.9 per cent.

Ms Scanlon was also head on the primary vote, with 9432 to Ms Stone’s 8789.

Scrutineering of votes, including postals will resume on Tuesday morning.

New deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie, speaking alongside Premier David Crisafulli shortly after being sworn in at Government House, said the LNP was not ready to call the seat, among several others which remained close.

Counting will resume in the seat of Gaven on Tuesday morning

Sources on both sides say Gaven will come down to a handful of votes.

“It’s going to come down to preferences, quite obviously, and nobody knows exactly what the final numbers are going to look like,” a LNP strategist said.

“Meaghan’s ahead and is looking stronger we will have to see what the final tally looks like.”

Should Ms Scanlon survive, she is expected to take a senior Opposition frontbench role.

Other seats still in doubt include Bundaberg where Labor has unexpected defied the swing against the party to retain.

Mr Crisafulli, the first Gold Coast premier since Rob Borbidge in the late 1990s, said he would select his new Cabinet this week before they are sworn in next week ahead of parliament resuming before Christmas.

He said there “wouldn’t be too many surprises” when the new Cabinet was sworn in, with at least five Gold Coasters set to be appointed.

“You’ll see a lot of faces you know and respect and I will speak directly with them first.”