ELECTION 2015: Rolling coverage as LNP faces election bloodbath
A GOLD Coast seat looks key to Labor forming a majority Government with predictions it may fall to the ALP in an election bloodbath.
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ROLLING COVERAGE: A GOLD Coast seat may be key to Labor forming a majority Government with predictions it may fall to the ALP in an election bloodbath.
Annastacia Palaszczuk has achieved what many, including her own party, thought unthinkable in 2012, taking Labor to the brink of victory against an overwhelming LNP majority.
Characterising the effort as a David-and-Goliath struggle, she told supporters tonight: “It’s still too close to call, but I am very hopeful that we will be able to form government.”
Gaven and Albert remain ‘too close to call’.
Gaven is predicted to go to LNP but Albert, initially thought to remain LNP, could fall to Labor’s Melissa McMahon.
Scroll down to see rolling updates for Gold Coast electorates
Her win could hold the key to Labor winning Goverment.
LNP incumbent Mark Boothman is slightly ahead with 51.7 per cent of the vote after preferences compared to McMahon’s 48.3 per cent. He has suffered a 10.1 per cent swing against him in a seat where he only had an 11.9 per cent margin.
Southport is on a knife-edge with LNP incumbent Rob Molhoek leading with 51.9 per cent of the vote after preferences. A winner is expected to come down to postal votes, which will be counted tomorrow.
Premier Campbell Newman phoned the ALP’s Kate Jones to concede defeat in Ashgrove and in his concession speech announced ‘my political career is over’.
He said he made tough decisions but they were ‘necessary’ and ‘I truly believe it put Queensland in a far better place’.
Campbell Newman: 'My political career is over' http://t.co/ZLZtFK7bBW
— Gold Coast Bulletin (@GCBulletin) January 31, 2015When asked who was likely to lead the LNP after probable election defeat, Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens said ‘I don’t even know who’s still standing after this’.
Labor is just two seats shy of the 45 needed to form Government.
The ABC’s Antony Green said the computer was predicting a Labor majority government, but he was being cautious. Labor is predicted to win the bare minimum 45 seats and the LNP 41.
Kate jones arrives. It's deafening here. #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/AYvOH3Zfgl
— Kirrin McKechnie (@KirrinMcKechnie) January 31, 2015LIVE: QUEENSLAND ELECTION: STATE RESULTS
JONES TO UNSEAT PREMIER IN ASHGROVE
It looked like several Gold Coast seats could fall early, particularly Southport and Broadwater. However most sitting members have since recovered and appear set to hold despite suffering swings of up to 15 per cent.
Independent MP Alex Douglas conceded defeat in Gaven early but it may take days to determine if the LNP’s Sid Cramp or ALP’s Michael Riordan will win the seat.
Burleigh MP Michael Hart appears to have recovered after an early swing against him.
Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek, who could make a tilt at the LNP leadership following Campbell Newman’s defeat, said despite gaining a massive 11.6 per cent statewide swing to Labor, the ALP had ‘not made many inroads on the Gold Coast’.
He said there will be ‘a lot of soul searching’ following the crippling election result saying a party does not spend eight years in the wilderness to then become a one-term Government.
Burleigh MP Michael Hart says he's happy to continue for another three years. @GCBulletin http://t.co/7i19agQUKe pic.twitter.com/AHP3bMP0M8
— Andrew Potts (@GCS_Pottsy) January 31, 2015
Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens blamed asset sales for the massive swing against the LNP saying people were ‘over selling Government assets to write down debt’.
See below for rolling coverage of Gold Coast seats:
GAVEN
9.45PM: A WINNER in the Gold Coast hinterland seat of Gaven could take days to decide.
The only certainty as the count continues is that sitting member Dr Alex Douglas will not be returned.
Dr Douglas told the Gold Coast Bulletin he believes Labor will secure the seat courtesy of preferences from himself and, to a lesser extent, from the Greens and minor parties.
At 9.45pm, LNP candidate Sid Cramp had received 38.7 per cent of the vote and was ahead of Labor’s Michael Riordan on 29.27 per cent.
Dr Douglas was receiving about 13.3 per cent of the vote but his support varied in various booths.
Labor is banking on a preference flow of between 50 to 60 per cent from Dr Douglas to get it across the line.
Neither the LNP or Labor were breaking open the champagne bottles.
Mr Cramp told the Bulletin: “I think it is too close to call. I’m not sure what time frame it will be, whether it will be tonight or a couple of days.”
Mr Riordan, who was busy at his Nerang office obtaining figures from scrutineers, believes a result will not be known for days.
He described his mood as being “neither confident or one of despair”.
“It could be a couple of days. It will come down to preferences,” he said.
Mr Riordan said it was very difficult to determine what the flow of support from voters for Dr Douglas and the Greens through to Labor would be.
9PM: The LNP’s Sid Cramp looks set to win Gaven after Independent candidate Alex Douglas conceded defeat. Mr Cramp is leading ALP candidate Michael Riordan 38 per cent to 29.6 per cent. The LNP has suffered a 17.2 per cent swing against.
8.10PM: GAVEN MP Alex Douglas has conceded he has lost the Gold Coast hinterland seat after struggling to gain about 13 per cent of the vote.
The seat was expected to be a three-way contest between Dr Douglas, Labor’s Michael Riordan and the LNP’s Sid Cramp.
The Pacific Pines GP was upbeat as he cooked up a sausage sizzle for supporters about 8pm aware he was not going to get across the line.
“We did our best, I’m sweet about it,” he told his wife Susie as they watched the election coverage.
Dr Douglas predicts Labor’s Michael Riordan will beat Mr Cramp in a tight battle.
Mr Cramp had 37 per cent of the vote while Mr Riordan was polling almost 30 per cent.
But the scrutineers suggested Mr Riordan was winning major booths like Worongary.
7.30PM: GAVEN Independent MP Alex Douglas is not confident of holding his hinterland seat as Labor enjoys a resurgence on the tourist strip.
Dr Douglas addressed his supporters at his Nerang office briefly after 6.30pm, many of them having cleaned up booths after a wild storm.
“Thank you for your support. I don’t think it has been a very good day for us,” he said.
His wife Susie, a former Gold Coast city councillor, expects he may only get 16 per cent of the vote.
Dr Douglas currently has 11 per cent of the vote, LNP’s Sid Cramp has 43 per cent and ALP’s Michael Riordan has 27.9 per cent.
The ALP and the Gaven Independent have exchanged preferences and supporters of Dr Douglas suggested a result would not be known tonight,
Independent Dr Alex Douglas, 57, has held this seat since 2009, when he won it for the LNP, which he left before joining the PUP. The GP has since left that party too. A married father of five. He holds the seat by 19.1 per cent.
LNP candidate Sid Cramp and the ALP’s Michael Riordan are challenging.
BURLEIGH
8.20PM: BURLEIGH MP Michael Hart has conceded Labor could win Government following today’s election. Mr Hart appears to have survived an early swing against him to be returned in his southern Gold Coast to the cheers of his friends and supporters.
He leads ALP’s Gail Hislop 43.3 per cent to 32.4 per cent. He has suffered a 6.8 per cent swing to the ALP.
An emotional Mr Hart said waiting for a final result was the most difficult part of election day.
“This is the hardest part of the election after a hard day out in the sun and rain,” he said.
“The other hard part is seeing your really good friends, really capable members of Parliament losing their seats and we are going to lose that talent and get back incompetent Labor.”
BURLEIGH MP @MichaelHartMP watches the results closely @GCBulletin pic.twitter.com/qgc5rqVF6F
— Andrew Potts (@GCS_Pottsy) January 31, 2015
8PM: LNP MP Michael Hart has fought back from an ominous start and is now leading the ALP’s Gail Hislop 43.3 per cent to 32.2 per cent.
It’s one of the tightest races in Queensland as the LNP’s Michael Hart fights for survival in Burleigh Heads.
The first-term MP is facing re-election in his seat, which could be swept to the ALP in an expected double-digit swing.
Mr Hart has a margin of 11 per cent and faces Labor’s Gail Hislop.
BROADWATER
10PM: LNP MP Verity Barton, who leads Labor rival Penny Toland, 47.1 per cent to 31.9 per cent said she is confident she’ll retain her seat.
“Every election is a battle, but no-one expected the result we got tonight,” she said.
“The Government had to make tough decisions and we expected some push back.”
Ms Barton speculated that her stance against the cruise ship terminal and resort proposed for the Broadwater might have helped her win.
She declined to comment on the police investigation into her admission that she drove while unlicenced however and would not be drawn on the LNP’s leadership question.
8.40PM: The LNP’s Verity Barton appears set to hold Broadwater after an early swing against her. Ms Barton has only just turned up for her post-election party in Labrador but she lead’s the ALP’s Penny Toland 44.9 per cent to 33.1 per cent. She has suffered a 5.8 per cent swing against her.
Still no Verity Barton at Broadwater post-election party #gcpol #gcvotes @GCBulletin #GoldCoast pic.twitter.com/KJiAfR3GgY
— Lucy Ardern (@LArdern) January 31, 20157PM: Party volunteers appear convinced the ALP’s Penny Toland will be elected as the new Broadwater MP, predicting a loss for Verity Barton tonight as polling booths closed for the day.
Ms Toland and Ms Barton are locked — both with 37 per cent of the vote each.
Volunteers from all parties except the LNP, said based on the reaction of voters today and the number of how to vote cards they accepted from the ALP and the Greens, they expected Ms Toland to win.
Some voters at Broadwater booths lashed out at LNP representatives as they went through to vote, calling Ms Barton an “idiot” and an “embarrassment”.
The comments come after it was revealed during the election campaign that Ms Barton failed to pay toll fines and admitted to driving without a licence.
The LNP had a strong showing at the northern Gold Coast booths today — with double the number of volunteers dressed in blue at most locations compared to other parties.
The seat is held by LNP’s Verity Barton since 2012 with margin of 11.3 per cent
SOUTHPORT
10.15PM: Southport is on a knife-edge with LNP incumbent Rob Molhoek leading with 51.9 per cent of the vote. He looked to streak ahead but ALP candidate Rowan Holzberger has closed the gap again, sitting at 48.1 per cent after preferences.
Rob Molhoek will have to wait until tomorrow to know if he can celebrate #gcpol @GCBulletin http://t.co/9b2te3CYZ0 pic.twitter.com/krxtR0E1nO
— Lucy Ardern (@LArdern) January 31, 2015
A winner is expected to come down to postal votes, which will be counted tomorrow.
9.10PM: Southport MP Rob Molhoek has clawed back the lead after a fast-starting ALP candidate Rowan Holzberger made an early dash to the front. Mr Molhoek has won 44 per cent of the vote, above Mr Holzberger’s 36.5 per cent — a 12.8 per cent swing to the ALP.
8.20PM: THINGS are tense at sitting LNP MP Rob Molhoek’s post election party at the Parkwood Golf Club.
Mr Molhoek, who is in a tight race with the ALP’s Rowan Holzberger, was unwilling to call the result about 8pm.
He expressed surprise about the swing away from the party in Southport, while indicating the LNP might still finish in front.
A group of more than 30 of his supporters have gathered to see the count come down.
Mr Molhoek’s seat was considered safe until tonight.
7.30PM: Labor’s Rowan Holzberger is set for a shock win in LNP-held Southport holding a narrow lead over sitting LNP MP Rob Molhoek 39.9 per cent to 38.6 per cent.
The LNP’s Rob Molhoek, a former city councillor, is Assistant Minister for Planning Reform and has held this seat since 2012. He is married with four sons and holds the seat by 14.7 per cent.
The ALP’s Rowan Holzberger is challenging.
MERMAID BEACH
10.45PM: MERMAID Beach MP Ray Stevens has blamed the Newman Government’s controversial assets lease policy for the “devastating” election result which may have cost the LNP power.
Mr Stevens was returned in his blue ribbon conservative seat despite a 13 per cent swing.
“We are pleased because it has been a difficult campaign for me personally in Mermaid Beach but I have been returned quite convincingly and I look forward to working for them for the next three years,” he said.
He denied his controversial Gold Coast Skyride cableway project had cost him support.
“I did all 14 booths and the major issue was of course asset sales,” he said.
“It obviously resinated really well and people are over selling Government assets to write down debt and it kicked badly back on the numbers.
“We could not get the message through at all.”
8PM: Sitting LNP MP Ray Stevens looks set to be returned with 50.6 per cent of the vote compared to the ALP’s Gary Pead on 25.8 per cent.
The blue ribbon conservative seat of Mermaid Beach is held by longtime LNP MP Ray Stevens with 26.05 per cent in an region which has consistently returned conservatives for more than 50 years.
Mr Stevens, who has held the seat since 2006, faces Labor’s Gary Pead but is certain to be re-elected.
MUDGEERABA
10.45PM: CHEERS of elation rang out in Mudgeeraba where incumbent MP Ros Bates
survived the swing to be comfortably re-elected.
The Hinterland MP, who held the seat with a 25.9 per cent margin, won all but one booth on primary votes.
Ms Bates said she was elated to have the support of locals.
8.45PM: LNP MP Ros Bates appears set to retain her seat leading Labor’s Georgi Leader 49.5 per cent to 28.1 per cent.
7PM: MUDGEERABA MP Ros Bates is leading Labor’s Georgi Leader 51 per cent to 25.9 per cent.
Despite controversies through the past term, Ms Bates was certain to retain her seat, in which she is being challenged by Labor’s Georgi Leader.
SURFERS PARADISE
8.45PM: Potential future LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek will hold Surfers Paradise, leading the ALP candidate 58.9 per cent to 24.3 per cent.
7.45PM: Senior minister and potential leader-in-waiting John-Paul Langbroek looks set to hold his seat leading with 59.9 per cent of the vote over the ALP’s Josh Blundell-Thornton on 24.3 per cent.
THE LNP’s John-Paul Langbroek, a dentist and widely touted as a leader-in-waiting, has held the seat for 11 years and currently holds it with a 29.9 per cent margin. The Education Minister has one of the highest LNP margins in the state and is among the contenders for party leader if Campbell Newman is ousted. The ALP’s Josh Blundell-Thornton is challenging.
ALBERT
10.20PM: Albert, initially thought to remain LNP, could fall to Labor’s Melissa McMahon.
Her win could hold the key to Labor winning Goverment and is predicted to be the 45th seat — the minimum required to form Government.
Incumbent MP Mark Boothman fears he might not know if he has been re-elected until next week.
Speaking tonight, Mr Boothman said he was hopeful of a positive result but it would come down to pre-polls.
“I’m still in front,” he said.
“But it will take a while until we know what’s going to happen.
“We might not get a result until next week”.
8.45PM: LNP MP Mark Boothman set to hold seat leading 43.1 per cent to ALP’s Melissa McMahon 35.7 per cent. He has suffered a 10.1 per cent swing to the ALP.
7.45PM: LNP’s Mark Boothman is leading the ALP’s Melissa McMahon 43.4 per cent to 35.3 per cent.
Albert is held by LNP’s Mark Boothman since 2012 with a margin of 11.9 per cent.
COOMERA
8.45PM: LNP looks set to hold Coomera with Michael Crandon leading Brett McCreadie on 31.6 per cent. But he has suffered a 15 per cent swing toward the ALP.
7.45PM: LNP MP Coomera Michael Crandon is sitting pretty with 46.5 per cent of the vote over the ALP’s Brett McCreadie.
Coomera is held by LNP’s Michael Crandon since the electorate was formed in 2009
CURRUMBIN
8.45PM: LNP’s Jann Stuckey had moved streets ahead of ALP candidate Ashley Wain leading 45.9 per cent to 29.1 per cent. Ms Stuckey has suffered a 13.8 per cent swing against her.
7.45PM: LNP MP Jann Stuckey is leading 43.7 per cent to the ALP’s Ashley Wain on 30 per cent.
Queensland’s southernmost electorate borders NSW and has been conservative heartland for a decade since incumbent LNP MP Jann Stuckey swept Labor’s Merri Rose from power.
Ms Stuckey, the Commonwealth Games and Tourism Minister, holds the seat with a 20.2 per cent margin. She is expected to be returned against the ALP’s Ashley Wain.
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