Meaghan Scanlon’s almighty scare, backs Steven Miles to lead Labor

Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon has spoken for the first time after retaining the seat of Gaven saying the “LNP and One Nation threw everything they had at this seat.”

Gaven candidate Bianca Stone during the election campaign. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Reelected member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon is backing former premier Steven Miles to lead Labor after surviving an almighty scare where she was “written off” by many.

Former Housing Minister Ms Scanlon, one of Labor’s rising stars, remains an MP after TV journalist turned LNP candidate Bianca Stone conceded defeat this morning.

The race for Gaven was one of the tightest of the election.

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

“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.”

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

Ms Scanlon confirmed she had spoken to Mr 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.”

Former housing minister Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: Adam Head

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.”

Ms Stone, in a social media post, revealed she had called to congratulate Ms Scanlon

“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,” she wrote.

As of Wednesday morning, Ms Scanlon led by 380 votes.

Ms Scanlon would be the 33rd Labor MP to join opposition, scraping through with a 50.7 per cent to 49.3 per cent two-party preferred vote.

Ms Stone said she would take a couple of days off to be with her loved ones before diving into something new.

“Whatever that may be,” she said.

She thanked those who voted for her and said she took “comfort in knowing we were all part of a team that changed the government.”

“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.

Originally published as Meaghan Scanlon’s almighty scare, backs Steven Miles to lead Labor