Queensland Election results 2017: One Nation steals Bundy for LNP

EVERY vote and voter counted in the fight for Bundaberg yesterday, with some people undecided right up until they reached the voting booth. But in the end, it was One Nation that sank Labor.

Bundaberg ALP incumbent Leanne Donaldson talking outside the polling booth to Danielle Monckton about universities. Picture: Paul Beutel

LABOR is understood to have accepted it has lost the seat of Bundaberg to the LNP, crippled in the close fight by One Nation preference flows.

AS IT HAPPENED: Election results and rolling coverage

While the final result could be days away with a large number of pre-polls, Labor’s Leanne Donaldson looks lost.

The former Cabinet minister held the seat with a tiny margin of less than 1 per cent.

Ms Donaldson left Cabinet after falling behind paying her rates and registration.

Councillor and former police officer David Batt looks set to pick up the cane town seat.

Bundaberg LNP candidate David Batt casts his vote. Picture: Paul Beutel

With almost 44 per cent of the votes counted, the LNP’s Mr Batt and Ms Donaldson were both locked at 50 per cent after the distribution of preferences.

But the preferences of One Nation candidate Jane Truscott, who scored 21.6 per cent of the primary vote, were slightly favouring Mr Batt (pictured).

Last night Ms Donaldson was refusing to concede defeat.

The close race explains the attention each voter received from the candidates.

Resident Danielle Monckton said she was undecided right up until she reached the voting booth at Bundaberg East State School, despite being able to quiz the candidates from both major parties as she arrived.

The mother of four said she wanted better education opportunities for young people and health care closer to home.

Ms Donaldson, who held the seat with one of the smallest margins in the state, told Ms Monckton the ALP could be trusted to provide the education and health services she said were so important.

Mr Batt said his party wanted to promote business and jobs.

He said if each business felt confident enough to put on just one extra employee, the unemployment rate would plummet.

Mr Batt said Bundaberg voters showed wanted a change and better representation.

Originally published as Queensland Election results 2017: One Nation steals Bundy for LNP