Queensland election results 2017: youth with Meaghan Scanlon and Sam O’Connor set for victory

THEY’RE political enemies in neighbouring Gold Coast seats but Meaghan Scanlon and Sam O’Connor are set to sit together in State Parliament as two of Queensland’s youngest-ever MPs.

LNP candidate for Bonney Sam O'Connor, 27, is holding a narrow lead. Picture: Richard Gosling

THEY’RE political enemies in neighbouring Gold Coast seats but Meaghan Scanlon and Sam O’Connor are set to sit together in State Parliament as two of Queensland’s youngest-ever MPs.

Ms Scanlon, a 24-year-old Labor lawyer, and LNP operative Mr O’Connor, 26, are on track to win their northern Gold Coast seats of Gaven and Bonney respectively.

Labor’s Gaven candidate Meaghan Scanlon, 24, could become the youngest female state MP in Queensland history. Picture: Richard Gosling

She would become the youngest female state MP in Queensland history while the baby-faced Mr O’Connor would be among the most youthful.

Former Opposition leader and Newman and Borbidge Government Minister Lawrence Springborg holds the record as the state’s youngest MP, having been elected at 21 in 1989.

The youngest female MP was former Broadwater representative Verity Barton, who was 26 when first elected in 2012. But the gaffe-prone MP was unceremoniously dumped by the LNP for Saturday’s election to make way for star former Newman government minister David Crisafulli.

Ms Scanlon and Mr O’Connor both faced off against opponents in their 40s – sitting LNP MP Sid Cramp in Gaven and ALP candidate Rowan Holzberger in Bonney.

Despite criticism of a perceived lack of life experience, Mr O’Connor, a former media adviser to controversial Coast federal MP Stuart Robert, said his youth gave him an advantage over 44-year-old Mr Holzberger.

“People liked that I offered a point of difference,” he said. “I think my youth brings good energy and a drive to serve.”

He said it would be “pretty interesting” if he and Ms Scanlon were both elected as Queensland’s current youngest MPs given their political rivalries but bordering electorates.

“The youth aspect is good but Sid Cramp has been a good, hardworking member and I wouldn’t rule him out just yet,” he said.

Ms Scanlon said her likely election as Queensland’s youngest female MP was “incredibly exciting”.

“I know that I stand on the shoulders of great women who fought before me to make sure that I have this great opportunity,” she said.

Ms Scanlon said if elected, she would fight to get the M1 widened as soon as possible.

Originally published as Queensland election results 2017: youth with Meaghan Scanlon and Sam O’Connor set for victory