Qld election 2024: LNP sweeps Toowoomba North, Toowoomba South, Condamine, Warrego, Southern Downs, Lockyer, Scenic Rim
The LNP is riding high across Toowoomba and southwest Queensland after early votes have seen huge swings to the conservatives.
It's official - a blue wave has collected all of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.
The Liberal-Nationals have won in Toowoomba North, Toowoomba South, Condamine, Southern Downs, Warrego, Lockyer and Scenic Rim.
Here's our summary:
JANETZKI CLOSES IN ON TREASURY AS LNP IN REACH OF MAJORITY
David Janetzki says he is feeling “privileged” at the prospect of becoming the state’s next treasurer as the LNP completed an expected sweep of seats across southwest Queensland.
Mr Janetzki easily won the safe conservative seat of Toowoomba South, which has sat with the party for decades, winning a staggering 55 percent of first preferences.
Labor’s Susan Krause is currently polling second with just under 25 percent.
Speaking while casting his vote in Toowoomba, Mr Janetzki said he believed he was ready to be handed the keys to the state’s coffers should the LNP form government - which is what has been projected by Sky News.
“If Queensland does vote for a fresh start it would be an extraordinary honour to represent west of the divide,” he said.
“I’m a sixth generation Darling Downs boy so it would be an extraordinary honour if I get that privilege to help bring back some fiscal discipline to the budget, but also to look ahead to an extraordinary future of promise whether it be agriculture or resources. “We’ve got so much to offer in Queensland and our region in particular.
“I’m a pretty parochial kind of guy. I reckon our region can be right at the forefront of our future prosperity.”
Mr Janetzki also appeared on the ABC's election panel, where he slammed Labor's attacks around abortion as "one of the most dishonest campaigns in Queensland political history".
While the LNP cleaned up regionally, its lack of inroads into Brisbane means it is only a slim chance of a majority, though all election experts expect it to have more seats than Labor and will form government.
'A REAL HONOUR': WATTS TURNS TOOWOOMBA NORTH INTO SAFE SEAT
His city colleague Trevor Watts has become the most successful member in the history of Toowoomba North after cruising to victory on Saturday night.
His strong showing (58 per cent of primary vote) over Labor candidate James Green means a fifth-consecutive electoral win for the former publican.
The result is significant considering the area’s history as a swing seat, having been held by Labor from 2001 to 2012.
Even in the wipeout of 2012, the former publican needed preferences to win, yet in 2024 he is on track for a 2PP margin of 16 percent.
His first preference vote is second only to his colleague Pat Weir (Condamine), who is polling at nearly 60 per cent of the primary vote.
Speaking at his election party at the Royal Hotel on Saturday night, Mr Watts said he wouldn't let Toowoomba North down.
"I really appreciate the people of Toowoomba North coming out, showing their support for myself," he said.
"It's a real honour and a privilege and to be returned again, the constituents have spoken and I will not let them down."
LNP CLEANS UP IN SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
Condamine MP Pat Weir has also cruised to victory in the safe conservative seat, which occupies parts of southwest Toowoomba and stretches out to east of Dalby.
Mr Weir said he was itching to be part of a government for the first time in his political career, after securing 60 percent of early first preferences.
“I’d like to think that will get us five to six seats to spare, and then the hard work starts,” he said.
To the east, Lockyer MP and former police officer Jim McDonald won a third-successive election for the LNP after polling at 53 per cent.
James Lister has also done enough to win the conservative heartland seat of Southern Downs, which covers a massive parcel of land to the border of New South Wales and includes towns like Warwick, Stanthorpe and Goondiwindi.
Mr Lister is just the second MP in the electorate’s history, having been held by now-Goondiwindi mayor Lawrence Springborg between 2001 and 2017.
Further to the west, Ann Leahy has also retaken Warrego for the LNP after polling nearly 61 per cent on first preferences.
The electorate, easily one of the largest in the state by land size, covers basically the entire southwest corner of Queensland to the border of South Australia.
Jon Krause’s victory in Scenic Rim, which covers much of the area inland from the Gold Coast and features towns like Beaudesert and Harrisville, completed the clean sweep of the southern Queensland for the Liberal-Nationals.
All seats were called by Sky News before 7.30pm.
Follow The Chronicle's live blog below:
Originally published as Qld election 2024: LNP sweeps Toowoomba North, Toowoomba South, Condamine, Warrego, Southern Downs, Lockyer, Scenic Rim
Tiny baby’s death: Questions new Child Safety Minister won’t answer
Queensland’s new Child Safety Minister will not commit to a review and has dodged questions about the shocking death of a two-month-old girl, born to an at-risk teen and at the home of long-term foster carers when ambulances were called.
Teen left with head injuries after ‘large’ brawl at Burleigh
A brawl involving a large group of teenagers at Burleigh Heads has left a boy in hospital and two others with injuries. Read what happened.