Federal election: The race for McPherson as Australia votes

The battle for McPherson was tipped to be the tightest of the LNP stronghold Gold Coast seats - and it did not disappoint. FOLLOW THE VOTE

The Gold Coast southern Federal seat McPherson was tipped to be the closest of the tourism capital battles and didn’t disappoint during Saturday’s vote count.

The seat’s race leader on a two-party preferred basis swung back and forth like a yoyo on election night.

LNP newcomer Leon Rebello, hoping to take over from where exiting LNP veteran Karen Andrews left off, was neck and neck with Labor’s Alice Price at times - and he said on Saturday night late in the evening it was too early to know if he would be elected to parliament for the first time.

Both held slim advantages at times early in the count on a two-party preferred basis. Eventually, as more votes were counted, Mr Rebello’s lead pulled away and by deadline on a two-party preferred basis he was at 54.89 per cent versus Labor’s Alice Price on 45.11.

Mr Rebello said on the night “we are not taking anything for granted until it is called”.

“(But) I am hopeful we will know tonight but we will wait and see.”

After it became clear Labor had won the election and restored Anthony Albanese as Prime Minister, Mr Rebello delivered a message to his supporters at the Tallebudgera Surf Life Saving Club amid the Coalition’s disastrous result saying: “There is hope”.

Leon Rebello at Tallebudgera SLSC with his supporters on Saturday night. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Mr Rebello thanked supporters for their efforts but was still to claim victory in the southern Gold Coast seat near 10pm.

Mr Rebello spoke just before 9.30pm as television broadcasts showed newly returned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his way to speak at Labor headquarters, delivering a simple message to a thinning crowd of supporters which had started at about 100 at Tallebudgera Surf Life Saving Club.

“While we are still waiting on the results, there is hope,” he said.

“The night is young and we are still waiting on final results. We are all optimistic and hoping for the best.”

A who’s-who of conservative politics on the southern Gold Coast attended, including state MPs Ros Bates, Hermann Vorster and Laura Gerber, former state MPs Jann Stuckey and Michael Hart and Robina councillor Dan Doran.

At 9.33pm, as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton gave his concession speech, one LNP supporter wearing a curly blue wig yelled at the screen.

“There’s potato head. We still love you Dutton, you potato,” he said.

Supporters at LNP newcomer Leon Rebello's election night party for the southern seat of McPherson. Picture: Andrew Potts

Mr Rebello, expected to face a stern challenge in his seat which included Climate-200 backed Erchana Murray-Bartlett, had said on Saturday afternoon he was feeling “very optimistic” and encouraged by the “mood on the ground”.

ALP Candidate Alice Price makes a last minute dash on voting day. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Rebello said after voting: “It’s exciting to come to the end of what’s been a very long process but enjoyable process. I stopped my job and have been out in the community for 12 months.

“What people are telling me on the ground at polling booths is the LNP has been able to provide for this seat, to provide the generational infrastructure. Karen Andrews brought in over $2 billion worth of federal investment.

“At pre-poll the past two weeks the mood has been very encouraging.

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Leon Rebello (behind) and Erchana Murray-Bartlett campaigning at Tugun Village Community Centre on Saturday. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I’ve come from the private sector, studied around the world and bring a depth of experience.”

Ms Murray-Bartlett said on Saturday morning: “There’s a big appetite here for change on the Gold Coast. People are realising we are being taken for granted here and there is no benefit to being a safe seat, and people are looking to see that change.”

Whatever the count, McPherson was always going to get a new Member after Ms Andrews - who won it in 2010 and retained it at the 2022 election with a 9.3 per cent margin on two-party-preferred basis - exited politics.

Erchana Murray-Bartlett at Robina State School. Picture: Nigel Hallett

McPherson, spanning 229 square kilometres, extends from the NSW border to Burleigh Heads, and extends inland west of the Pacific Highway to Robina and Merrimac. Major centres include Coolangatta, Robina, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Tugun and the rural Tallebudgera Valley.

There are 12 candidates for McPherson including (in ballot paper order) Erchana Murray-Bartlett (Independent), Leon Rebello(LNP), Faye Michelle (Independent), Max Creswick (Trumpet of Patriots), Jennifer Horsburgh (Animal Justice Party), Amanda Kenneally (Greens), Zyion Attig (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation), Gary Biggs (Libetarian), Jeff Knipe (Legalise Cannabis Party),Alice Price (Australian Labor Party), Harry Hatzikalimnios (Gerard Rennick People First), Neena Tester (Family First).

LNP McPherson candidate Leon Rebello with State MP for Currumbin Laura Gerber at Tugun Village Community Centre. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Originally published as Federal election: The race for McPherson as Australia votes