Five Queensland seats in doubt as ballot count continues

The political future of two former Labor ministers remains uncertain as the electoral race in a several Queensland seats runs red hot.

LNP candidate Bianca Stone (left) and Labor MP Meaghan Scanlon at a Nerang polling centre on Friday. Picture: Richard Gosling.

The political future of two former Labor ministers remains uncertain as the electoral race in several Queensland seats runs red hot.

Analysis by The Australian suggests five of the 93 electorates remain too close to call, with two-thirds of the vote counted.

Former Labor ministers Meaghan Scanlon and Bart Mellish are at risk of losing their respective seats of Gaven and Aspley, while the outgoing government may also lose its grip on Macalister and Maryborough. The Katter Australia Party was slightly ahead of the Liberal National Party on preferences in the regional seat of Mirani.

On the primary vote, there was a 6 per cent swing to the LNP and 6.9 per cent against Labor. That resulted in LNP so far collecting 51 seats, Labor 32, KAP retaining three seats and Independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton being re-elected. The Greens managed to fall across the line in Maiwar.

LNP candidate Amanda Cooper handing out how to vote cards with premier-elect David Crisafulli during the campaign as Labor Minister Bart Mellish watches on. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms Scanlon, who held the housing, local government and planning portfolio in the previous government, is in a close contest with former television journalist Bianca Stone to secure the northern Gold Coast seat of Gaven. With two-thirds of the vote counted, Ms Scanlon leads with 42.2 per cent of the vote to Ms Stone’s 39.3 per cent, but has only pulled ahead with 51.1 per cent of the vote on preferences.

If Ms Scanlon misses out on a third term in government, Labor would lose its only foothold on the Gold Coast.

LNP candidate and former Brisbane City councillor Amanda Cooper is on track to defeat former Labor transport minister Bart Mellish in the northern Brisbane seat of Aspley, with a 1.3 percentage point lead on a three-quarter count of ballots.

Labor MP Melissa McMahon edged ahead of the LNP in the Logan electorate of Macalister, despite an 8.2 per cent seat swing against the previous government. She has pulled ahead on 51.3 per cent of the vote with preferences.

Premier Steven Miles visits the Downer in Maryborough on the election trail with MP Bruce Saunders and Shannon Fentiman. Pics Adam Head

Maryborough was one of regional electorates, positioned west of Hervey Bay, that outgoing premier Steven Miles visited in his final campaign week blitz of the state. But it may not have been enough to save nine-year MP and former assistant minister for train manufacturing, regional development and jobs, Bruce Saunders, who trailed LNP candidate John Barounis in the industry-heavy region. Mr Saunders was on track to lose 48.6 per cent to 51.4 per cent on preferences with 70 per cent of the ballots counted.

Mr Miles said Labor needed to regroup and reconnect with regional voters.

“We have elected more MPs than we thought we would, and it is a result of that strong campaign,” Mr Miles said.

A single percentage point sat between Mirani MP Stephen Andrew and LNP candidate Glen Kelly in the central Queensland seat, which sits between Rockhampton and Mackay. Mr Andrew came into the polls with a margin of 9 per cent after being elected in 2017 for One Nation. He was disendorsed by the party in August and joined with the Katters soon after.