LNP retains Queensland federal seat of Groom as candidate Garth Hamilton wins by-election
The LNP has had mixed swings as it retained the Queensland safe federal seat of Groom in a Saturday by-election.
The Liberal National Party has retained its safe Queensland Darling Downs federal seat of Groom after a preferred negative swing of more than four percentage points in a by-election on Saturday sparked by the sudden resignation of John McVeigh in September.
Labor candidate Chris Meibusch said he had congratulated the LNP’s Garth Hamilton on his win.
With all 56 booths reporting for the night, Mr Hamilton held 58.56 per cent of the first-preference vote, 38,451 votes, and up 5.22 percentage points on the 2019 general election amid the absence of parties including One Nation. But the LNP’s projected two-party preferred vote was down 4.18 percentage points to 66.30 per cent, a small dent in its safe majority.
Labor was projected to win 33.70 of the preferred vote, up of course 4.18 points, after 27.87 per cent of first preferences, or 18,299 votes, up 9.21 percentage points. The Greens did not stand.
Full results from the Australian Electoral Commission for the night are here.
Speaking to a crowd of Labor supporters at Toowoomba’s Trade Union Hall, Mr Meibusch said it would be the job of his volunteers to hold Mr Hamilton to account between now and the next federal election.
“I don’t think now he’ll seriously try to talk about ripping up environmental laws, or industrial relations laws,” Mr Meibusch said.
“Congratulations is due, but we will hold him to account over the next 12 months as we’re going to be battling a federal election in the next 12 months.”
Earlier, Mr Meibusch declared the COVID-19 pandemic meant voters were likely to stick with the LNP Federal Government.
Campaigners reported a quiet election day on the booths, with only a small number of voters braving Toowoomba’s heat to cast their ballot.
More than 25,400 residents voted early across the region, according to Australian Electoral Commission data.
The Sunday Mail (Qld)
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