LNP claims narrow victory following pre poll preference vote ebb and flow

Labor’s Craig Marshall says he hit the lead at one stage as preferences ebbed and flowed.

Queensland LNP Members and candidates for the October 26, 2024 election - Donna Kirkland LNP for Rockhampton

THE LNP’s Donna Kirkland has won the seat of Rockhampton from Labor’s Craig Marshall by a margin of 1.8% following final preference counting today.

Mr Marshall had been hoping to make up ground as pre-poll, postal and absentee votes were counted this week following the election on October 26.

He said he was in front at one stage as preferences ebbed and flowed between candidates.

‘I was leading for a while (up to lunch time Wednesday) and then it went back to Donna,” he said.

“It was all over the place in the counting.”

Mr Marshall said Ms Kirkland won the pre-poll vote while he won the preference vote by a narrow margin, but it was not enough to make up the gap.

The final preference count was Ms Kirkland 51.8 per cent to Mr Marshall’s 48.2 per cent.

“We didn’t do as well as we would have liked in the pre-poll, while we did very well in the booths on election day,” Mr Marshall said.

“If the figures were replicated (from the election day vote) to the pre-poll booth we would have won the seat.”

Mr Marshall had led the election day primary vote with 30.19 per cent from Ms Kirkland on 28.56 per cent, with former mayor Margaret Strelow on 17.85 per cent.

He said he had rung Ms Kirkland and congratulated her on her victory.

Ms Kirkland has been approached for comment.

Originally published as LNP claims narrow victory following pre poll preference vote ebb and flow