Australia Federal election: Race for the Gold Coast seat of Fadden
Former city councillor turned LNP’s Fadden MP Cameron Caldwell tempered expectations of a Coalition victory after voting on Saturday before the count began. FOLLOW THE RESULTS
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Gold Coast City councillor turned LNP Federal MP Cameron Caldwell tempered expectations of a Coalition overall win before a vote had even been counted.
Mr Caldwell forecast an “uphill battle” for the Coalition after voting in his Gold Coast seat of Fadden at Paradise Point on Saturday morning.
At deadline Mr Caldwell was leading Labor candidate Letitia del Fabbro on a two-party preferred basis, and facing a swing against him.
Mr Caldwell has held the northern Gold Coast seat extending from Labrador to the Logan River since a 2023 by-election after the resignation of controversy-prone LNP predecessor Stuart Robert.
Mr Caldwell who won that by-election in 2023 with a 10.6 per cent margin on a two-party-preferred basis said after voting: “It was always going to be an uphill battle to win from Opposition after one term.
“(But) I feel confident the message we have been sending to the Australian people that there is a different and better way to govern Australia is resonating.
“There is a mood for change to get Australia back on track.”
Nearing 11pm he was leading Fadden on a two-party preferred basis with 57.93 per cent of the vote with Ms Del Fabbro on 42.07 per cent.
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Fadden which includes coastal suburbs from Labrador to Hope Island, as well as the inland suburbs of Gaven, Coomera, Helensvale, Oxenford, Arundel and Pacific Pines plus part of Ormeau and Pimpama, as well as Jacobs Well and Steiglitz further east, covers 387 square kilometres.
Mr Caldwell faced eight challengers - Dennis Pukallus (Citizens Party), Letitia Del Fabbro (Australian Labor Party), Nick Muir (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation), Nathan O’Brien (Trumpet of Patriots), Stewart Brooker (Independent),Andrew Stimson (The Greens), Patricia Martin (Family First) and John Armfield (Gerard Rennick People First).
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Originally published as Australia Federal election: Race for the Gold Coast seat of Fadden
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