Queensland state election 2024: Everything you need to know about October 26 polling day
Welcome to live coverage of the state election day 2024. Polls have closed across the state and counting has begun. LIVE AND FREE
Gold Coast
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Welcome to live coverage of the state election day 2024. The Gold Coast has 11 seats in play which will determine who the next premier is.
FULL LIST OF GOLD COAST CANDIDATES
WHERE TO VOTE – EVERY GC BOOTH
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7pm
Labor Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon has taken a strong early lead in the critical Gold Coast seat of Gaven - as the first Gold Coast seats get called for the LNP.
Surfers Paradise has been claimed - as expected - by LNP incumbent and veteran John-Paul Langbroek. Meanwhile, Burleigh has a new representative, first-term state MP Hermann Vorster, a former Gold Coast city councillor. He looks on track to well extend the former margin of retiring LNP MP Michael Hart.
LNP Member for Currumbin and Youth Justice spokeswoman Laura Gerber is also celebrating retaining her seat: “We have worked so hard, my team and I have not stopped these last four years to advocate for our community in relation to Labor’s crime crisis, housing crisis, cost of living crisis and of course the cost of living crisis,” she told ABC news.
“I’m so grateful that I’ve been returned because I love my job and I love representing the people of Currumbin.”
Just on 8pm, Ms Scanlon in Gaven had secured 43.83 per cent of the vote.
The LNP’s candidate Bianca Stone had 34.25 per cent of the vote, with more than 6000 votes counted.
Ms Scanlon, who recorded a 47.4 per cent primary vote in 2020, was polling strongly ahead of main rival Ms Stone in some booths, party insiders say.
At a smaller Nerang booth, Ms Scanlon has recorded 179 votes which compares to 100 votes for Ms Stone, an ALP source said.
The two-term Labor MP is facing off against Ms Stone, a former television reporter turned LNP candidate, in a seat which Opposition Leader David Crisafulli described on Saturday morning as “pivotal” to his ambitions to lead the state.
Ms Scanlon, who held Gaven with a 7.8 per cent margin before the election, is the city’s sole Labor MP and has long been regarded as a future leader for the party.
Ms Scanlon, speaking before polls closed, said she had received strong support from voters.
“It’s been really positive today. We done a lot of work in Pacific Pines with our local schools, delivering the On Demand transport service, it’s been great to see so many people I recognise,” she said.
Labor directed virtually all of its Gold Coast campaign resources at sandbagging the seat in an attempt to save it.
Premier Steven Miles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese both visited the seat to campaign with her during the campaign, while Mr Crisafulli made several stops in Gaven, including beginning Saturday there, where he cooked the LNP volunteers breakfast
Speaking at William Duncan Primary School, Mr Crisafulli talked up the seat’s importance to the LNP.
“Swings are never uniform and I look at an area like Gaven and I see a whole lot of aspirational people who deserve better,” he said.
Meanwhile early voters across the city strongly backed the incumbent LNP MPs, with the conservatives already controlling 10 of the 11 seats.
Mr Crisafulli is ahead in his own seat of Broadwater, which takes in the well-heeled areas of Paradise Point, Hope Island and the Sovereign Islands.
LNP young gun Hermann Vorster, a former long-term city councillor, appeared on track to succeed retiring MP Michael Hart in Burleigh - and increase his margin.
In Burleigh, scrutineers say Mr Vorster will become the seat’s next MP.
At one booth at Varsity Lakes, the former councillor has received a swing of more than 11 per cent.
Mr Vorster, a former councillor, is on course to become a State MP with just more than 45 per cent of the vote, after over 2000 votes were counted in Burleigh by 7pm.
This compares to retiring sitting member Michael Hart’s primary vote of 39 per cent in 2020.
First-termer Laura Gerber was claiming Queensland’s southernmost seat, the ultra-marginal Currumbin, by 7.30pm with nearly 44 per cent of the vote, ahead of nearest rival Nathan Fleur, of Labor, on 26.19 per cent after more than 9000 votes were counted.
Further north, long-term incumbent Ros Bates in Mudgeeraba, Mark Boothman in Theodore and Sam O’Connor in Bonney were all ahead in their safe seats.
Though early counting shows LNP in Theodore, the neighbouring seat to Gaven, has slightly dropped. Mr Boothman, after almost 1000 votes were counted just before 7pm, had just more than 40 per cent of the vote. This compares to about 44 per cent in the 2020 poll.
No numbers have yet been lodged in Mermaid Beach held by long-time MP and former Gold Coast mayor Ray Stevens or Coomera, held by Michael Crandon
Southport’s MP Rob Molhoek is ahead, though early numbers show a strong showing from Labor candidate Letitia Del Fabbro.
6pm
Polls have now closed across Queensland and counting has begun.
Expect the first results to begin flowing it by 7pm.
4.15pm
Campaign workers have begun packing up at Gold Coast booths including the pivotal seat of Gaven.
One Nation volunteers have taken down their tarps at the Pacific Pine booth in Gaven.
Voters continued to arrive in the past hour, but were few in numbers.
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon left her Nerang booth to attend the much larger Pacific Pines booth.
Councillor Brooke Patterson was handing out for the LNP’s Bianca Stone.
2.30pm
Youth crime, development and cost-of-living are the main agendas seemingly influencing Palm Beach voters.
A local voter at the Palm Beach Currumbin school booth claimed the night before on election eve to have witnessed a shocking act of vandalism on a bus stop outside her home.
The teacher of 45 years said she was disgusted by the damage she came across early this morning.
“It was too scary to come out and confront them,” she said.
“There was blood everywhere this morning. They smashed all the glass. I even heard one of them say, ‘you need stitches, you’re bleeding’ at one point.”
The Palm Beach resident of 34 years said her vote was based on wanting more action in fighting youth crime - voting LNP because she thinks they’ll “do a better job”.
“I’ve been a teacher for 45 years. I’ve seen the change in students and I’m glad I’m not in that game anymore,” she said.
“I do think parents need to be stung somewhere as well. We had incredible discipline growing up - we knew how to be dignified.”
Palm Beach couple Chris and Greg Johnston voted youth crime, development and cost-of-living as their main properties on election day.
When asked about the light rail stage 4 extension the former Sydney-siders said they were in two minds.
“We’re really close to where it will go,” Greg said.
“It’s good for development but not for traffic and not the environment.”
A former teacher and long-term resident said she was against the light rail in Palm Beach, suggesting buses a preferable option.
“I’m a lover of buses - if they put the money into electric buses, a lane for that and enough staff that will be very flexible,” she said.
The ex-teacher said the light rail was “inflexible” and difficult for seniors due to its limited stops.
“At the moment there’s 18 bus stops between Broadbeach and Burleigh and there’s going to be only eight tram stops,” she said.
“Where do the tram-goers park? How far have they got to walk to get the tram? The infrastructure for the light rail is ugly and I feel as if they are doing it for another purpose.”
The resident said it will detract from the beauty of old Palm Beach, with too much change in the area “not for the good”.
Voters agreed all candidates need to be more transparent - with questions being asked to both major parties going “unanswered”.
2.15pm
Voter numbers this election day are down compared to previous years, according to volunteers, with many polling-booths boasting more volunteers than voters.
Volunteers across the Burleigh electorate said Saturday voting numbers were down by roughly 40 per cent from previous years - with many constituents casting their votes early.
“Monday pre-poll was very busy,” one volunteer at Palm Beach State School said.
“I’ve been working this booth in previous elections and compared to last time I was here numbers are down at least 40 per cent.”
Voters said they were shocked to see how “flat” polling booths were on voting day Saturday.
“You used to dress up to vote,” Chris Johnston said.
“Now you can pop over from the beach and be in and out.”
Another volunteer cited pre-polling as a new “trend” moving forward.
“It’s a matter of convenience and lifestyle changes,” they said.
“I travel for work and voting in the pre-polls is just easier. I think this is the trend going forward.”
The “trend” tracks with two thirds of Burleigh having voted in pre-polling.
2pm
First time voter Ethan Callaghan said his putting pencil to paper this state election was “a bit of a thrill”.
The 18-year-old Palm Beach local said he made his decision based on who “put the most effort” into their campaign.
“I think my vote could make a change and help someone out so hopefully it goes good,” he said.
The young LNP voter said the housing market was high on his agenda this election.
“I’m looking to buy a house and (LNP Burleigh candidate) Hermann Vorster said he could help me - so I voted for him,” he said.
1.45pm
Fadden MP Cameron Caldwell says he is confident about the LNP gaining ground in the closely-contested northern Gold Coast seat of Gaven.
Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon, the Housing Minister, holds the seat with a 7.8 per cent margin.
Mr Caldwell was handing out how-to-vote cards with his wife Lauren at the Pacific Pines State School booth throughout the morning, the pair standing about 30 metres away from the Minister.
“I worked this booth in 2020 and there has been a significant shift I can detect as people are coming in,” he said.
“It’s going to be a very close race. I think there’s probably being going to be a requirement to see where the preferences end up.
“There’s definitely been a shift I can detect. People I think are ready for a change. There are a lot of people who are not taking how to vote cards.
“They’ve already I think made up their minds. A lot of the white noise of the campaign doesn’t necessarily cut through.
“In these parts of the Gold Coast, crime and cost of living are still far outstripping anything else as concerns for the community.”
1pm
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor says he is focused on winning his Gold Coast seat not a possible ministry in a Crisafulli Government - as he raced to help in the Battle for Gaven.
While he was based this morning at Labrador and at Arundel in his electorate, in the afternoon he had moved to Pacific Pines to help LNP candidate Bianca Stone fight for the seat of Gaven.
The LNP needs to win Gaven, which Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon holds with a 7.8 per cent margin, to gain the government benches.
He believes many people voted early “because they knew what they were doing”.
Asked about why he was headed to Gaven, he said: “It’s a very important area for us, that goes without saying. Pacific Pines is the closest boundary to mine.”
Mr O’Connor talked down the possibility he could become an Environment Minister in an LNP Government. He is the shadow spokesperson.
“I’m just focused on winning my seat again. My first election took over a week to get a clear result, and I never take it for granted. We need to make sure we are hustling for every vote.
“Gaven is going to be really important if we achieve government, it’s going to be close out there, we are going to be fighting for every vote.”
12.30pm
LNP strategists say they are worried about the impact of Labor’s social media campaign on younger voters, with reports of a surge of support to the incumbent government.
Labor has ramped up its social media marketing in recent years, bombarding X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and TikTok in the past week, with much of their focus on the LNP’s stance on abortion and whether it would be recriminialised.
One young voter told the Bulletin that Labor’s aggressive social media strategy had been paying dividends.
“As a first-time voter, a lot of my friends are going towards Labor and that’s because of their social media
“The Liberals are being eaten alive online, especially with the stuff about abortion coming out.
“That’s definitely been the biggest thing about why they are going to vote Labor
“It can’t scroll on any kind social media without getting a Labor ad every few posts and the Liberals just haven’t had that, so a lot of people my age are going with Labor.”
11.30am
The boots were off for Burleigh LNP candidate Herman Vorster as he held up his worn RM Williams at the Share and Care community centre polling booth in Palm Beach.
“A lot of politicians talk about wearing out their shoe leather and I was determined to do just that,” he said.
On his third pair in the last 52 weeks the former councillor turned state candidate said he was happy to hit the ground running during the vigorous campaign.
“This is my third pair I’ve worn out. I love them and I can’t wait to get them resoled because hopefully I’m in a position to walk into parliament with them.”
Rocking his bright avocado toast socks, the candidate said he was “emotional” coming into election day.
“This campaign started 52 works ago and just started out with myself,” he said.
“Since then we’ve built a small army of community members who are really invested in a change of government. This moment I feel an awesome sense of responsibility to make sure we get that over the line – our volunteers and our community are counting on it.”
“Our volunteers we’ve accumulated are people who have had struggled with the government, people who have had bad experiences with Queensland Health who want to be part of changing it, people who have been homeless and sleeping in their cars and wanting to make sure the same fate doesn’t befall anyone else. That has been different for me because I’ve never had that and it gives you a sense of awesome responsibility to make sure their efforts end up with the right result.”
Volunteer Rita Fellows said the campaign period had been the “happiest in her entire life” using TikTok, dancing and social media prowess to help push Vorsters campaign to younger voters.
“I cannot express the feeling (social media as a campaign platform) the feeling is beyond words. I’m the dancer on the road side who has made TikTok with a Gold Coast influencer and it has worked – people are coming out saying we’re voting for you because it (social media) does work,” she said.
Neighbouring LNP candidate and MP Laura Gerber cast her vote in high spirits at Currumbin State School.
Having donated towards the school’s PNC to throw a sausage sizzle for voters, the words on lips on election morning were “democracy sausage”.
Both Gerber and Vorster said the iconic BBQ on Election Day was an Australian institution.
Mr Vorster added: “If we can lean into it and if it can encourage more people to come out and vote I think that’s a great thing.
No Labor candidates were at either polling booth the bulletin visited.
10am
Voters have poured into polling booths across the city, though political insides are reporting wildly different experiences in different locations.
At the Palm Beach Currumbin High School booth there was chaotic scenes with marketgoers clashing with voters.
Meanwhile, one minor party candidate set up at the wrong entrance to the school and was forced to relocate.
Further north, some of the city’s polling booths are reportedly far more quiet than previous election days.
Insiders suggest it is the result of increasing pre-poll voting.
9.10am
The man tipped to be the next Premier David Crisafulli and his LNP candidate in the
pivotal seat of Gaven have had a fiery election morning clash – with one of their own voters.
The pair, on the tools cooking up a BBQ at the William Duncan Primary School booth, got a
grilling themselves from voter Vicki Campbell – who later admitted she was all for the Liberals.
8.45AM
David Crisafulli says the Gold Coast seat of Gaven is “pivotal” to the LNP winning government.
Speaking on the Gold Coast before leaving to travel to Brisbane to vote, Mr Crisafulli said
“Swings are never uniform and I look at an area like gave and I see a whole lot of aspirational people who deserve better,” he said
8AM POLLS ARE OPEN
Polls are officially open on election day 2024. LNP Opposition Leader David Crisafulli was in Gaven meeting with candidate Bianca Stone hoping to win over undecided voters in the must-win seat.
A streaming of people moved through the booth quickly, with most not taking how-to-vote cards from candidates and volunteers.
Mr Crisafulli told voters: “Vote for a fresh start, Queensland needs change.”
7AM: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Labor and the LNP have sent final clear messages at the booths at voters as they start to vote at 8am in the State poll.
The ALP’s signage is directed at Opposition leader David Crisafulli warning voters to “cut Crisafulli before he cuts you”.
Their argument is the LNP in Opposition will repeat the Campbell Newman era and remove health workers, cut hospitals and jobs for unfunded promises.
The LNP, by comparison is promoting their candidates, like Bianca Stone in Gaven, saying they will be “tough on crime”, employ more police and will “axe Labor’s patients’ tax”.
At Pacific Pines, in the major booth where Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon will fight to save her seat on a 7.8 per cent margin, LNP booth workers arrived at 4.30am.
What is different about this State poll will be the restrictions on signage.
Booth workers say they are limited to about half a dozen signs.
“You have to be careful with the (political) real estate,” a booth worker said.
Further south at Burleigh, LNP candidate Hermann Vorster and his volunteers arrived before Labor.
They had chosen the pick of the spots to put up signage.
An LNP insider said: “Hermann’s campaign has been boosted by community workers, involving themselves in politics for the first time, injecting a significant grassroots energy.”
Meanwhile, both Labor and LNP volunteers were out early at Southport Community Centre with plenty of signage from both camps.
Mr Crisafulli began the day in the knife-edge seat of Gaven where he cooked a barbecue with LNP volunteers and the party’s candidate for the seat, Bianca Stone, at Nerang’s Bischoff Park.
THE SURPRISE KEY CANDIDATE
Meet the candidate who could determine the outcome of the Gold Coast election.
Greens leader Sally Spain has been alone for the past two weeks at prepoll at Pacific Pines where she has told each voter arriving that she would be “preferencing Meaghan Scanlon”.
Gaven is held by Ms Scanlon, Labor’s Housing Minister on a 7.8 per cent margin. It’s considered one of Queensland’s most important seats.
Opposition leader David Crisafulli needs to win it, to ensure it secure Government. Labor needs to hold, to have any chance of surviving. The swing against Labor could be eight per cent.
Ms Spain is standing because she wants the environment to get as high priority as crime.
“The environment should play an important role, and that’s what we’re saying,” she says.
She estimates “1.2 million hectares in Queensland were broadscale cleared and 45 million species were lost” during the Campbell Newman LNP Government.
“These are figures impossible to comprehend,” she said.
Ms Spain understands the focus on juvenile crime “but this should not be a one issue election”.
“One issue should not govern the whole state. The State has many issues. Some people will regret they didn’t look further into wider policies,” she said.
“Meaghan Scanlon is an excellent local candidate. We’ve had some wins in general Queensland politics to the Left in terms of animal rights, in terms of environmental heritage and transparency on election campaigns and who donates to it.
“The LNP seems fixed on one issue. One issue does not make an election make.”
For a full list of candidates, see the Bulletin’s special guide.
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Originally published as Queensland state election 2024: Everything you need to know about October 26 polling day
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