The LNP have secured the majority of votes to retain their seat of power in the Fadden electorate, months after the opposition was dealt a giant blow when it lost the Aston by-election.
The LNP candidate and Gold Coast City councillor, Cameron Caldwell, is likely to claim the majority of votes and become the next Fadden MP.
Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli said the LNP win indicates just how much the sunshine state wants change.
The LNP candidate and Gold Coast City councillor, Cameron Caldwell, is likely to claim the majority of votes and become the next Fadden MP (pictured with his wife Lauren)
The Liberal National Party have secured the majority of votes to retain their seat of power in the Fadden electorate (pictured is LNP candidate Cameron Caldwell and his wife Laura)
‘Earlier this week a Labor senator said that this by election would be an indication of how the LNP is going in Queensland,’ Mr Crisafulli said.
‘In Cameron Caldwell, half his adult life has been devoted to this community.
‘And at a time when Queenslanders are hurting cost of living and housing prices, the youth crime crisis, the health and hospital crisis, Queenslanders have never felt more let down by brand Labor and I spoke loudly.
‘But there is a fourth element never have Australians now needed calm and considered and stable leadership more than at this time and in the period and in a period of uncertainty they will look to someone whose equities fit with the challenges that lie ahead of them.
‘And today is the first step in the journey to ensuring that Peter Dutton becomes Prime Minister.’
Labor candidate Letitia Del Fabbro conceeded to Mr Caldwell shortly before 8pm on Saturday, calling him to congratulate him on becoming the new member for Fadden.
‘We knew this would be an uphill battle, it has sent an important message to the LNP to not take the Gold Coast for granted,’ Ms Del Fabbro said.
‘I think we can build on this experience to build Labor on the Gold Coast.’
Labor candidate Letitia Del Fabbro (pictured) conceeded to Mr Caldwell shortly before 8pm on Saturday, calling him to congratulate him on becoming the new member for Fadden
Labor’s Letitia Del Fabbro casts her ballot at Arundel State School during polling day for the by-election in the federal Queensland seat of Fadden on Saturday
Sky News political analyst Tom Connell called the LNP win about 7.30pm on Saturday, as the party sees a 3.44 per cent swing towards Mr Caldwell in a two candidate preferred projection.
LNP MP Karen Andrews told Sky News she was surprised seeing a swing towards her party.
‘I didn’t think there would be a swing to LNP,’ Ms Andrews said.
‘I thought we would lose the margin on primary, given we have a popular prime minster who is polling higher now than he did at the election.
‘I think it’s been a solid result to the LNP.’
‘We knew this would be an uphill battle, it has sent an important message to the LNP to not take the Gold Coast for granted,’ Ms Del Fabbro said after conceding defeat to Mr Caldwell
Treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured) supported Ms Del Fabbro during polling day on Saturday
Agricultural minister Murray Watt said it looks like the ALP vote is stable.
‘It’s a fairly small swing to LNP… and a very small swing against the government,’ Mr Watt told Sky News.
‘I’m pretty okay with that result. It’s very solid LNP seat, we’re not going to be arrogant about this.
‘I think we know we still have work to do on cost of living and we have intentions to do that.’
ABC also confirmed the LNP are projected to win about 7.50pm.
Mr Caldwell was up against Labor’s Letitia Del Fabbro, Greens candidate Scott Turner and Sandy Roach of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party.
Mr Caldwell (pictured with his pregnant wife Laura) was up against Labor’s Letitia Del Fabbro, Greens candidate Scott Turner and Sandy Roach of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party
The win will come as some relief to LNP supporters after the party sensationally lost its once considered safe seat of Aston, after Labor’s historical victory in March
The LNP had maintained a margin of 10.63 per cent on the two-party preferred count at the last election in 2022.
But when former Coalition minister Stuart Robert quit federal parliament in May, the by-election for the seat of Fadden, of Queensland’s northern Gold Coast, was triggered.
Mr Robert had said his 16 years in politics ‘has not been a smooth ride’.
The win will come as some relief to LNP supporters after the party sensationally lost its once considered safe seat of Aston, after Labor’s historical victory in March.
Labor’s win with Mary Doyle was the first time in a century a sitting government had claimed a seat from the opposition in a by-election.
The AEC recorded there were 131,340 eligible electors enrolled at the close of the electoral rolls for the Fadden by-election on June 19.
It’s expected Mr Caldwell will now resign from Gold Coast City Council, where he has been a councillor for more than a decade.
The city’s planning boss will most likely be replaced by Council because the next local government election is less than 12 months away, meaning no by-election in his division is required.
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