Keep your promises
New LNP MP’s warning to Labor government
THE LNP’s Sam O’Connor has vowed to hold Labor to its election promises after being confirmed as the new MP for Bonney.
Mr O’Connor said he will put pressure on Labor to get tough on crime, deliver upgrades to Coast schools and fix the M1 traffic nightmare.
“I will be fighting for anything that will sort out our local crime rates,” Mr O’Connor told the Bulletin.
“I’ll also make sure the $900,000 in upgrades Labor promised for every local school are delivered.
“We really need to do something about the M1. I strongly believe the solution to that is a second M1 for local traffic and to upgrade the congested ramps.”
The Electoral Commission of Queensland yesterday declared Bonney, along with Coomera held by the LNP’s Michael Crandon and Gaven won by Labor’s Meaghan Scanlon.
Mr O’Connor, 26, entered his first political campaign with what was judged to be a 2.2 per cent margin favouring the LNP.
But Labor was confident with its candidate Rowan Holzberger that it would win the seat along with Gaven.
Mr O’Connor secured 11,405 votes or 43.87 per cent of the total vote on first preferences.
Mr Holzberger trailed on 9279 votes or 35.69 per cent and was unable to make up that lead once second preferences were distributed.
As counting continued this week, the second preference votes from the Greens and independent candidates could not get Mr Holzberger across the line.
After the distribution of preferences, Mr O’Connor had 51.69 per cent of the vote and Mr Holzberger obtained 48.31 per cent. He was 879 votes ahead.
The win guarantees the LNP’s ageing line-up on the Coast some fresh blood in a seat which will remain one of the State’s most marginal.
“We ran an active and visible ground campaign over the last seven months with a big focus on doorknocking,” Mr O’Connor said.
“I have strong involvement in the community and I turned up to everything I could.
“Pouring beers at the footy club certainly helped around Labrador too. Every time I worked there it was like a ‘politics in the pub’ which gave me a real sense of the things people wanted fixed.”