Bonney recount on the cards

THE knife-edge battle in the new Gold Coast seat of Bonney will last for days, come down to a few hundred votes and may spark a recount.

Labor’s Rowan Holzberger had a slight lead overnight on Saturday but after counting started yesterday his rival LNP candidate Sam O’Connor edged in front.

Mr O’Connor late yesterday was leading by 275 votes and on a two-party preferred count had 50.77 per cent of the vote.

Scrutineers for Mr Holzberger have been stunned by the ALP’s poor showing in the working-class area of Labrador.

The Queensland Electoral Commission booth breakdowns for Bonney show the LNP has 40.6 per cent of the vote at Labrador, compared to 36.44 per cent for Mr Holzberger.

“There’s a few concerns there,” a Labor campaign insider said. “It just doesn’t add up. It’s (an) unusual vote for Labrador.”

At the same booth just two years ago, Mr Holzberger polled 42 per cent of the vote, which shows Labor’s popularity has decreased by six per cent in a suburb where it should have majority support.

Mr O’Connor worked at a sports club in the area during the campaign and promised a police beat if elected to office.

While the young LNP candidate was upbeat yesterday and conducted a media briefing, Mr Holzberger went to ground.

Postal votes were counted for the first time yesterday which gave more confidence to the LNP camp.

After more than 1000 votes were counted, Mr O’Connor on a two-party preferred count had almost 58 per cent of the vote.

QEC staff are expected to count the pre-poll from the neighbouring Broadwater booth and again it is likely to favour Mr O’Connor with voters living in the wealthier canal estates.

In the neighbouring seat of Gaven, Labor was buoyed by results from the continuing count with Meaghan Scanlon, on a two-party preferred vote, ahead by 462 votes.

On a two-party preferred count, Miss Scanlon has 51.1 per cent of the vote. LNP MP Sid Cramp is trailing on 48.9 per cent.

This places the young Labor lawyer 462 votes ahead. Mr Cramp beat Labor’s Michael Riordan in 2015 by just 912 votes.

Party insiders predict the counting in Bonney will continue for at least three days.