LNP slowly gaining confidence in Currumbin but result weeks away
EXPERIENCED political campaigners predict it will be another 10 days before a result is known in the Currumbin byelection, but with each day the LNP is confident it can retain the seat.
After 67 per cent of the preliminary count was completed yesterday, the LNP’s Laura Gerber had 43.86 per cent of the vote, ahead of Labor’s Kaylee Campradt’s 38.56 per cent.
The Greens Sally Spain had polled 10.86 per cent, and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation candidate had received 6.9 per cent of the vote. A by-election was called after the resignation of long-serving LNP MP Jann Stuckey.
Recent polls show up to 70 per cent of Greens preferences go to Labor, while the One Nation vote tends to be split and hurts the LNP more than Labor.
Poll analysts predict the
LNP will win but see its vote dropping by up to three per cent while Labor will pick up by two per cent.
The Opposition’s use of placards that targeted Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Treasurer Jackie Trad at Saturday’s booth is expected to help the LNP vote.
“The LNP’s anti-Palaszczuk corflutes for forcing people to vote on election day got some traction on the day as messaging about the virus was peaking,” a Currumbin political observer said.
The LNP maintains leader Deb Frecklington received strong positive feedback in the electorate which was the reason for her making so many appearances with Ms Gerber.
“Everybody knows that Jackie Trad and her anti-jobs and anti-Gold Coast agenda runs the Palaszczuk Government and the Premier is just a figurehead,” an LNP spokesman told the Bulletin.
“A massive swing against the Government in Labor heartland of Bundamba shows that Labor is not working for Queensland.”
Some LNP supporters believe the party was not facing a normal by-election in which the Opposition can expect a swing of up to 5 per cent against the sitting government.
LNP strategists suggest the party will win by more than 1 per cent but a result will not be known for up to two weeks.