Labor Retains Stafford Seat in Tight Queensland By-Election
The Australian Labor Party narrowly retained the Stafford electorate in a Brisbane by-election triggered by former MP Jimmy Sullivan’s death. Despite a significant 4.1% swing toward the Liberal National Party, Labor candidate Luke Richmond defeated LNP rival Fiona Hammond. The result serves as a mixed signal: Labor maintains a traditional stronghold, while the LNP claims momentum from the substantial swing against the government. Key campaign issues included healthcare, cost of living, and crime, with both parties interpreting the tight outcome to bolster their respective political narratives ahead of future elections.
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Labor Holds Stafford Seat in By-Election Despite Significant Vote Swing
Queensland Opposition Leader Steven Miles has retained his position after Labor candidate Luke Richmond won the Stafford by-election, although the party suffered a significant decline in support. While the victory prevents immediate leadership challenges, Labor's primary vote dropped from approximately 39% to 31%, and the two-party preferred margin narrowed to just 1.2% following a 4.1% swing toward the Liberal National Party (LNP). This result highlights vulnerabilities for Labor, suggesting that if similar swings occur in the 2028 state election, key seats like Aspley and Gaven could be lost. Miles attributed the vote split to multiple left-of-centre candidates, including the Greens and Animal Justice Party. Meanwhile, the LNP expressed satisfaction with their gains in historically safe Labor territory, viewing it as crucial for expanding their Brisbane appeal. Notably, the minor party One Nation did not contest this election, leaving questions about their potential impact on future results. Internal Labor factions, including supporters of Cameron Dick and Shannon Fentiman, have publicly backed Miles, stabilizing his leadership for now despite calls for strategic changes.
Just InLabor Backs Steven Miles Despite Narrow Stafford Byelection Win
Queensland Labor leader Steven Miles retains the full support of his party room following a challenging byelection result in the Brisbane seat of Stafford. Although Labor candidate Luke Richmond secured victory through Greens preferences, the party’s primary vote fell significantly behind the Liberal National Party (LNP), trimming Labor’s margin to approximately one percent. This outcome has intensified external scrutiny on Miles’ leadership, with opposition figures like Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie declaring his position untenable. However, internal Labor factions remain united, citing the need for stability ahead of the 2028 state election and noting that low voter turnout and the absence of a One Nation candidate skewed the results. Key allies, including Cameron Dick and Shannon Fentiman, publicly reaffirmed their confidence in Miles, who stated he intends to lead the party into the next election. The result serves as a humbling reminder of Labor’s current polling struggles, with recent data showing core support at just 28 percent, yet the party leadership views the retained seat as a functional win under difficult circumstances.
The Age - Latest NewsLabor Claims Victory in Tight Stafford By-Election Despite Swing to LNP
The Australian Labor Party has claimed victory in the Queensland state by-election for the north Brisbane electorate of Stafford, with candidate Luke Richmond defeating the Liberal National Party's (LNP) Fiona Hammond. Although Labor retained the seat, which it has held nine out of ten times since 2001, the result featured a significant 4.1 percent swing against the government following preference distribution. Opposition Leader Steven Miles framed the outcome as a sign of building momentum for Labor heading toward the 2028 election. Conversely, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli expressed pride in the LNP's performance, noting that governments rarely achieve such swings in by-elections and stating the results exceeded expectations. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie criticized Miles's leadership, describing the result as disastrous for Labor despite the win, and suggesting internal party instability. The by-election was triggered by the recent death of former MP Jimmy Sullivan. Both sides interpreted the tight race differently, with Labor emphasizing the win and the LNP highlighting the substantial swing against the incumbent government.
Just InLabor Claims Narrow Victory in Stafford Byelection Despite Swing to LNP
Queensland's Labor Party has secured a narrow victory in the Stafford byelection, despite suffering a significant 4 percent swing towards the Liberal National Party (LNP). With approximately 75 percent of votes counted, Labor candidate Luke Richmond held a lead of fewer than 800 votes. Opposition Leader Steven Miles declared victory at a gathering in Kedron, acknowledging the challenging campaign circumstances and the swing against his party. Meanwhile, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli described the result as a major swing towards the government but conceded that the LNP fell short of winning the seat. The byelection was necessitated by the recent death of former MP Jimmy Sullivan, who had been serving as an independent. The outcome is seen as a mixed signal for both parties; it boosts the LNP's momentum following previous gains but allows Labor to retain a traditional stronghold. The result places continued pressure on Miles to improve Labor's polling numbers amid internal party expectations. Key figures from both sides, including cabinet ministers and union leaders, were present at respective election night events.
The Age - Latest NewsLabor Projected to Win Brisbane By-Election in Stafford
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) projects that the Labor Party is on track to win the by-election for the Queensland state electorate of Stafford, located in Brisbane's northern suburbs. Although initial counting revealed a 4.1 percent swing against Labor after preferences, analysts deem it highly unlikely that remaining postal votes will shift sufficiently to allow the Liberal National Party (LNP) to secure victory. Consequently, Luke Richmond, the former assistant secretary of Queensland Labor, is expected to become the next member for Stafford. This by-election was triggered by the death of former MP Jimmy Sullivan in April. Sullivan, who had been elected as a Labor member but was expelled from the party in May 2025, held the seat previously occupied by his father, Terry Sullivan. The Stafford electorate has historically favored Labor, with the party winning every general election there since 2001, except for the 2012 LNP landslide. This result reinforces Labor's hold on the district amidst the changing political landscape.
Top StoriesLabor Faces Knife-Edge Result in Stafford Byelection Amid Swing to LNP
Queensland's Labor opposition is facing a precarious outcome in the Stafford byelection, with early counts indicating a significant swing toward the Liberal National Party (LNP). This result threatens Labor's long-held dominance in the northern Brisbane seat, which it has retained in every election since 2001 except for the 2012 landslide. The byelection was triggered by the recent death of former MP Jimmy Sullivan. Although Labor candidate Luke Richmond is still in contention as ballots are counted, the reduced margin places intense pressure on Opposition Leader Steven Miles. The LNP, led by Premier David Crisafulli, aims to use this potential gain to bolster its government and challenge Miles' leadership further. The campaign focused on local issues like fuel security and hospital beds, but largely served as a referendum on both major parties. Analysts note that even if Labor retains the seat, the swing towards the conservatives signals growing dissatisfaction among younger, educated voters in the electorate, complicating Labor's path to regaining power in the next state election.
The Age - Latest NewsVoters Head to Polls in Stafford By-Election Amid Health and Cost-of-Living Debates
Voters in the Brisbane north electorate of Stafford are casting ballots in a crucial by-election triggered by the death of former MP Jimmy Sullivan. The contest is primarily between Labor candidate Luke Richmond and Liberal National Party (LNP) candidate Fiona Hammond. Labor has framed the election as a referendum on healthcare, alleging government cuts to local hospital beds, while the LNP has focused its campaign on fuel sovereignty, crime, and the cost of living. Although Stafford is historically a safe Labor seat, having been won by the party in nine of the last ten elections, the margin narrowed significantly in the 2024 state election. LNP Premier David Crisafulli acknowledged his party as the underdog but emphasized their vision for governance. Early voting figures indicate a potential drop in turnout compared to the previous election, raising concerns among electoral officials. Nine candidates are contesting the seat, including Greens candidate Jess Lane, though One Nation is not participating. Polls close at 6pm, with results expected shortly after.
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