Stafford by-election: Queensland government in shock
Posted by John, July 19th, 2014 - under Liberal National Party, Queensland.
Tags: Campbell Newman
Shocked Liberal National Party Stafford candidate Bob Anderson looks on with young LNP friends at the Stafford by-election loss …
With nearly 80% of the vote counted the swing against the Newman government in Queensland in the Stafford by-election is 18.6%. If replicated at the election in March next year the Liberal National Party government would be wiped out, much as the Labor government at the last election in Queensland was.
My thanks to Daniel Griffiths for this.
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Comments
Comment from Kay
Time July 20, 2014 at 8:07 am
The massive swing against the LNP was entirely as expected – so no shock there. But you have to remember that even with a similar result in the previous bi-election (Redcliffe), the LNP still has 76 members in parliament versus 9 ALP! Clearly this huge imbalance is unsustainable, but does tell you how seriously ‘on the nose’ the previous Labor government was! Like the last federal election, it was a case of people voting AGAINST Labor, as opposed to wholeheartedly voting FOR the LNP.
The next full election (2015) will see a big swing against the LNP – maybe the LNP will even lose the election! Next year PUP may figure more prominently. You have to remember, Clive Palmer absolutely hates Campbell Newman, and is dedicated to seeing him go down. Newman’s government refused to go along with Palmer’s mining proposals. Clive thought his huge donations to the LNP had bought him a carte blanche! Fortunately it hadn’t, but Clive then focused on destroying LNP/Coalition governments in Qld and federally.
Many actions taken by the LNP since 2012 have been very unpopular, but some other actions have been more popular. Newman himself does not engender much support – he always appears so arrogant. It is possible the LNP will win the next election, but Newman will lose his (marginal) seat. But the Qld economy has improved significantly since the LNP came to power. The hospitals also appear to be managing a lot better – we have a competent Health Minister at long last. There is a big fight between the government and the judiciary, but I suspect most people side with the government over that one. The bikie crackdown has produced good results, and recreational bikers are back on the road in the same numbers as before (I live in an area loved by bikers due to the winding roads).
It is possible that, if the LNP takes a strong message from this bi-election result, and dials back the arrogance a bit, the LNP may survive next year’s State election, albeit that there will be a huge loss of currently-LNP seats. Hard to predict, really. PUP will be the wild card as it will once again present an opportunity to vote for neither the LNP nor Labor.
Comment from Lorikeet
Time July 21, 2014 at 5:56 pm
I think it is a crying shame that Katter’s Australian Party didn’t run a candidate.
I think it was very easy to predict that the Coalition candidate had Buckley’s chance after Newman forced out one of the few democrats sitting on his side of the parliament.
Dr Chris Davis stuck up for our public hospital doctors and certainly answered 2 emails I sent him regarding issues in his electorate. And no, I was not one of his constituents.
Newman himself will be out on his ear at the next election. Let’s throw a party!
Comment from Lorikeet
Time July 21, 2014 at 9:16 pm
I also think the Coalition candidate came across as a dork.
The bikie laws are undemocratic and need to undergo an adjustment so that no Queenslander can be given a longer sentence than any other, regardless of her/her affiliations.
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Time July 19, 2014 at 9:11 pm
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