Sunshine Coast voters have showed their support for the LNP, backing the party across seven local electorates.
Brent Mickleberg (Buderim), Kendall Morton (Caloundra), Andrew Powell (Glass House), Jarrod Bleijie (Kawana), Fiona Simpson (Maroochydore), Marty Hunt (Nicklin), and Dan Purdie (Ninderry) all had the edge as voting continued Monday. Independent Sandy Bolton (Noosa) was on track to retain her seat.
Ms Morton appeared likely to take over from Labor’s Jason Hunt, while Marty Hunt was ahead in a close contest against Labor’s Rob Skelton.
Some of them thanked voters and expressed their delight via social media.
Mr Bleijie was sworn in as deputy premier on Monday, alongside the new premier, David Crisafulli.
“Thank you, Kawana. Truly humbled that you have re-elected me as your MP,” he said.
“Looking forward to delivering on our local plans and thanks to the family, I couldn’t have done it without you all.”
Mr Powell also expressed his glee.
“Thank you, Glass House. I am humbled that you have again chosen me to represent you,” he said.
“It truly is an honour to serve you.
“There are so many people I need to thank and credit for this win.”
Mr Purdie is set for a third straight term.
“Thank you, Ninderry.”
“It’s an honour to be re-elected as your local state Member of Parliament in a David Crisafulli LNP Government.”
With about three quarters of counting completed by Sunday afternoon, the LNP was on track to claim 48 seats ahead of Labor’s 28, with 12 still in doubt.
It needed 47 to claim a majority government after holding 35 seats to Labor’s 51 before Saturday’s election.
David Crisafulli will become the LNP’s first Queensland premier since Campbell Newman’s 2012-2015 stint, snapping Labor’s dominance.
Labor has governed Queensland for 30 of the past 35 years.
“The significance of what we have achieved is not lost on us,” Mr Crisafulli said on Sunday after three hours of sleep.
“We asked Queenslanders for their support. They gave it in record numbers.
“We are determined to give them the fresh start which we promised we would deliver.”
The new government will be officially sworn in after counting is completed and the party has enough seats for a majority.
Mr Miles had been hoping to earn his first full term as premier after taking over Labor’s reins from Annastacia Palaszczuk, who resigned in December.
He tendered his resignation to the governor on Sunday but hoped to stay on as opposition leader after an impressive election campaign comeback.
Labor’s priority will be regaining trust in regional areas after losing significant ground to LNP outside the southeast.
“From here, the task of all of our Labor MPs who have been successful is to rebuild our party and prepare to return to government at the next election and to hold the current government to account,” Mr Miles said.
Mr Miles said he would wait until all seats were decided before asking caucus to remain party leader.
Sunshine Coast electorates
In Buderim, LNP’s Brent Mickelberg had 49.54 per cent of the vote, ahead of Labor’s Adrian Burke (27.23 per cent), with 63 per cent of the vote counted.
In Caloundra, LNP’s Kendall Morton had 39.67 per cent, ahead of Labor’s Jason Hunt (37.99 per cent), with 72 per cent counted.
In Glass House, LNP’s Andrew Powell had 45.43 per cent, ahead of Labor’s Humphrey Caspersz Jnr (23.89 per cent), with 69 per cent counted.
In Kawana, LNP’s Jarrod Bleijie had 56.44 per cent, ahead of Labor’s Jim Dawson (28.2 per cent), with 60 per cent counted.
In Maroochydore, LNP’s Fiona Simpson had 53.62 per cent, ahead of Labor’s Naomi McQueen (28.68 per cent), with 62 per cent counted. Ms Simpson has held the seat since 1992 and is Queensland’s longest serving MP.
In Nicklin, LNP’s Marty Hunt had 38.73 per cent, ahead of Labor’s Rob Skelton (30.29 per cent), with 68 per cent counted.
In Ninderry, LNP’S Dan Purdie had 49.69 per cent, ahead of Labor’s Jo Justo (26.36 per cent), with 61 per cent counted.
In Noosa, independent Sandy Bolton had 44.68 per cent, ahead of LNP’s Clare Stewart (36.5 per cent), with 71 per cent counted.
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