Stafford by-election: LNP concedes defeat, Labor boosts numbers to nine in Queensland Parliament (ABC)

View Comments ABC Labor candidate Anthony Lynham with Annastacia Palaszczuk and supporters.

Labor has won the by-election in the Queensland seat of Stafford, with a huge swing of 18.6 per cent.

The ALP's Anthony Lynham secured 61.5 per cent of the vote after preferences, in the biggest swing at a Queensland by-election since changes were made to the electoral act in 1992.

Premier Campbell Newman conceded defeat, saying he understands that some voters are unhappy with his Government.

"So this evening I say to those people, we've heard you, we understand how you feel and I pledge this evening to continue to work hard, in fact we will redouble our efforts to improve this state and take it forward to a bright future," he said.

The victory has boosted Labor's meagre ranks in State Parliament to nine out of 89 seats.

Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the result is a warning to the Premier.

"This is a premier who is taking Queensland backwards and tonight Stafford has sent him a clear message, Premier start listening," she said.

"He's not just not listening to people here in Stafford, he's not listening to Queenslanders right across the state."

The result comes after Labor won the Redcliffe by-election last February, with a 17.2 per cent swing against the LNP.

With just eight months until a general election, Mr Newman says his Government will turn things around.

"We know that we have to earn your trust at the election in 2015," he said.

"Sometimes you don't win them and this is one of these evenings but we take it on board, we respect the decision."

"We will work very, very hard to take our message out to Queenslanders about the positive things we do want to happen in this state," Mr Newman said.

The by-election was prompted by the resignation of former assistant health minister Dr Chris Davis.

Dr Davis quit after clashing with his own party on issues including the Government's handling of a doctors' contracts dispute, changes to the state's corruption watchdog and electoral donation laws.

Supreme Court intervenes in polling day signage dispute

There was last-minute legal wrangling over LNP signs at polling booths, claiming that Labor candidate Anthony Lynham does not live in the electorate.

He has recently moved to the area from the city's south side, but Ms Palaszczuk says the signs are misleading.

"Why has Campbell Newman allowed these lies to be perpetrated?" she asked.

"The people of Stafford are fed up with this Government, and they're fed up with Campbell Newman," she said, while campaigning at Stafford State School.

Mr Newman visited a number of polling booths with LNP candidate Bob Andersen, and brushed it off as campaign argy bargy.

"Well, you now, that's what happens in elections," Mr Newman said.

"What concerns me is that people on election day really deserve to be able to access polling booths without being harassed or intimidated and I'm afraid there's been a few scenes of that again today and you won't see it from our side of the fence," he said.

Labor asked the electoral commission to intervene in the signage spat, but the LNP argued that the material was not in breach of electoral laws.

Just a few hours before the polls closed, the Supreme Court ordered the signs to be changed, and LNP supporters blacked out the phrase in dispute.

First test for ID laws

New laws requiring voters to bring identification to the polling booth were in place for the first time at this by-election.

Most people came prepared with their driver's licence, or the voting slip from an electoral commission mailout to all voters.

Those who did not have identification were required to sign a declaration vote. 

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24502631/stafford-by-election-lnp-concedes-defeat-labor-boosts-numbers-to-nine-in-queensland-parliament/