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Queensland Labor staring at big election losses Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan hold on for Labor in Queensland
(about 1 hour later)
Exit polling is showing Labor could lose all of its eight Queensland seats in Saturday's Australian election – demonstrating that the "Kevin Rudd factor" counted for very little in his home state. Labor is expecting to hold all its seats in Queensland, including outgoing prime minister Kevin Rudd's electorate of Griffith and former treasurer Wayne Swan in Lilley.
Sky News polling showed Labor seats going to the Coalition including Oxley (where Labor's 2010 margin of victory was 5.8 percentage points), Rankin (5.4), Blair (4.2), Capricornia (3.7), Petrie (2.5) and Moreton (1.1). Rudd is watching the results in a private room in the Gabba and is understood to be buoyed by the results coming through in his home state – although Labor figures are privately conceding they have lost government.
Rudd is expected to appear after 9pm to concede defeat.
Rudd remains the member for Griffith with a swing of 3.1% to Liberal-National party challenger Bill Glasson, while Swan has held his seat of Lilley, even though he was on a margin of only 3.2%.
In Rankin, where the former trade minister Craig Emerson is retiring, Jim Chalmers looks as though he will retain the seat for Labor with a 2.1% swing towards the party.
In Petrie, Yvette D'Ath looks as though she will hold the seat, even though her existing margin is 2.5%.
Rudd's star recruit, the former Queensland premier Peter Beattie, appears unlikely to win the seat of Forde from the Liberal incumbent, Bert Van Manen.Rudd's star recruit, the former Queensland premier Peter Beattie, appears unlikely to win the seat of Forde from the Liberal incumbent, Bert Van Manen.
The prime minister's seat of Griffith and former treasurer Wayne Swan's seat of Lilley are too close to call, according to Sky polling. Beattie, who moved into the electorate on the morning of the announcement of his candidature, blamed the leadership troubles of the Labor government. Julia Gillard ousted Rudd in 2010 and then Rudd returned the favour in July this year.
Beattie, who moved into the electorate on the morning of the announcement of his candidature, blamed the leadership troubles of the Labor government. Julia Gillard replaced Rudd in 2010 and Rudd replace Gillard in July this year.
"This result is based on one overriding thing," said Beattie, less than an hour after the polls closed. "The only negative was the leadership thing that took place over the last six years."This result is based on one overriding thing," said Beattie, less than an hour after the polls closed. "The only negative was the leadership thing that took place over the last six years.
"That is the core issue. I talked to people on the ground; that overriding thing was the main concern."That is the core issue. I talked to people on the ground; that overriding thing was the main concern.
"The Liberals put a photo of Julia and Kevin with one word: remember. So you can talk about all sorts of things but that is the main issue.""The Liberals put a photo of Julia and Kevin with one word: remember. So you can talk about all sorts of things but that is the main issue."
Part of the logic of Rudd's return to the prime ministership was that he would bring in more seats in his home state of Queensland and pick up extra seats in western Sydney. After an initial surge in the polls Australian voters appear to have deserted Rudd.Part of the logic of Rudd's return to the prime ministership was that he would bring in more seats in his home state of Queensland and pick up extra seats in western Sydney. After an initial surge in the polls Australian voters appear to have deserted Rudd.
Clive Palmer of the Palmer United party was still confident the former NRL player Glenn Lazarus would win the sixth Senate spot in Queensland.Clive Palmer of the Palmer United party was still confident the former NRL player Glenn Lazarus would win the sixth Senate spot in Queensland.
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