LNP gains ground in Newmarket Stafford by‑election after postal vote surge

TL;DR: Postal votes lifted the LNP’s Fiona Hammond to 57.7% of the vote after preferences, a 6.6‑point rise. The ALP’s Luke Richmond secured 64.9% after preferences, up 1.3 points, while mobile polling gave Hammond 67.0% support.

The by‑election in Newmarket Stafford was triggered by the resignation of the sitting member, leaving the seat open for a contest between the major parties and several minor candidates. Voters cast ballots at multiple count centres, including Chermside East, Chermside South, Chermside West, Grange, Kedron, Kedron West and the Newmarket precinct itself. Informal ballots ranged from 2.7% in Grange to 6.0% in Chermside South, reflecting typical variation across suburban polling places.

First‑preference tallies showed Luke Richmond leading with 296 votes (30.7%) ahead of Fiona Hammond’s 267 votes (27.7%). The Greens’ Jess Lane captured 236 votes (24.5%), while independents and smaller parties split the remainder. After distribution of preferences, both major parties saw their shares increase as lower‑ranked candidates were eliminated.

Preference flows were particularly strong for the LNP in postal and mobile voting channels, where Hammond’s support rose sharply. In contrast, the ALP’s gain came mainly from ordinary polling places, with a modest uptick after preferences. These patterns highlight how different voting methods can shape the final outcome.

Fiona Hammond of the LNP received 2,110 votes, representing 57.7% of the vote after preferences, a 6.6‑point increase from the prior count. Luke Richmond of the ALP secured 626 votes, or 64.9% after preferences, up 1.3 points. In mobile polling stations, Hammond won 71 votes, amounting to 67.0% after preferences, a 3.8‑point gain.

The overall turnout in the by‑election reached approximately 10,300 ballots, with informal votes accounting for about 4% of the total. This gives context to the raw vote totals.

The preference shift indicates that while the ALP retained a majority of voter support, the LNP made notable gains, particularly among postal and mobile voters. These movements suggest changing attitudes in suburban Brisbane electorates, where minor‑party votes often flow to the majors after distribution.

Analysts note that the LNP’s rise in early‑voting channels may reflect targeted outreach or voter convenience factors, while the ALP’s steady performance shows resilience in traditional polling places. The result does not signal a decisive swing but highlights areas where each party could focus future campaign efforts.

Observers will watch whether these early‑voting advantages persist in the next state election and how parties adjust their outreach strategies.