Polls across the Queensland have closed as tens of thousands of Queenslanders cast their vote in two by-elections today, which will give both the state government and opposition a lot to ponder ahead of the full state elections in October.
Premier Steven Miles, who stepped into the top job after Annastacia Palaszczuk retired about three months ago, will be particularly under the microscope as voters make their views known on issues such as youth crime and the cost of living.
Meanwhile counting is also underway in the Queensland council elections, as thousands vote to elect Mayors and Councillors in all corners of the state.
Inala, one of the electorates up for grabs in the by-election, was vacated by Palaszczuk when she stepped down in December.
Labor is likely to retain it barring a major upset, with its current margin of 28.2 per cent making Inala the safest Labor seat in Queensland.
Regardless of the result though, it will signify a major change.
Even a Labor win would signal the end of 40 years of Inala being represented in parliament by a Palaszczuk – recently the former premier, and before her, her father Henry.
Pundits expect a far tighter battle for the second seat going to the polls, Ipswich West.
Labor MP Jim Madden has represented the the electorate since 2015, but will not contest the 2024 election.
Labor currently holds the seat with a margin of 14.3 per cent but the electorate has a history of big swings, despite Labor holding it for the vast majority of elections.
Under the 2012 victory of LNP leader Campbell Newman, Ipswich West also went to the LNP after a swing of more than 16 per cent.
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And while by-elections are rarely mirrors for general elections, both Miles and opposition leader David Crisafulli recognise they have “mountains” to climb ahead of the October showdown.
Counting is underway in the tightly contested Brisbane City Council elections, along with councils across Queensland.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is fighting off challenges from Labor’s Tracey Price and the Green’s candidate Johnathan Sriranganathan.
The fate of 77 councils across the state and all their mayors and councillors will become clearer later tonight.
