QUEENSLAND voters have showed their disdain of the Government's handling of the State's health crisis by ousting Labor in two by-elections.
While the loss of the two seats will not unseat the Government - after today it will hold a 17-seat majority in State Parliament - it does indicate a dramatic shift away from Labor for the first time in seven years.
"This could be the rebirth of conservative politics in Queensland," Opposition and Nationals leader Lawrence Springborg said.
The Nationals did not contest either of the seats, traditionally safe Labor territory, but supported the Liberal Party candidates.
Former Liberal Party state president Michael Caltabiano will become the member for the eastern Brisbane seat of Chatsworth after a swing of more than 11 per cent against Labor, while Terry Rogers took Redcliffe in Brisbane's north with a swing of more than seven per cent.
Mr Caltabiano, who is also a former Brisbane City councillor, won 51.84 per cent of the two-party preferred vote against 48.16 per cent for Labor's Chris Forrester.
In Redcliffe, voters gave Mr Rogers 51.55 per cent of the vote, compared with 48.45 per cent for Lillian van Litsenburg for Labor.
This nearly makes up for Barnaby Joyce.
Nearly.
Posted by Quentin George at August 20, 2005 11:25 PM