An independent candidate, Lex Bell, has won the by-election for the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorate of Surfers Paradise, vacated by the former National Party leader, Rob Borbidge.

In another rebuff to the coalition, the National Party vote in the formerly safe seat fell to 7.77%, a 42% primary vote swing. The ALP’s primary vote also dropped by nearly 18% to 20.38%.

Most of the swing went to Lex Bell, a former local mayor.

The loss leaves the National Party with just eleven seats in the Legislative Assembly.

The Labor government led by Peter Beattie has 66 seats, the Liberal Party has 3, and One Nation has 3. [Read more…]