LNP 1.1%
Incumbent MP
Teresa Gambaro, since 2010. Previously Member for Petrie 1996-2007.
Geography
Central Brisbane. Brisbane covers the Brisbane CBD and inner suburbs north of the Brisbane River including Fortitude Valley, Paddington, Ashgrove, Kelvin Grove, Newmarket, Clayfield and Hendra.
History
Brisbane is an original federation electorate. It has been held by the ALP for most of its history interrupted by short periods of conservative MPs, up until the last election.
The seat was first won by Thomas Macdonald-Paterson, who joined the Protectionists when Parliament first sat. Macdonald-Paterson was not endorsed by the local Protectionists for the 1903 election, and the split in the protectionist vote gave the seat to the ALP’s Millice Culpin.
Culpin was himself defeated after one term by Justin Foxton of the Anti-Socialist Party (formerly the Free Traders). Foxton served as a minister from 1909 until his defeat at the 1910 election by the ALP’s William Finlayson.
Finlayson held the seat until 1919, when he was defeated by Donald Charles Cameron of the Nationalist Party. Cameron held the seat until 1931, when he lost the seat against the tide of conservative gains against the Scullin Government. Cameron returned to serve one term in the neighbouring seat of Lilley from 1934 to 1937.
The ALP held the seat continuously for the next fourty-four years, with only two MPs holding the seat from 1931 until 1975. George Lawson won the seat in 1931 and held it until 1961. He served as Minister for Transport from 1941 until the 1943 election. The seat was then held by Manfred Cross until his defeat by Liberal Peter Johnson in 1975. Johnson defeated Cross again in 1977 before Cross won the seat back in 1980.
Cross held the seat until his retirement in 1990, when the ALP chose Arch Bevis, who has held the seat ever since. While Brisbane has never been held by a large margin, it came closest to being lost to the Liberals in 1996, when Bevis’ margin was cut to 0.36%.
In 2010, the Liberal National Party ran former MP Teresa Gambaro. Gambaro had served as member for the marginal seat of Petrie from 1996 until she was defeated in 2007.
Alongside Bevis and Gambaro, the Greens ran former Democrats leader and former Senator Andrew Bartlett. Bevis suffered a 5.7% swing, and Gambaro won the seat. Bartlett polled 21.3%, the highest vote for the Greens in Queensland.
Candidates
- John Roles (Stable Population Party)
- Tony Rose (Secular Party)
- Teresa Gambaro (Liberal National)
- Connie Cicchini (Katter’s Australian Party)
- Veronica Ford (Palmer United Party)
- Rachael Jacobs (Greens)
- Sharyn Joyner (Family First)
- Fiona McNamara (Labor)
Assessment
Brisbane is not the typical Liberal seat – it includes progressive inner-city areas, but unlike in Sydney and Melbourne these areas aren’t sufficiently concentrated to create a straight Labor-Greens contest.
The seat is a centre of Greens support in Queensland and will be a focus of the Greens campaign. The slim two-party margin is only achieved thanks to Greens preferences to the ALP – Labor falls far behind the LNP on primary votes. If Labor is to win they will need to win back some Greens votes and ensure they keep a high flow of preferences.
Due to the special nature of this seat, it is considered one of the most likely Labor gains at this election.
2010 result
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Swing |
| Teresa Gambaro | LNP | 37,191 | 45.89 | +4.08 |
| Arch Bevis | ALP | 24,623 | 30.38 | -13.22 |
| Andrew Bartlett | GRN | 17,244 | 21.28 | +10.12 |
| Mark White | FF | 1,274 | 1.57 | +0.44 |
| Ewan Saunders | SA | 717 | 0.88 | +0.36 |
2010 two-candidate-preferred result
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Swing |
| Teresa Gambaro | LNP | 41,440 | 51.13 | +5.73 |
| Arch Bevis | ALP | 39,609 | 48.87 | -5.73 |
Booth breakdown
Booths have been divided into three areas:
- Central – Brisbane, Fortitude Valley, New Farm, Spring Hill, Windsor.
- North East – Ascot, Clayfield, Hendra, Stafford
- West – Alderley, Ashgrove, Ithaca, Kelvin Grove, Newmarket, Paddington, Red Hill
The LNP only won a majority in the north east, with a 58.6% majority. The ALP won a majority of 52% in the other two parts of the seat. The Greens vote polled around 23-24% in the centre and the west, and under 16% in the north east.
| Voter group | GRN % | LNP 2PP % | Total votes | % of votes |
| West | 23.03 | 47.77 | 25,240 | 31.14 |
| North East | 15.86 | 58.58 | 18,820 | 23.22 |
| Central | 24.43 | 47.75 | 15,955 | 19.69 |
| Other votes | 21.62 | 51.06 | 21,034 | 25.95 |
Internal polling now showing the Coalition well ahead in Brisbane.
What’s the approx margin, DB?
DB – is the internal polling based on calling landlines (like Reachtel) or is there an attempt made to contact voters under 35?
National polling results have absolutely skewered the reliability of the midweek landline polls.
I can’t believe that people pay any attention to landline polls when something north of 15 -20 % of the population do not have landlines AND that proportion is overwhelmingly made up of younger voters (i.e ALP/Green voters). Also, the more metropolitan the electorate (i.e Brisbane) the more pronounced this phenomenon.
Relying on landline only polls in this election is like going down to the local RSL at 3pm on a work day and asking the patrons who they are going to vote for.
Reachtel got a good reputation at the Qld 2012 State Election with its polling of the Ashgrove electorate and other state electorates. Ashgrove is a inner north west electorate. Also their BCC Lord Mayoral poll was fairly accurate as well. Reachtel are based in Brisbane so any Brisbane/Queensland electoral poll which they do, should come will a bit of credibility.
MCBAL – we use the age demographics of the seat and weight accordingly, so no, we do not call people just over 65. You’d be surprised at the number of people under 35 whom still have landlines and mobiles.
As I said, in 2010, the JWS poll according to Glen (on this site) said the ALP would get 79 seats. Therefore, that somewhat invalidates your claim.
Gap widens between the major parties according to Centrebet.
Currently, Centrebet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor eases from $2.30 to $2.50 whilst support for the LNP tightens from $1.55 to $1.42.
However, the gap closes slightly between the major parties according to Sports Bet.
Sports Bet odds in this electorate shows support for Labor firms from $2.50 to $2.25 whilst support for the LNP drifts from $1.40 to $1.60.
Coalition extends its lead according to Centrebet.
Currently, Centrebet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor eases from $2.50 to $2.75 whilst support for the LNP tightens from $1.42 to $1.40.
Coalition also extends its lead according to Sports Bet.
Currently, Sports Bet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor drifts from $2.25 to $2.50 whilst support for the LNP firms from $1.60 to $1.50.
Some encouragement for Labor according to Centrebet.
Currently, Centrebet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor tightens from $2.75 to $2.45 whilst support for the LNP eases from $1.40 to $1.50.
That’ll be today’s newspoll that that has 53/47 to the LNP in Queensland, which would see seats such as Brisbane being picked up.
Improvement for Labor according to the betting sites.
This afternoon, Sports Bet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor firms from $2.50 to $2.20 whilst support for the LNP drifts from $1.50 to $1.60. Currently, Centrebet odds in this electorate shows support for Labor tightens from $2.45 to $2.30 whilst support for the LNP eases from $1.50 to $1.55.
Momentum for the Coalition according to Sports Bet.
Currently, Sports Bet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor slips from $2.20 to $2.50 whilst support for the LNP firms from $1.60 to $1.50.
A few weeks ago the LNP were writing off Brisbane & Bonner and I similarly thought this was would switch. If the ALP can’t win a seat like this then they never had any real hope to retain govt.
Another blow to Labor according to Sports Bet,
This afternoon, Sports Bet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor drifts from $2.50 to $2.75 whilst support for the LNP tightens from $1.50 to $1.40.
Market’s getting carried away I think. Surely of all the QLD seats this is the one the ALP will go hardest at?
Surge of support for the Coalition according to Centrebet.
This afternoon, Centrebet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor eases from $2.30 to $2.55 whilst support for the LNP firms from $1.55 to $1.45.
Further surge of support for the Coalition according to the betting sites.
This afternoon, Sports Bet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor slips from $2.75 to $2.88 whilst support for the LNP tightens from $1.40 to $1.36. Currently, Centrebet odds in this electorate shows support for Labor drifts from $2.55 to $2.75 whilsts support for the LNP firms from $1.45 to $1.40.
More support for the Coalition according to Centrebet.
Currently, Centrebet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor eases from $2.75 to $3.20 whilst support for the LNP tightens from $1.40 to $1.30.
Momentum continues for the Coalition according to Sports Bet.
Currently, Sports Bet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor slips from $2.88 to $3.25 whilst support for the LNP firms from $1.36 to $1.28.
Out to $4 on CB. Officially deferring to the market’s view after liking Labor’s chances here for some time.
Gap continues to widen between the major parties according to Sports Bet.
Currently, Sports Bet odds in Brisbane shows support for Labor drifts from $3.25 to $3.60 whilst support for the LNP tightens from $1.28 to $1.22.
It really is looking like a comfortable win for the LNP here with a 3.5% swing and a 4.5% margin. A surprise given that everyone on both sides said that this was being chalked up as a definite ALP gain at the start of the campaign.
http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-17496-156.htm
Yep – this was a surprise to me. I’m going to have to get my head around the fact that this is not the ‘old’ seat of Brisbane since the redistribution before the 2010 election (bringing in hardcore Liberal voting suburbs). What this election tells us is that the redistribution has changed this seat from safe ALP to a possible ongoing bellweather-type seat that is likely to change when the government changes.