LNP falls ‘agonisingly short’ in Stafford byelection as Labor suffers swing against it

Opposition expected to retain the northern Brisbane seat, with Luke Richmond ahead of Fiona Hammond by around 700 votes Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Queensland’s opposition leader, Steven Miles, says he has caucus support to remain Labor leader “right now”, after the party suffered a swing against it at a byelection in the north of Brisbane. Labor is expected to retain the northern Brisbane seat of Stafford but recorded an 8% swing against it on primary votes. The ALP candidate, Luke Richmond, was ahead of the Liberal National party candidate, Fiona Hammond, by about 700 votes on Sunday afternoon. Queensland’s electoral commission has yet to declare the byelection result but the premier, David Crisafulli, conceded defeat on Saturday night, saying the LNP had fallen “agonisingly short”. Labor was well behind on primary votes but had picked up a strong majority of preferences from minor parties, independent candidates and the Greens. The byelection was called after the sudden the death of former Labor MP turned independent Jimmy Sullivan on 9 April. Sullivan had been expelled from the pa