The Queensland Electoral Commission (QEC) has completed its Brisbane City Council boundaries review and it appears to offer some good news for Labor after the party’s 15-plus years in opposition.
Former Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and QUT Adjunct Associate Professor John Mickel said the review was driven by the massive growth in voter registration in the inner-city wards of Woolloongabba and Brisbane Central.
“Woolloongabba and Brisbane Central have become so big they were way over quota so a shake-up of boundaries was required and Labor may be the winners although not in the ‘Gabba – that ward will now be tightly contested between the Liberal National Party (LNP) and the Greens,” Professor Mickel (pictured below right) said.
“Woolloongabba Ward is the greenest possible electorate on a local, state and federal level. The review has taken its least green area – East Brisbane – out of the equation – so Labor, already well behind the Greens for votes, has a reduced chance.
“However, whenever a redefining of boundaries occur like this it causes ructions. City councillors get re-elected when things remain the same so this move from the QEC will potentially loosen the iron grip the LNP has had on Brisbane City Council since 2000.
“The LNP were playing a very clever hand with its ongoing renewal strategy in the lead up to the March 2020 elections but I believe Labor now has a glimmer of hope.
“Doboy Ward has now become a solid Labor seat because it lost a chunk of the electorate to Chandler which has diluted its conservative voting base.
“The Wards of Coorparoo, Northgate and Enoggera are all also looking much better for Labor so the contest in March is going to be much livelier.”
Professor Mickel said Labor currently held just five of the 26 BCC wards.
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