February 16, 2015
Voters won’t be facing a by-election – and the Labor Party’s election win has been solidified – by an announcement today by the LNP that it won’t be challenging the result in the electorate of Ferny Grove.
It was initially thought the Electoral Commission of Queensland would be referring the result to the Court of Disputed Returns after it was discovered one of the candidates, PUP member Mark Taverner, was ineligible to stand for election as he was an undischarged bankrupt.
If a by-election had been called, many commentators suggested the LNP could have a chance second time around which would have given them 43 seats – and with two Katter seats in support – the ability to form government.
However, after the seat was declared a win to the ALP’s Mark Furner, it became apparent the LNP would have to be the party to submit the application to the court.
ABC election commentator Antony Green commented at the time that Labor had won Ferny Grove by 466 votes, but at most only 353 of the PUP were “1” only which would make any court case “tougher”.
LNP State Director Brad Henderson released a statement this afternoon that the LNP would not be referring the Ferny Grove result to the Court of Disputed Returns.
“The LNP will now focus on providing a stable and competent alternative government for the people of Queensland over the course of the next Parliament,” he said.
“The LNP places on record its thanks and appreciation of the contribution made by its candidate and former Member for Ferny grove Dale Shuttleworth and his family.”
