ECQ agrees to recount Bundaberg and Nicklin votes

Both seats were held by the LNP, but were claimed by former firefighter Rob Skelton in Nicklin and teacher Tom Smith in Bundaberg, after a very narrow race with his counterpart.

Overall, 31,381 votes were counted in the seat of Bundaberg with Labor candidate Tom Smith receiving 13,058 first preference votes or 43.11 per cent, while Bundaberg LNP MP David Batt retained 12,587 first preference votes or 41.56pc.

However, after second and third preferences were counted in Bundaberg, the count was still too close to call and in the end the lead narrowed to 11 votes, favouring Labor's candidate Tom Smith.

The contested seat of Nicklin will be added to Caloundra as the government's second Sunshine Coast seat with Labor's Robert Skelton receiving 14,954 votes or 50.4pc of the vote, while LNP Nicklin MP Marty Hunt retained 14,711 votes or 49.6pc with a -5.7pc swing.

Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk welcomed the results, following the announcement of her new cabinet on Wednesday.

"These were hard-fought local campaigns," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Our focus is on our economic recovery and the results achieved in Bundaberg and Nicklin are very pleasing.

"I know many voters in those seats would have chosen Labor for the first time and I promise to work every day to retain their trust as our economy recovers from COVID."

Nicklin and Bundaberg take the number of Labor seats to 52.

ECQ has agreed to an LNP request for a recount in Bundaberg and Nicklin.

Although experts say differences won't be found in the recount, the recount will possibly identify some ballot papers where there is a dispute over formality.

Meanwhile up north, LNP candidate Amanda Camm was declared winner of Whitsunday over expelled LNP member and North Queensland First Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan, who only received 2736 votes or 9.42pc.

Ms Camm received 9556 votes or 32.89pc of the vote, while Labor's candidate Angie Kelly followed closely behind with 9443 votes and 32.5pc of the vote.