Qld: Coalition candidate heads for victory in Gaven by-election

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2006
Qld: Coalition candidate heads for victory in Gaven by-election

GOLD COAST, April 1 AAP - Queensland Labor is heading for its third consecutive by-election
defeat, with the coalition's Dr Alex Douglas expected to win the seat of Gaven tonight.

With 72.05 per cent of the vote counted, Dr Douglas holds 9,249 votes - or 41.45 per
cent - while Labor's Phil Gray holds 8,344 votes (37.39 per cent).

With some 3,500 postal and pre-poll votes to be counted, the notional summary is expected
to deliver Dr Douglas 57.32 per cent of the vote, compared to Mr Gray's 47.68 per cent.

The by-election was forced by the resignation of former Labor MP Robert Poole.

Mr Poole - dubbed the Member for Thailand for his frequent visits to the Asian country
- resigned following sustained criticism over his long absence from the Gold Coast seat.

The Beattie government was hoping to avoid its third consecutive by-election defeat
following loses in Redcliffe and Chatsworth in August.

AAP djp/jas/rj

KEYWORD: GAVEN COUNT LEAD

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