Labor's Luke Richmond is likely to win the Queensland byelection in the inner-northern Brisbane seat of Stafford, despite a 4.1% swing against the party.

With almost 80% of ballots counted on Saturday evening, Richmond was ahead by 768 votes. The final result could come down to postal votes, but chief ABC analyst Casey Briggs says it's unlikely the Liberal National Party candidate, Fiona Hammond, will win.

The byelection was called after the sudden death of former independent MP Jimmy Sullivan on 9 April. Sullivan was expelled from the Labor Party in May 2025 over legal and medical concerns.

Queensland Liberal premier David Crisafulli conceded the seat to Labor, saying 'I don't think we're going to win'. He praised the campaign run by Hammond, calling her an 'incredible candidate'. Crisafulli also said 'I do think we're going to fall agonisingly short'.

The byelection was seen as a test of opposition leader Steven Miles' leadership. Miles has led the party since taking over from Annastacia Palaszczuk in December 2023. He's been leading the party for a few months now, and this byelection was his first major test.

When asked if Labor would do better if it were led by someone else, Miles said that would be 'a decision for the caucus, but I have the support of the caucus right now to be leader'. He didn't elaborate on what he meant by that.

Miles told Labor's election night party, 'I'm so thrilled to tell you that Luke Richmond is the new member for Stafford'. He seemed happy with the result.

The Stafford byelection had a high turnout, with over 14,000 people casting ballots on the day. Almost 42% of people chose to vote early, with 13,530 in person and 3,860 by post. This shows that people are interested in the outcome.

This win is significant for Labor, as it shows the party can still win seats despite a swing against them. It also gives Miles a boost in his leadership, as he's been able to hold onto a seat that was considered marginal. The party won't take this win for granted, though.

In other news, five men have been charged by the Australian federal police as part of an investigation into the alleged access and distribution of extremist material online. They're facing serious charges.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is in Melbourne today and will be holding a press conference. The federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, will also be speaking on ABC's Insiders. They'll likely discuss the byelection result.

  • Labor's Luke Richmond is ahead by 768 votes in the Stafford byelection
  • The final result could come down to postal votes
  • There was a 4.1% swing against Labor
  • The byelection was called after the death of former independent MP Jimmy Sullivan
  • Five men have been charged with accessing and distributing extremist material online

The final result of the byelection will be declared once all the postal votes have been counted. The Labor party will then look to build on this win, and try to use it as momentum. They won't be complacent, though.

Labor has been able to hold onto the seat of Stafford, despite a swing against them. This is a significant win for the party, and gives them a boost in their quest to win the next election. They're not taking anything for granted, though.

The men who have been charged with accessing and distributing extremist material will face court and could potentially face serious penalties. This is a reminder that the spread of extremist material is a serious issue, and one that the authorities are taking seriously. They can't afford to be lenient.

The Australian federal police will continue to investigate this matter, and it's likely that more people will be charged in the coming weeks and months. They won't stop until they've got to the bottom of it.

The government will also look to use this as an example of why they need to take a tough stance on extremism. They'll argue that this is a serious issue that requires a serious response, and that they're committed to keeping the community safe. They won't back down.

This has been a significant day in Australian politics. The Labor party has won the Stafford byelection, and five men have been charged with accessing and distributing extremist material. These are both important stories.

They'll continue to develop in the coming days and weeks. For now, it seems that Labor is on the front foot, and the government is taking a tough stance on extremism. They're not going to let up.

It'll be interesting to see how these stories play out, and what the impact will be on the wider community. The people of Queensland will be watching with interest.

From a leadership perspective, this win will give Miles a lot of confidence. He's been able to hold onto a marginal seat, and this will give him a boost in his quest to become the next premier of Queensland. He's got a lot to prove, though.

Miles has been leading the party since December 2023, and this is his first major test as leader. He's passed it with flying colors, and this will give him a lot of momentum going into the next election. He won't get ahead of himself, though.

The Liberal National Party will be disappointed with this result. They had hoped to win the seat, and this will be a setback for them. They're not giving up, though.

They were able to achieve a 4.1% swing against Labor, which is a significant swing. It shows that they're still a force to be reckoned with in Queensland politics. They won't be written off.

The swing against Labor will also give the party pause for thought. They'll need to consider why they lost votes, and what they can do to win them back. They can't afford to be complacent.

This will be a significant challenge for Miles and the Labor party. They'll need to be able to connect with voters, and show them that they're the best party to lead Queensland. It won't be easy, but they're up to the task.

Miles has shown that he's capable of leading the party to victory. He's got a lot of momentum, and this will give him a boost going into the next election. He's not going to let it slip.

The next election will be a significant test for Miles and the Labor party. They'll need to be able to win seats like Stafford, and hold onto the ones they already have. It's a tough ask, but they're up to it.

The people of Queensland will be watching with interest, as the Labor party and the Liberal National Party battle it out for supremacy. It's going to be a fascinating contest, and one that will have a significant impact on the future of Queensland.

For now, though, it's all about the win in Stafford. Labor has shown that they can still win seats, despite a swing against them. And that's a significant achievement, one that will give them a lot of confidence going into the next election.

Miles and the Labor party will be celebrating this win, and rightly so. They've achieved something significant, and this will give them a lot of momentum going into the next election. They won't get too carried away, though.

But the Liberal National Party will also be looking to the future. They'll be planning their next move, and looking for ways to win back the seat of Stafford. They won't give up.

It's a never-ending battle, one that will continue to play out in the coming days, weeks, and months. And for the people of Queensland, it's a fascinating spectacle. They get to watch as the two major parties battle it out for supremacy.

It's a reminder that politics is always interesting, and that there's never a dull moment. The people of Queensland will be keeping a close eye on things.

In the end, though, it's all about the people of Queensland. They're the ones who get to decide who leads the state, and what the future holds. And that's what makes this win so significant. It's not just about the Labor party, or the Liberal National Party.

It's about the people of Queensland, and what they want for their state. And that's what will drive the next election. The parties will be looking to connect with the people, and show them that they're the best party to lead Queensland. It's a tough ask, but it's one that Miles and the Labor party are up to.

They've shown that they can win seats, despite a swing against them. And that's a significant achievement, one that will give them a lot of momentum going into the next election. They won't take it for granted, though.