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LNP claims victory in seat of Burdekin

Liberal National Party candidate Dale Last has won the seat of Burdekin, south of Townsville, beating Labor challenger Michael Brunker.

Queensland OppositIon Leader Tim Nicholls (c), flanked by Dale Last.
LNP incumbent Dale Last (L) has retained his north Queensland seat of Burdekin after tight vote. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Liberal National Party incumbent Dale Last has retained his north Queensland seat of Burdekin, claiming victory after a tight vote count with Labor.

The seat lies to the south of Townsville, in what was one of the most hotly contested regions of the state election, with residents battling rising unemployment and high crime rates in the wake of the mining downturn.

Mr Last was declared the successful candidate by Electoral Commission Queensland on Thursday.

"Time to roll up the sleeves and get back in the saddle," he tweeted after his successful tilt was confirmed.

The outspoken incumbent secured 32 per cent of first preference votes and was trailing Labor's Michael Bunker, who won 36 per cent.

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But Mr Last ended up scraping in with 50.8 per cent of the after-preferences vote, with most of his preferences coming from One Nation, which gained 29.34 per cent of the primary vote.

Mr Last made headlines on Monday when he predicted Tim Nicholls wouldn't survive as LNP leader, because the party had failed to connect with rural and regional voters.

During the campaign Mr Nicholls floated the idea of a youth curfew in Townsville, but Mr Last in January said he did not believe that was the answer to reducing the town's crime rate.


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