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We can win seats despite trailing: LNP

The LNP is hopeful of retaining Capricornia, Flynn and Herbert despite trailing in all three seats, the party's Queensland president says.

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Source: AAP


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The Liberal National Party says it has a chance of retaining Capricornia, Flynn and Herbert despite trailing in all three counts.

LNP Queensland president Gary Spence says the party is hopeful, perhaps optimistic, of keeping the seats in light of postal voting trends, although there could be recounts.

"Capricornia could be very, very close - it might come down to only a couple of dozen votes either way," he told ABC radio on Thursday.

"But I think Flynn and Herbert might ultimately prove to be a little more comfortable for us."

Mr Spence predicted the closest contest would be in Capricornia, where the LNP's Michelle Landry trails Labor candidate Leisa Neaton by 732 votes.

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On counting trends Ms Landry would gain 800 votes once all votes were counted, he said.

Mr Spence said the LNP could actually end up 1000 votes ahead in Flynn, despite incumbent Ken O'Dowd trailing his Labor challenger, Zac Beers, by 1065 votes.

Postal votes are also favouring Herbert MP Ewen Jones, who is 620 votes behind Labor's Cathy O'Toole.

If the final count came down to a couple of dozen votes then there would be a recount, Mr Spence said.

However, Labor is confident it can gain the three regional Queensland seats from the LNP.

"I'd rather be in our position than theirs, being hundreds of votes ahead," Queensland Labor state secretary Evan Moorhead told ABC radio.

Mr Moorhead said LNP had run an "arrogant" campaign by sticking to a slogan on jobs and growth which didn't resonate with Queensland voters.

He also defended Labor's Mediscare campaign, which Mr Spence described as an outrageous ploy to scare young parents and pensioners into voting for the ALP.

"I think that Mediscare is an unfair term ... clearly (there is) a campaign there that people are concerned about the LNP health cuts," Mr Moorhead said.


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