General News
8 May, 2025
It’s Garth (but not Peter)
Incumbent Liberal National Party candidate Garth Hamilton has survived a strong challenge from Climate 200 backed independent Suzie Holt in Groom on an otherwise downcast election night for his party.
The Australian Labor Party had won 85 out of 150 seats in the House of Representatives and was ahead in a further six counts as of Tuesday, in what is set to be Labor’s largest proportion of seats in Parliament since the election of 1983.
The party has pledged to spend $8.5 billion on Medicare over the next four years to incentivise bulk-billing, to ensure 100,000 homes are built by supporting state developers and industry, and reserving these for first home buyers and to cut student HECS debts by 20 per cent.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised the party would govern for all Australians, not just those who voted for his party.
“I hope to earn the trust of the Australian people on an ongoing basis,” the Prime Minister told reporters on Sunday.
“We are deeply humbled by the result on Saturday and we don’t take a second (of governing) for granted.
In Groom, challenger Suzie Holt doubled her vote to 18%, although she may yet fall behind Labor candidate Richard Edwards into third on preferences.
As of Tuesday, Garth Hamilton was polling more than double the first preference count his next opponent.
The re-elected candidate congratulated re-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party on their victory and said he hoped Labor would lead the country well.
“Whilst there are still votes to be counted, I acknowledge the local and national results and the work to be done,” he said in a statement on social media.
“I want to thank all of my wonderful volunteers, supporters, staff, and friends who have stood beside me as I asked the people of Groom to again elect me as their representative.
“Australia needs an opposition to hold the government of the day to account.
“We must rise to that challenge.”
Despite her increased primary vote, Suzie Holt says she will not run again and conceded the result.
“While I was hoping to get over the line, a swing like this is still historic, and shows that the community here know they’re not getting their fair share of focus and funding from Canberra,” she said.
“I congratulate Mr Hamilton on his win, and urge him to sit up and
take notice that Groom will not be taken for granted again.”
In the neighbouring seat of Maranoa, Nationals leader David Littleproud was comfortably re-elected with more than double the vote of Labor and One Nation.
Groom - First preference count
1. Garth Hamilton (LNP) 40.5% (-3.2%)
2. Suzie Holt (Independent) 17.8% (+9.6%)
3. Richard Edwards (ALP) 16.6% (-2.1%)
4. Rebecca Konz (ON) 9.3% (-0.3%)
5. Alyce Nelligan (GRN) 5.5% (-0.4%)
6. Alexandra Todd (FF) 3.9% (didn’t run in 2022)
7. Kirstie Smolenski (Ind) 3.7% (-3.5%)
8. Jamie Marr (TOP) 2.7% (-2.4% from 2022 UAP vote)
Maranoa - First preference count
1. David Littleproud (LNP) 52.8% (-3.5%)
2. Alex Newman (ALP) 16.5% (+1.2%)
3. Sharon Duncan (ON) 12.1% (+0.2%)
4. Rod Draper (GRPF) 5.8% (new party)
5. Elizabeth Johnston (GRN) 5.1% (+0.3%)
LNP = Liberal National Party ALP = Australian Labor Party ON = Pauline Hanson’s One Nation GRN = Australian Greens FF = Family First Party TOP = Trumpet of Patriots GRPF = Gerard Rennick People First
