Email
The contest for three Green-held seats in the battleground city of Brisbane is shaping as messier than a ménage a trois, writes Joe Hildebrand.
View in browser 6th April 2025
 

image

Joe Hildebrand
Federal election correspondent

In 2007 Queensland and Labor were wedded at the hip. Kevin Rudd even celebrated the nuptials at Brisbane’s holiest site — Suncorp Stadium.

But since then the Sunshine State has steadily cooled on the federal ALP, like a steamy whirlwind romance in which it turns out the participants have nothing in common.

Today Anthony Albanese sought to relight that flame and got very hot and heavy at a rally of the Labor faithful in Rudd’s old seat of Griffith. The location was particularly poignant because Labor lost Griffith to the Greens in a shock result at the last election. 

They say that if you love something set it free but that definitely does not apply in politics, which has more of a “if you love something kill anybody who looks at it sideways” kind of vibe.

ANALYSIS: The issue Albo and Dutton have ignored … until now

imageCartoonist Sean Leahy's take on the fallout from Donald Trump's tariffs.

CHECK OUT MORE GREAT CARTOONS HERE

Now Labor wants Griffith back but insiders fear it has moved on and the ALP has a better chance of winning the inner-city seat of Brisbane, which flipped from Liberal to Green at the last election without so much as a peck on the cheek for Labor on the way past.

Meanwhile the third Green seat of Ryan is tipped to return to the LNP, which is generally accepted as being part of God’s plan.

But all of these three-cornered contests are notoriously hard to poll and thus notoriously hard to call — it all depends on which party finishes in third place and how their preferences flow. 

It is messier than a menage a trois and this makes Brisbane a hotbed of political intrigue.

READ JOE HILDEBRAND'S FULL ANALYSIS HERE

Election update
Green wave makes battleground city a hotbed of political intrigue
The contest for three Green-held seats in the battleground city of Brisbane is shaping as messier than a ménage a trois, writes Joe Hildebrand.
READ MORE  
Moment Dutton feared he’d killed his dad; Albo mocks at Labor rally
Anthony Albanese has mocked Peter Dutton during a Labor rally in Brisbane while the Opposition Leader has recalled the Father’s Day he feared he may have killed his dad. LIVE UPDAT...
READ MORE  
The issue Albo and Dutton have ignored … until now
There has been a surprising lack of focus on one key issue this federal election campaign, but today Peter Dutton has put it firmly in focus, writes Clare Armstrong.
READ MORE  

VIDEO OF THE DAY

image

Albo brutally mocks Dutton at Labor rally

Anthony Albanese has brutally mocked Peter Dutton during a Labor rally in Brisbane, chiding the Opposition Leader for saying he'd live in Sydney, not Canberra, if he became Prime Minister.

Speaking to a room packed with the party faithful, Mr Albanese said Mr Dutton was "measuring up the curtains in Kirribilli House" and "dreaming of Sydney harbour".

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

image

Read more
Dutton’s fuel excise discount: See how much you’ll save
Modelling from the Coalition has revealed how much you could save per week with the fuel excise halved. From Penrith to Geelong and everywhere in between, see how you fare.
READ MORE  
Dutton says foreign student cut will ease housing crisis
Peter Dutton has defended his decision to oppose Labor’s attempt to slash foreign student numbers, saying the Coalition’s plan will ease the housing crisis. VOTE IN OUR POLL
READ MORE  
Best of our election race cartoons
These are the best illustrations from our cartoonists who capture the funny side of what’s going on in the federal election race. SEE THE PICTURES.
READ MORE  
The election result more than a quarter of young Aussies want
Influencer Abbie Chatfield describes the Greens’ Adam Bandt as an ‘incredible leader’ while Anthony Albanese is keen to get on her TikTok posts. New figures show why young voters a...
READ MORE  
Credlin: How PM washes hands of any blame
For the past three years, the Albanese government has put the Australian public last, and now it’s our chance to return the compliment, writes Peta Credlin.
READ MORE  
Libs busted in TikTok stoush with Greens-supporting influencer
Holly MacAlpine is a vocal supporter of the Greens. The Libs took her video, cropped it and reposted it — changing the message without her permission. Now, she wants an apology.
READ MORE  
ASX braces for a bloody Monday
Investors are bracing themselves in for a sea of red when the Aussie share market opens on Monday after the Trump tariffs wreaked havoc on global shares.
READ MORE  
Solar 2.0: Labor’s bid to win voters with $4000 discount
Homeowners who want to install a new battery to store solar power will be able to be given a hefty discount, while saving about $1000 a year. FULL DETAILS
READ MORE  
WATCH: What Aussie voters really think of Albo and Dutton
Undecided voters have revealed what they really think of Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton and it’s not flattering. SEE THE VIDEO
READ MORE