Qld Labor frontbencher not ruling out seat-swap after boundary review

Labor's Meaghan Scanlon won't rule out seat-swap after boundary redraw Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 4:15pm In short: Shadow Attorney-General Meaghan Scanlon won't guarantee she will run for re-election in Gaven in 2028. The electorate will undergo a significant boundary redraw, and Ms Scanlon has not ruled out switching seats. What's next? The new boundaries will take effect in October 2028. Queensland Labor "rising star" Meaghan Scanlon is not ruling out switching seats after a major overhaul to her Gold Coast electorate's boundaries. The independent redistribution commission handed down its final report earlier this week, recommending significant changes to electoral boundaries across the state. This includes a substantial redraw of the seat of Gaven, which the frontbencher reclaimed at the last state election with a very slim margin of less than one per cent. The change to Gaven, which is surrounded by LNP-held districts, has made Labor nervous about Ms Scanlon's chances of holding the seat into the future. Ms Scanlon, who currently serves on the Labor frontbench as shadow attorney-general, would not guarantee on Saturday that she would run for re-election in Gaven in 2028. She also would not rule out switching seats. "I said from day one that we were seriously concerned about the process of the redistribution. I'm looking at what this means for me," Ms Scanlon said. "There are very significant changes. Almost 40 per cent of my electorate has been completely removed and then a whole lot of other areas added. "I am considering what these major changes will mean and when I have more to say you will know." Ms Scanlon is Labor's only MP on the Gold Coast, with all the other seats held by the LNP. She was first elected to Gaven in 2017 and served in the Palaszczuk and Miles governments as environment minister and housing minister. According to the latest enrolment numbers, Gaven was about 12 per cent below quota as of June 30. The commission noted in its report it was required to make significant changes to Gaven because it was below quota and projected to fall further under quota. "The commission explored a variety of approaches, including whether the district should continue to cross the Pacific Motorway, or be absorbed into adjoining districts," it said. "Ultimately, the commission decided to retain the core of the existing district including the motorway crossing and expand the eastern portion of the district, adding the bulk of Carrara and the locality of Merrimac." Earlier this week, deputy Labor leader Cameron Dick described Ms Scanlon as "one of the rising stars" of the party. "She has done unbelievable work as the Member for Gaven and also as a minister in the previous Labor government," Mr Dick said. "Meaghan has got a big future, but we will work through all of the consequences of this redistribution." In 2017, Steven Miles — who is now Labor leader — switched seats to Murrumba in Moreton Bay after his electorate of Mt Coot-tha was merged with Indooroopilly. The latest redistribution has abolished the seat of Hill in the state's north, held by the Katter's Australian Party's Shane Knuth. The electorate of Stretton, held by Labor's James Martin, has also been axed. The new boundaries will take effect in the next state election in October 2028.