The LNP’s David Kempton (centre), pictured with Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett on a tour of the Mossman mill last week, has been declared the winner of the five-way race for Cook by the ECQ. Photo: Facebook.
Labor’s Cynthia Lui will not return for a third term after the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) made an official declaration of the result of five-way race for Cook on 7 November.
Ms Lui trumped her closest rival, the Liberal National Party’s David Kempton, by just 16 votes to win an incredibly close first preference race, 33.34 per cent to 33.28 per cent, with Katter’s Australian Party’s Duane Amos the next best with 19.67 per cent of primary votes.
With preferences, Mr Kempton received 54.98 per cent of the two-party preferred vote to secure ECQ’s official declaration of victory and his return for a second term as the Cook MP after serving under former premier Campbell Newman from 2012-2015.
In a heartfelt Facebook post on Thursday, Ms Lui conceded defeat and wished Cook residents “nothing but the very best”.
“Next to being a mum, my other greatest achievement was representing the vast and diverse Cook [e]lectorate,” Ms Lui said in the post.
“Since 2017, It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as the Member for Cook, and give back to the region I so dearly love.
“Nothing was more important to me than to see our communities succeed, and I fought hard for everything we achieved together.
“I have always believed that our communities deserved the best, no matter where we live.
“The results are in and Cook has spoken.
“There is so much to look forward for, and I wish the beautiful Cook [e]lectorate nothing but the very best.”
Following the ECQ declaration, the Cape York Weekly requested an interview with Mr Kempton to discuss his win and immediate plans for Cook but he refused, saying via text message “I’ll be sending a press release”.
No media release had been received by yesterday’s (11 November) print deadline.
It is the fifth interview request by this publication Mr Kempton has refused since he declared victory in a social media post on 28 October.
Primary vote results for the seat of Cook in the 2024 state general election. Source: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
