![\"Courtney](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/b67e4c2f23cddab2b93586c25cd33e8e2cad80c6.png\")
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April 19, 2026 \u2014 1:02pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n The Crisafulli government has endorsed former Brisbane City councillor Fiona Hammond as the LNP\u2019s candidate for the inner-north seat of Stafford, days after announcing a snap by-election to be held on May 16.<\/p>\n Labor announced Luke Richmond \u2013 a lawyer with a background in health policy \u2013 as its candidate on Saturday.<\/p>\n The byelection follows the recent death of independent member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan<\/a>, who was found dead in his home less than a year after he was expelled from the Labor Party amid highly publicised personal battles<\/a>.<\/p>\n Premier David Crisafulli described Hammond as \u201can amazing community champion\u201d with a \u201ctrack record of delivering\u201d for the northside electorate during her time as councillor, and said she was an ideal candidate to challenge the Labor-dominated seat.<\/p>\n \u201cThis byelection is a choice between the progress that we [the LNP] are making in dealing with youth crime \u2013 and health, and housing, and cost of living \u2013 and the contrast with the decade of decline and the chaos and crisis under the former government,\u201d Crisafulli said.<\/p>\n Related Article He continued that the byelection would be an opportunity to test voters\u2019 appetite for the LNP\u2019s fuel agenda \u2013 a strong focus of recent weeks \u2013 touting his vision to drill, refine and store fuel in Queensland.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really keen to make sure that the residents in this local area do have an opportunity to be able to have a say on that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Hammond, who unsuccessfully ran at the October 2024 state election, was pressed on her endorsement in the wake of Sullivan\u2019s death, but refused to be drawn on questions about his treatment by members of the LNP.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a tragic day for the Sullivan family, and that\u2019s what I\u2019ll be focused on,\u201d Hammond said.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cAs a community leader, you have to live by example. So you\u2019ve got to remember it was not the LNP that kicked Mr Sullivan out of the party, it was the ALP that kicked him out and left him in the wilderness again.\u201d<\/p>\n Pollsters and strategists expect Labor to win the byelection but are eagerly anticipating which party will suffer most from a rise in support for Pauline Hanson\u2019s One Nation party.<\/p>\n One Nation secured a primary vote of just 3.2 per cent in Stafford at the 2024 election, and while it is not expected to attract the support needed to join the crossbench, a vote in the mid-to-high teens was likely.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s highly likely that One Nation hits the LNP, and that Labor\u2019s primary doesn\u2019t move, because Labor\u2019s primary is largely made up of the type of constituencies that are not moving to One Nation in these parts of the country,\u201d RedBridge group director Kos Samaras said.<\/p>\n Labor deputy leader Cameron Dick said the byelection would be a test for Crisafulli, \u201cwho hasn\u2019t ruled out doing a deal with One Nation\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cA One Nation-LNP alliance is bad for Stafford and it\u2019s bad for Queensland,\u201d Dick said.<\/p>\n With Matt Dennien and James Hall. <\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Premier](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1a25e7af38e8a0687d10e3ef412bdfe3e6de9ddfc170acab520e7adc43bc6a20.jpeg\")
Premier David Crisafulli announces former Brisbane City councillor Fiona Hammond (left) as the LNP\u2019s candidate for the Stafford byelection. Courtney Kruk<\/p>\n![\"Crisafulli](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0e491ddbfe6587cf64711a795ccf6d2843171d1d533f074e1e22221f0fe9d001.jpeg\")
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