By-Election Set for Queensland Seat of Stafford

A by-election for the Queensland state electorate of Stafford will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025. The election was triggered by the death of the sitting independent MP, Jimmy Sullivan. Both major political parties have framed the upcoming vote as a significant test of public opinion on state issues.

Election Details and Logistics

• Date: Friday, May 16, 2025.
• Trigger: The death of the incumbent independent Member for Stafford, Jimmy Sullivan. His body was found at his home in Brisbane's north earlier in April 2025. Police have described the circumstances as non-suspicious.
• Writs Issued: Queensland Governor Jeanette Young issued the writs on the morning of April 25, 2025.
• Electorate: The Stafford electorate encompasses northern Brisbane suburbs, including Stafford, Chermside, and Kedron. There are approximately 41,000 enrolled voters.
• Voting Information:
  • Early voting will be available from Monday, May 5.
  • Postal voting will also be an option.
• Candidate Nominations: Nominations opened on the morning of Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Background on the Former MP

Jimmy Sullivan was first elected as the Member for Stafford in 2020 and was re-elected in the 2024 state election. Following his removal from the parliamentary Labor Party caucus in 2023, he served as an independent.

Prior to his death, the LNP government had called for his resignation after allegations were raised in parliament regarding a domestic incident.

The Labor Party has won the Stafford seat in nine of the last ten state elections.

Statements from Political Leaders

Premier David Crisafulli (LNP) stated that issuing the writs was important to ensure the Stafford community had representation ahead of the state budget in June.

Speaking at a service station, he connected the by-election to his government's policy on fuel security. Premier Crisafulli said the vote was an opportunity for voters to support government plans, which include calling on the federal government to fast-track environmental approvals for oil projects in the Taroom Trough region of southern Queensland and exploring the potential for a new fuel refinery in Gladstone.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles (Labor) described the by-election as an opportunity for voters to send a message about the government's performance. Speaking outside the Lytton oil refinery, he characterized it as a "referendum" on the LNP government's leadership.

Opposition Leader Miles criticized the government's response to cost-of-living pressures, specifically regarding fuel affordability.

Current Candidate Status

As of April 25, both the Labor Party and the Liberal National Party (LNP) stated they had not yet finalized their candidates for the by-election.