Qld: By-election causes Nationals rethink

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Qld: By-election causes Nationals rethink

The Queensland National Party will consider changing its candidate selection processesin the wake of the Maryborough by-election.

Premier PETER BEATTIE has conceded independent CHRIS FOLEY has won the seat at yesterday'sby-election.

The counting today of 1,000 postal and pre-poll votes on top of yesterday's count hadMr FOLEY on 54 per cent of the two-party preferred vote, ahead of Labor's DOUG LOGGIEon 46 per cent.

Labor is leading today with 36.94 per cent of the primary vote to Mr FOLEY'S 33.99per cent, but National Party preferences will seal a win for the independent.

Opposition leader LAWRENCE SPRINGBORG says he'll push for a role in preselecting NationalParty candidates at the state election, due by May next year.

Local party members are divided after Mr FOLEY missed out on National Party preselectionand decided to run as an independent.

Mr BEATTIE says the five per cent swing against the government is a wake up call.

AAP RTV pjo/jtb

KEYWORD: MARYBOROUGH (BRISBANE)