Miles government will be ‘sandbagging’ seats not winning them following by-election result

Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece says the Miles government will need to look “long and hard” at the result of the Queensland by-elections in order to hang on in the upcoming election. It comes after Queensland Labor suffered two heavy double-digit swings on Saturday. “There is different dynamic that exists in a state-wide election, compared to a by-election,” Mr Reece told Sky News host Paul Murray. “By-elections, you give the government a whack, send them a message – but you aren’t necessarily changing the government. “If you are the Miles government you would need to be looking very long and hard at that result and be thinking about what you are going to do between now and October if you are going to hang on. “They’ve got to give up this idea of winning seats, they are going to be sand bagging seats.”