Sciacca defeated two other candidates vying for Labor preselection, one of whom was state party secretary Peter Beattie.
Beattie would later enter parliament as the member for Brisbane Central at the 1989 state election as serve as Premier of Queensland from 1998 to 2007.
Other factors were the Liberals' determination, after their relegation to minor party status at the 1983 election, to revive their own fortunes, and several industrial relations disputes which had taken place during the year.
Clauson trailed significantly on the primary vote but overcame that deficit in large part due to preferences from Liberal Party voters.
Clauson was re-elected to a full term at the 1986 state election, after which he became Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.