November election on the cards

LATE November could be when Queenslanders and Gold Coasters go to the polls, with political sources saying a Brisbane city councillor’s shock resignation is a State election signal.

Labor’s Shayne Sutton yesterday resigned as councillor for Morningside but she would stay in the role until a State election was called.

Political sources from both sides of the fence have told the

Bulletin her resignation is a signal Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk could call a late November State election, possibly for November 25.

One source said: “That would be a very smart conclusion to draw.

“Everyone is now saying (late November) is the only time – you have to do it before school holidays because otherwise everyone buggers off.”

Premier Palaszczuk was planning to call an election for late February after a lacklustre fortnight in Parliament and a disappointing recent poll result. But it is understood party strategists are now keen to go earlier to prevent the LNP from building up a campaign war chest in coming months.

Labor Party officials are also concerned about risks attached to a 2018 election, most notably the prospect of power shortages in the summer.

A senior LNP figure told the

Bulletin the party was on a “war footing” ready for an imminent visit by the Premier to the State Governor by the end of this week.

A Gold Coast political source said signs were pointing to a late November election date. “She is clearing the decks,” the source said.

In a curiously worded response to the speculation, a State Government spokesperson last night told the Bulletin: “The third anniversary of the 2015 election is next year.

“When the election is called, the Premier will not be citing Shayne Sutton's retirement as the councillor for Morningside in her decision for 4.9 million Queenslanders.”