Premier refuses to rule out deals as magical 47 nears

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has refused to repeat her “no deals” promise should she fail to secure majority government.

But the Premier insists no deals will be needed with Labor last night remaining within a whisker of securing the 47 seats it needs to govern in its own right.

“We are still about achieving a Ms Palaszczuk said. confident majority,” Saturday’s election, so far securing at least 43 seats in the new 93-seat parliament.

The LNP is trailing with just 35 secured last night and was yesterday reeling from the loss of several of its frontbenchers.

But with a dozen seats still too close to call last night, Ms Palaszczuk will need at least four to fall her way to secure the majority government she had asked voters to deliver.

One Nation remained on track to pick up just one seat in the 93-seat Parliament, leading in the central Queensland seat of Mirani, while the Katter’s Australian Party had claimed two and was last night confident it could wrest the seat of Hinchinbrook from the LNP.

That result remained too close to call yesterday.

Ms Palaszczuk yesterday acknowledged the small dip in Labor’s primary vote at the poll and the likely loss of some seats in the regions including Bundaberg and Mirani.

Labor’s factions were keeping a close eye on the seats in doubt yesterday ahead of negotiations on who will make up the new Cabinet.

The Left will maintain its dominance but there is some tension over whether or not the Old Guard faction should keep its four positions in the 17minister Cabinet.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will retain her role but speculation continues that Curtis Pitt will not return as Treasurer. Both Mr Pitt and Ms Palaszczuk moved to downplay that speculation during the election campaign after it was revealed he would likely be moved on from the role.

But senior Labor sources last night maintained it was highly likely Mr Pitt would take on a different portfolio.

Ms Palaszczuk would not be drawn on her new Cabinet yesterday, insisting it was something she would look at when the election result was confirmed.