Labor confident in Queensland vote
BRISBANE: Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last night stopped short of declaring a historic victory in the state election, but remained supremely ‘‘confident’’ of forming a majority government.
Ms Palaszczuk said she would be back at work this morning and expected Labor would be able to rule in its own right once all the votes were counted.
‘‘I am confident of a Labor majority,’’ she told reporters in her electorate of Inala.
‘‘We will continue to listen and continue to deliver. Tomorrow, we will be back at work.’’
Last night, Labor was on 42, with ABC election analyst Antony Green predicting it would win 47 while the LNP would have about 40.
If it wins 47 or more, that would allow it to form a majority government, but Ms Palaszczuk has warned the final results might not come through for up to two weeks.
If Labor did get a majority, it would conveniently sidestep a tricky issue for the premier, after she repeatedly during the campaign ruled out forming a minority government with any of the minor parties or independents.
About six MPs would make up the cross bench, including Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth from Katter’s Australian Party. The rest are likely to be made up from One Nation, the Greens and at least one independent.
Ms Palaszczuk said her new ministry lineup would not be decided until all seats were determined. Thirteen were last night in doubt.
By any measure, Ms Palaszczuk is now the most successful female politician in Australian history, and one of the most notable Queensland premiers, taking Labor from seven MPs in opposition and now winning a second term in office.
She drew a strong line under any suggestions her win over the LNP against the odds in 2015 was a fluke.
It was a bad result for the Liberal National Party, as three opposition frontbenchers (Scott Emerson, Ian Walker and Andrew Cripps) are all in grave danger of losing their seats.
It was an even worse election for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party, which might only win one seat and has lost state leader Steve Dickson and star candidate Malcolm Roberts. — AAP