Incoming premier of Queensland David Crisafulli was confident his Liberal-National Party would secure majority government in Queensland, after a closer-than-expected election result that nevertheless dumped Labor from power after nearly a decade.

“Queenslanders have voted for hope over fear. They have voted for a fresh start, and they have voted for a majority LNP government,” a triumphant Crisafulli said in a victory speech around 10pm in Queensland.

The LNP surged in the vote count as pre-poll and postal votes joined the tally on Saturday night, after Labor initially appeared to have closed some of the gap on what polls suggested would be a wipeout for the incumbent government.

With more than 40 per cent of the vote counted, the LNP was on track to win at least 49 seats in the Queensland parliament, two more than it needed to have a majority.

Labor held ground in inner-city Brisbane seats but was hammered in rural areas, after the LNP led a campaign on fears about crime and cost of living pressures.

Polling showed Labor had made ground late in the campaign, after Crisafulli struggled to quell questions about whether his government would roll back abortion rights. The party has denied it would, but the message was confused.

Counting closed on Saturday night with the LNP headed for majority government, and with Labor holding onto at least 30 seats.