Electoral commission declares final seats in Queensland election

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Annastacia Palaszczuk leaving Government House. Pics Tara Croser.

LABOR leader Annastascia Palaszczuk has become the premier of Queensland, she announced outside Government House this afternoon.

“This afternoon the Governor has invited me to form government. I have accepted that offer. It is an extremely humbling experience and tomorrow the interim ministry will be sworn in here at Goverment House and I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow morning. Thank you,” she said.

LNP leader Lawrence Springborg has congratulated Annastacia Palaszczuk on her new role, in a short statement. Mr Springborg said he would have more to say on policy issues next week but “tonight was Annastacia’s night”.

This afternoon I received @AnnastaciaMP and invited her to form government. PdeJ pic.twitter.com/KM3epNOT0F

— Queensland Governor (@QldGovernor) February 13, 2015

Mr Springborg said the events this afternoon were the result of a “very strong and functioning democracy” despite the state electing a minority government.

“Can I take this opportunity to congratulate incoming Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her government,” he said. “I wish them all the very best in their deliberations over the next few months, and potentially over the next three years as well, as they go about the business of government in this state which can be very very challenging as we’ve seen in recent times as well.

“I think it’s very important that at this time we also reflect upon our democracy, really pay tribute to the Governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey. I wish to reaffirm the absolute respect of the LNP have for the Governor of this state both personally and also in the role that he has fulfilled in making sure that as the guardian of our constitution he has been able to guarantee a smooth transition to a new government in the state of Queensland. And I think that Queenslanders can have great confidence that we are not only served by a great democracy but we are also served by the fantastic institution of a governor that can make sure we have that perfect transition to a new government in the state of Queensland.

“So to Annastacia and her team can I just wish them all the very best, I will certainly have more to say in the course of next week with regards to the policy issues that many Queenslanders want to know About but tonight is Annastacia’s night. Tonight is the practical manifestation of the election that was held on the 31st of January where the people of Queensland clearly spoke with regards to the election of a new parliament and whilst I think we will have many interesting times ahead I think we should now leave it at that, to congratulate Annastacia and her team and we have more to talk about in regards to the day to day administration of government during the course of the next few days, next few weeks and the years beyond that.”

Earlier: The Liberal National Party will pursue legal action into the Ferny Grove electorate after the Electoral Commission of Queensland withdrew its plans.

“The LNP has been proceeding on the basis that the ECQ would refer the Ferny Grove election result to the Court of Disputed Returns as it indicated last week following revelations that the PUP candidate was ineligible,’’ LNP state director Brad Henderson said in a statement.

“Following the ECQ’s change of mind, the party will now consider its position and seek its own legal advice on whether the matter should be referred to Court.”

Earlier the Electoral Commission of Queensland revealed it would not refer the result in the seat of Ferny Grove to the courts.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, the ECQ said it had received new legal advice and would not lodge a petition with the Court of Disputed Returns.

“Based on preliminary legal advice received last week, the Commission intended to refer the Ferny Grove election to the Court of Disputed Returns. However having regard to the final count in Ferny Grove, the winning margin, the number of votes for the PUP candidate, and the distribution of preferences, the Commission will not be making an application to the Court of Disputed Returns,’’ the statement said.

Labor leader @AnnastaciaMP remains inside government house in Brisbane #qldvotes @couriermail

— Rose Brennan (@RoseBrennan12) February 13, 2015

New leader incoming. Sit up straight! RT @couriermail Annastacia Palaszczuk on her way to Government House. http://t.co/Rvmg8g4MuH #qldvotes

— Jen Dudley-Nicholson (@jendudley) February 13, 2015

Qld's Governor arrives at Government House as election stalemate draws to a close @abcnews #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/jGKesKRuEA

— John Taylor (@JTQld) February 13, 2015

.@AnnastaciaMP walking up the stairs of Government House to tell @QldGovernor she has the numbers. pic.twitter.com/xMR32v1qfS

— Kate Limon (@KateLimon9) February 13, 2015

Earlier: LABOR leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has arrived at Government House.

Ms Palaszczuk left Parliament House for the meeting with Governor Paul de Jersey after 44 seats were declared for Labor this afternoon by the Electoral Commission.

Annastacia Palaszczuk: ‘This afternoon the Governor has invited me to form government.’ Picture: Tara Croser

She did not enter via the main entrance at Government House, instead avoiding media awaiting her arrival and entering using a back gate.

Governor de Jersey may ask Ms Palaszczuk if she can form government.

LNP leader Lawrence Springborg has just left Goverment House, at the same time as Ms Palaszczuk arrived.

It was earlier revealed Labor had won enough seats to form a minority government in Queensland after the cliff-hanger election on January 31.

With the support of Sunshine Coast independent Peter Wellington, Labor will have a one-seat majority in Queensland’s 89-seat parliament.

But Governor Paul de Jersey may not commission Labor leader Annastacia Palszczuk as the new premier until Monday.

Mr de Jersey this week indicated he would commission a new premier once all the seats were declared but it’s unlikely the writ will be returned to him until early next week.

While Labor has 44 seats, with just one more electorate to be declared, the Liberal National Party is set to finish with 42 and two have been picked up by Katter’s Australian Party, which is expected to support the LNP if it wins a potential re-election in Ferny Grove.

The Electoral Commission Queensland has referred the result of the northwest Brisbane electorate, won by Labor’s Mark Furner by 466 votes, to the Court of Disputed Returns after the Palmer United Party candidate was disqualified by being an undeclared bankrupt. At least one candidate, One Nation’s Pauline Hanson in the seat of Lockyer, has already called for a recount.

Ms Hanson only lost by 184 votes to the LNP incumbent Ian Rickuss and she believes the preferences weren’t allocated correctly.

“I’m putting the request to the electoral commission to call for a recount,” she said in a short video online.

The ECQ is considering her request.

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Earlier, ECQ principal elections officer Carrick Brough says the remaining seats were likely to be declared later on Friday.

“It’s really looking like today, pending any unforeseen circumstances,” he told ABC Radio.

Governor Paul de Jersey last week indicated he would commission a new premier once all the seats were declared.

However, it’s unclear whether that will be the case, given it’s unlikely the writ will be returned to Mr de Jersey until early next week.

“It’s then in the governor’s hands to make a decision on the government, of course,” Mr Brough said

Earlier: QUEENSLAND’S electoral commission is expected to declare the final seats in the state election, almost two weeks after voters went to the polls.

The commission had declared 82 of 89 seats in parliament late on Thursday night, with results in the final seven expected to be revealed today.

Pauline Hanson this morning asked for a recount in the seat of Lockyer, where she lost to LNP incumbent Ian Rickuss by 184 votes.

An ECQ spokesman confirmed the request this morning and that it would be considered in due course, along with the relevant provisions of the Act.

Otherwise, Labor’s victory is almost certain.

With 44 seats and the support of independent Peter Wellington, they will have a majority in the next parliament, however, Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey is expected to wait until he is formally presented with the poll results next week before inviting a party to form government.

The Liberal National Party is on track to win 42 seats and has been courting the two re-elected members of Katter’s Australian Party.

The LNP’s hopes of forming government rest on the slim chance of a re-election in the Labor-won seat of Ferny Grove.

The result has been referred to the Court of Disputed Returns after the Palmer United Party candidate was disqualified for being an undeclared bankrupt.