Dale Last 'hanging on by his fingernails'

BURDEKIN incumbent Dale Last has conceded that Labor looks set to form a majority government

BURDEKIN incumbent Dale Last has conceded that Labor looks set to form a majority government despite his Opposition Leader refusing to admit defeat.

Mr Last said yesterday it was disappointing the LNP would not be in a position to roll out its promises for North Queensland and the state.

Labor looks set to form a majority government - scooping at least 47 seats - with the announcement expected to be made this week.

Mr Last is "hanging on by his fingernails” in the Burdekin, having secured 9273 votes with Labor's Michael Brunker steaming ahead on 10,503.

A Labor source said the caucus would meet in Brisbane tomorrow with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to decide her Cabinet.

Mr Last said no one wanted to lose an election.

"You want to be in government so you can deliver on your commitments and promises,” he said.

"We had a good, solid plan but it's disappointing we won't be in a position to implement a lot of those projects now.”

Mr Last said the indicators showed that Labor would form a majority government.

"Our (LNP) focus now needs to run to taking action and continuing to fight for those projects,” he said.

"It comes down to messaging and I'm not sure that our messaging got through to the voters.

"Unfortunately that messaging didn't get through.

"Time will tell if things will improve but you have to say you're not going to see that.”

The incumbent said he had been going between his office and the Burdekin's returning office since the November 25 poll.

"It's been a very long 10 days,” he said.

An LNP source said Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls had campaigned "like a man who was trying to defend it, not wanting to win it”.

"He didn't want to pick a fight,” the source said.

"I think Tim apologised too often and I think (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Deb Frecklington is an absolute superstar and was underused.”

Meanwhile, Labor's Paul Jacob has been thrown out of the Hinchinbrook race after preference counting began.

Katter's Australian Party's Nick Dametto is looking likely to bump incumbent Andrew Cripps out of the seat, with 71 per cent of Labor's counted preferences (1025) yesterday flowing to KAP.

One Nation welcomed a flow of 12 per cent with LNP scooping up 17 per cent. There are more than 5000 Labor preferences left to count today.

Originally published as Dale Last 'hanging on by his fingernails'