Queensland election results 2017: Townsville win means Labor a clear victor

PRESSURE is mounting on LNP leader Tim Nicholls to concede defeat in the state election, with Labor this afternoon claiming victory in the seat of Townsville.

Labor member for Townsville Scott Stewart with volunteer Donna Van Rynswoud.

LABOR has won the seat of Townsville, with the Electoral Commission Queensland poised to declare the seat for incumbent Scott Stewart, putting pressure on LNP leader Tim Nicholls to concede defeat and hand victory to Annastacia Palaszczuk.

The win in Townsville hands the party a likely 48 seats to the LNP’s 39 in the House, one more than Ms Palaszczuk needs to govern in her own right.

Mr Nicholls has yet to concede defeat following the November 25 election.

It is convention that he must do so before Ms Palaszczuk can claim victory.

Mr Stewart said he believed Mr Nicholls should concede defeat given Labor now had a clear majority.

“I’m sure she (Annastacia Palaszczuk) is waiting for a phone call from Tim Nicholls to concede,” he said.

“I think Tim Nicholls should stand up, make that phone call and concede.”

The LNP has maintained it wants to wait until all seats are declared before Mr Nicholls concedes.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland declared 31 of the total 93 seats today alone, meaning 54 seats in total have now been confirmed.

Of the seats decided Labor has won 31, the Liberal National Party has 22 and Katter’s Australian Party has one seat.

Multiple candidates have also conceded defeat as they await official ECQ declarations like the LNP’s Andrew Cripps who yesterday conceded defeat to the Katter’s Australian Party in the seat of Hinchinbook.

A spokesman for Mr Nicholls told The Courier-Mail the LNP leader was awaiting the final counts in Thuringowa and Mundingburra before any likely concession speech would take place.