Queensland election 2017: Our pundits predict the result

CAMPBELL Newman and Peter Beattie have joined Courier-Mail and SKY News journalists in tipping the outcome of the Queensland election.

Former premiers Peter Beattie (left) and Campbell Newman are both expecting a Labor win.

CAMPBELL Newman and Peter Beattie have joined Courier-Mail and SKY News journalists in tipping the outcome of the Queensland election.

THE BEST WAY TO FOLLOW QUEENSLAND ELECTION RESULTS

STEVEN WARDILL, state affairs editor: Annastacia Palaszczuk lost the ground campaign but decisively won the advertising war. Unless One Nation voters preference the LNP en masse, Labor’s devastatingly simple “cuts and chaos” message will hand Palaszczuk a narrow majority.

SARAH VOGLER, state political editor: Labor looks likely to win at least the 47 seats it needs to govern in its own right, with any losses in the regions expected to be offset in the southeast.

DENNIS ATKINS,national affairs editor: Labor will win with a majority of three or four seats because Annastacia Palaszczuk offered stability which the LNP couldn’t do because of One Nation. One Nation has been brought back to the field and it looks like just another political party.

PETER BEATTIE, former Labor premier: Labor will retain power with about 49 seats. One Nation and Katter’s Australian Party could pick up two seats, each leaving the LNP with a likely 40 seats.

CAMPBELL NEWMAN, former LNP premier: LABOR looks set to win between 45 and 49 seats, while the LNP could end up with anywhere between 40 and 44 seats. One Nation could win three to four seats while the Katter’s Australian Party should win two seats. The Greens or an Independent could also steal a seat or two.

PETA CREDLIN, SKY News anchor: I HOPE I’m wrong but I reckon it’s a narrow win to Labor although it will take a couple of days to distribute preferences. Tim Nicholls and the LNP have run a very strong campaign focused on the things that matter but they’ve had weight in their saddlebags from (Prime Minister) Malcolm Turnbull.

DAVID SPEERS, SKY News political editor: IT’S very difficult to know what will happen in about a dozen seats due to the One Nation factor, but I predict Labor will be able to form a majority government. Labor’s internal tracking has improved in the final week of the campaign. LNP figures are worried about losing seats in the state’s southeast.

PAUL MURRAY, SKY News anchor: IT’S hard to see how either the ALP or LNP can get a clear majority. They have to hold everything they have and reach a few seats beyond that. Governments normally go backwards at elections, but One Nation’s strong numbers mean the LNP isn’t riding a wave back to power.

Originally published as Queensland election 2017: Our pundits predict the result