Queensland election results 2017: Palaszczuk close to forming majority government
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk is just a few seats away from forming a majority government but won’t be drawn on whether she will keep her “no deals” promise if she falls short.
QLD Election
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ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has refused to repeat her “no deals” promise should she fail to secure majority government.
But the Premier insists no deals will be needed with Labor Sunday night remaining within a whisker of securing the 47 seats it needs to govern in its own right.
“We are still confident about achieving a majority,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I’m not even thinking about that (deals).”
The Premier did, however, acknowledge the result showed voters in the regions had turned away from Labor and the LNP and pledged to “re-engage” with the bush to win them back.
Labor is poised to secure a second term in office following Saturday’s election, so far securing at least 43 seats in the new 93-seat parliament.
The LNP is trailing with just 35 secured last night and was on Sunday reeling from the loss of several of its frontbenchers including Ian Walker and Tracy Davis and the likely loss of Opposition Treasury spokesman Scott Emerson.
But with a dozen seats still too close to call last night, Ms Palaszczuk will need at least four to fall her way to secure the majority government she had asked voters to deliver.
One Nation remained on track to pick up just one seat in the 93-seat Parliament, leading in the central Queensland seat of Mirani, while the Katter’s Australian Party had claimed two and was last night confident it could wrest the seat of Hinchinbrook from the LNP.
That result remained too close to call.
Ms Palaszczuk acknowledged the small dip in Labor’s primary vote at the poll and the likely loss of some seats in the regions including Bundaberg and Mirani.
“To those people who didn’t vote Labor, we hear your message. We will continue to work with you and we will re-engage with people as much as we possibly can,” she said.
“I think you’ll see where the seats end up landing is a good mix for Labor right across the state.
“Our governing from the regions I believe has worked ... but I think we need a new level of engagement as well so I will be talking to my colleagues about how we can better talk to Queenslanders about the things that we do and the things that matter to them.”
Labor’s factions were keeping a close eye on the seats in doubt yesterday ahead of negotiations on who will make up the new Cabinet.
The Left will maintain its dominance but there is some tension over whether or not the Old Guard faction should keep its four positions in the 17-minister Cabinet.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will retain her role but speculation continues that Curtis Pitt will not return as Treasurer.
Both Mr Pitt and Ms Palaszczuk moved to downplay that speculation during the election campaign after it was revealed in The Courier-Mail that he would likely be moved on from the role.
But senior Labor sources last night maintained it was highly likely Mr Pitt would take on a different portfolio.
Ms Palaszczuk would not be drawn on her new Cabinet yesterday, insisting it was something she would look at when the election result was confirmed.
“As soon as every vote is counted then I will be talking to my colleagues about the future ministry,” the Premier said.
“I’m not turning my mind to that at the moment.”
Whether the party will punish maverick MP Jo-Ann Miller for her antics during the campaign was also being mulled by some yesterday.
The introduction of compulsory preferential voting has benefited Labor in several seats like Ms Trad’s South Brisbane electorate where LNP preferences helped the Deputy Premier fend off an attack from The Greens.
Analysis by The Courier-Mail has found that if only first preferences counted, the LNP would have picked up more seats — a likely 44 — but still not enough to govern in its own right.
Originally published as Queensland election results 2017: Palaszczuk close to forming majority government
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