Queensland election results 2017: Postal votes still trickling in as Labor plans its frontbench

QUEENSLAND Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls are laying low as the count to determine a remaining four undecided seats continues.

QUEENSLAND Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls are laying low as the count to determine a remaining four undecided seats continues.

Ms Palaszczuk has not made a public appearance since last Monday, where she fronted the cameras during a meeting with the Local Government Association of Queensland, but did not take questions from reporters.

Labor sources are confident the government will clinch the 47 seats needed to lead parliament and avoid cutting a deal with a more diverse crossbench.

While the state may still be days away from an official result, it hasn’t stopped negotiations about the make-up of a Palaszczuk Government frontbench.

Insiders believe Labor could now claim 48 or even 49 seats — more than the 47 needed to form majority government.

That still hinges on Labor keeping the southern Brisbane seat of Macalister where an eleventh-hour leapfrog by child advocate and independent candidate Hetty Johnston on preferences is possible but not probable.

Retaining Townsville on a reduced margin and snatching Maiwar from the LNP amid a neck-and-neck contest with the Greens would deliver the party a more comfortable margin in the next Parliament.

Both major parties are still awaiting official Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) results before claiming victory or conceding defeat, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk unlikely to claim a win before postal votes are returned on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Labor MPs are anticipating a caucus meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday to decide the Cabinet.

It comes amid conversations over which factions will claim which spots in what’s likely to be a largely unchanged frontbench, with just a replacement needed for Bill Byrne who retired at the election.

Speculation has continued that Treasurer Curtis Pitt may be moved for Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to take on the key role and Health Minister Cameron Dick may also move into a financial portfolio.

Labor sources said it was understood negotiations were under way about whether the Old Guard — which Mr Bynre belonged to — would keep its extra position at the Cabinet table.

The faction has been over represented in their numbers but their alliance with the Left means they have sway.

However, there are rumblings the Right could try to move to claim the spot for themselves.

ECQ Assistant Electoral Commissioner Dermot Tiernan last night said he expected more seats would be declared today but that the results of several would likely not be known for days while counting and accuracy checks continued..

Originally published as Queensland election results 2017: Postal votes still trickling in as Labor plans its frontbench