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Queensland election results

COUNTING for the Queensland election has put Labor ahead with the party now tipped to win 48 seats.

Charis Chang, Liz Burke and AAP
15 min read
November 27, 2017 - 6:39AM
Queensland election in Townsville
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Live results of Queensland election

Queenslanders have cast their votes on whether ‘accidental premier’ Annastacia Palaszczuk will retain power.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is confident of forming a majority government after ABC election analyst Antony Green predicted Labor would pick up 48 seats, one more than the 47 it needs to claim victory. One Nation has yet to claim a seat, although it is ahead in Mirani. All times are in AEDT, which is one hour later than local Queensland time.

6.30pm

Historic win likely in Cook

Cynthia Lui is set to become the first Torres Strait Islander elected to office in Australia as the Labor candidate holds her lead in the far north Queensland seat of Cook.

Ms Lui, a single mother-of-three, was on Sunday afternoon sitting on almost 9000 votes, more than 4000 ahead of her state election opponents with more than 72 per cent of the count complete.

Born and raised on Yam Island, the 40-year-old said she would use her experience of the challenges faced by remote indigenous communities to her advantage to deliver better health, education and employment outcomes.

The seat of Cook was vacated by Billy Gordon, who won the seat for Labor in 2015 only to be dumped by the party after revelations of domestic violence and unpaid child support payments.

Ms Lui said her potential history-making position was bittersweet. “The fact that we’re in 2017 and you know, me coming into this as being the first Torres Strait Islander, it’s amazing that it’s taken this long but its also amazing that I get to experience this, I get to live it.”

Cynthia Lui (left) arrives at a victory party with her mother Lizzy Lui.
Cynthia Lui (left) arrives at a victory party with her mother Lizzy Lui.

3.20pm

Premier backs Antony’s prediction

With the added boost of ABC’s “renowned” election analyst calling the election for Labor, Annastacia Palaszczuk appeared before media to say the government would be at work tomorrow.

While she stopped short of claiming victory, Ms Palaszczuk said she was confident of a Labor majority.

“Antony Green has called it, we are confident,” she said.

When asked whether she was disappointed the result was so close, she said: “I am not disappointed at all. At the end of the day this is Queenslanders having their say on who they believe is best to run their state.”

When asked why she thought One Nation had done so badly, she said: “I think the people of Queensland have spoken in terms of rejecting their values.

“But let me say this, even to people out there who voted One Nation, I will work with you. I have heard what you have said during this election campaign and it is now my job to work with people who feel somehow separated from the normal hustle and bustle of Queensland politics. If that means a new level of engagement, I am up to it.”

She said she was committed to working for all Queenslanders.

“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. And we will continue to listen and continue to deliver. Tomorrow, we will be back at work.”

1pm

Labor set to claim victory

ABC election analyst Antony Green is predicting Annastacia Palaszczuk will be returned as Queensland Premier with a slim majority.

Counting continues today with Mr Green now saying Labor was certain of at least 46 seats. The ABC election computer has suggested it will win another two, giving the party a total of 48 seats — one more than the 47 required to form government.

“On the numbers we have at the moment it is a majority government, but even if she falls a seat short, she doesn’t have to do any deals,” Mr Green said.

“She can leave it to the Parliament to vote her out, because it would be unlikely that all the crossbench would vote against them at once.”

8.30am

Tough night for One Nation

Pauline Hanson and One Nation had a miserable night. But the Queensland election wasn’t much better for Malcolm Turnbull or the federal coalition. One Nation had expected to pick up a number of seats and at least hold the balance of power in the state parliament, thus stamping its resurgence as a political force in Australia.

Federal politicians had been watching the Queensland election to see whether it was the beginning or the end for the party.

At the end of counting on Saturday night, One Nation was yet to win a seat and had lost its two biggest names — state leader and LNP defector Steve Dickson and former senator Malcolm Roberts.

It could be hard for them to rebuild again, although Senator Hanson was putting on a brave face.

“I think we will win some seats, there’s no doubt about that,” she said.

Federal MPs from Labor and the coalition declared it a disastrous result for One Nation.

The biggest headache for the prime minister from Saturday’s election has not been the issue of One Nation, but the failure of the Liberal National Party to cut through and reverse its fortunes in Queensland, especially in the key regional seats.

Cabinet minister Matt Canavan, a Queensland National, said he was not surprised by the results, especially in the regions.

“There is a lot of anxiety. There is a level of frustration that things are not happening,” he told the ABC.

Uncertain results in regional seats had prevented a clear outcome from Saturday’s election.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson leaves the campaign party house in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP
One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson leaves the campaign party house in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

“You get this sort of backlash against a government in regional Queensland as you have seen today when they don’t think they are being listened to,” Senator Canavan said.

A solid showing on Saturday could have given One Nation a foot in the door for the next federal election in seats such as Herbert, Dawson, Wright, Flynn, Hinkler and Blair, as well as the Senate.

There are benefits in a weakened One Nation for Malcolm Turnbull, as he seeks to restore his own stocks. It will give the coalition a better chance of bolstering its numbers in the Senate.

And it will raise hopes LNP members in regional seats will be able to see off future challenges from the minor party.

However, one of those MPs, Dawson’s George Christensen, isn’t convinced. He posted on social media a map of a segregated Queensland.

“There are clearly two Queenslands. The case for a separate North Queensland state is strong after tonight.”

1am

Night’s final count

The outcome of the Queensland state election will not be known until preferences and pre-poll votes are counted.

Just over 69 per cent of the vote was known by the time counting closed on Saturday night, with the ALP on 43 seats and the Liberal National Party on 38.

It’s unclear whether Labor will be able to reach the 47 seats it needs to form government.

Katter’s Australian Party looks like it will return its two MPs — Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth. It is also in the running for the seat of Hinchinbrook with preferences yet to be tallied.

Independent Sandra Bolton held a lead on the first preference votes in the seat of Noosa but will need preferences to claim victory.

One Nation has yet to pick up a seat, but it’s in with a chance of winning the marginal Labor seat of Mirani, between Rockhampton and Mackay in central Queensland.

11.50pm

‘Queenslanders have voted to shake things up’

Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls hasn’t conceded defeat but his 15-minute address to LNP supporters certainly sounded like a concession speech.

He took a dig at Annastacia Palaszczuk for the inconclusive election result and sought to hold the Premier to her promises.

“What is abundantly clear is tonight Queenslanders have voted to shake things up,” he said.

“It is clear that the Premier has not won a majority in her own right.

“But, let’s be realistic, nor have we and we must accept the will and the vote of the people of Queensland.

“The result reflects what I have been saying all year, and that is that Queenslanders are frustrated with the same old politics.”

Mr Nicholls said there were between 10 and 14 seats in doubt and these seats would determine the outcome. Counting had stopped but would restart tomorrow at 9am.

He called on Ms Palaszczuk to honour her promise not to do any deals with the Katters, Greens, minor parties or independents to form government.

“The question for Annastacia Palaszczuk is: will she keep her word?”

Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls arrives at the LNP election function. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP
Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls arrives at the LNP election function. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

11.25pm

‘We will not get there tonight’

The mood at what earlier looked to become Annastacia Palaszczuk’s victory party ended on a slightly less celebratory note than when it peaked earlier tonight.

Asked if she got the result she was expecting while leaving the Labor function, Ms Palaszczuk simply said: “we’ll see in the next few days.”

The Premier’s father and former Inala MP Henry Palaszczuk told news.com.au he was confident and proud of his daughter, but said “we still have to reach the peak”.

Earlier while addressing her supporters, Ms Palaszczuk referenced a quote from her last surprise election win when she said it was like climbing Mr Everest.

“We are close to the peak but we are not quite there and we will not get there tonight,” she told supporters.

“But I remain confident we will be able to form a majority Labor government once all the votes are counted.”

She also indicated she would not be making a deal to form government with One Nation.

“I will never sell out the needs of Queenslanders by doing a deal with One Nation”.

But she did not rule out a deal with the Greens or other independents.

In a strange statement of solidarity she said: “Queenslanders are not red, we’re not blue ... we are maroon”.

Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk at the party's official function.
Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk at the party's official function.

11.10pm

Result unlikely to be known tonight

The outcome of the election may not be known until preferences and pre-poll votes are counted.

About 717,000, or 23 per cent, of eligible voters cast their ballot early, up from 20 per cent in 2015.

With about 67 per cent of the vote counted, Labor is sitting on about 35 per cent, LNP on 33 per cent, One Nation on 13 per cent (up about 12.6 per cent), Greens on 9 per cent, Katter’s Australian Party on 2.2 per cent and 5.4 per cent on others.

At least 12 seats are in doubt.

Labor is looking likely to pick up Labor, Gaven, Macalister, Maryborough, Mundingburra but Burdekin and Thuringowa are too close to call.

KAP is likely to pick up Hinchinbrook, One Nation will probably be elected in Mirani and it looks like independents will be elected in Noosa and Rockhampton.

10.45pm

Concerns about Adani drive Greens vote

One of the interesting results has been the strong Green vote around Brisbane.

While Labor narrowly held on to its seat in South Brisbane, the Greens was able to make significant inroads in the area.

It is also still in with a chance in the neighbouring Maiwar electorate.

Many are attributing this to concerns about the Adani mine in the Queensland’s Galilee Basin.

While the Greens have done very well in inner Brisbane, in regional Queensland their support is hovering about 5 per cent.

The “wacky” vote in regional Queensland is one of the reasons the result is so difficult to call with support split among the parties. Currently the ALP has secured 29 per cent of the regional vote, LNP is on 31 per cent and One Nation is on 21 per cent.

10.40pm

Time for a split?

Nationals MP George Christensen has formed a bizarre conclusion from tonight’s somewhat surprising election results so far.

In a Facebook post, the federal parliamentarian suggested the result backed up the case for North Queensland to become its own state.

“There are clearly two Queenslands,” he said in a Facebook post. “The case for a separate North Queensland state is strong after tonight.”

Christensen was clearly referring to the apparent split in voting preferences between the state’s regional north and urban south east.

The push for a separate state of North Queensland has been one of the hallmarks of Katter’s Australian Party during the election campaign.

KAP leader Robbie Katter pledged to take steps toward a split in parliament if his party held the balance of power after the vote.

10.30pm

Labor confidence eroding

There’s no sign of Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk at the buzzing ALP function just yet.

Supporters were told to expect her arrival but it seems she has pushed this back as the numbers tighten.

Some of the close seats at the moment are Gaven, Maiwar, Cook, Thuringowa, Burdekin and Mirani.

10.15pm

One Nation still in with a chance

Looks like results in Mirani are quite promising for the party with Stephen Andrew on 31 per cent of the vote based on 56 per cent counted. The ALP is ahead on 37 per cent but the LNP is on 26 per cent.

They may also be in with a chance in Cook with 62 per cent of the vote counted. Jen Sackley has picked up 21 per cent of the vote, the ALP is on 32 per cent and LNP is on 19 per cent.

10.10pm

Labor claims South Brisbane

Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has claimed victory in her seat of South Brisbane after fighting off a challenge from the Greens.

“We do know here in South Brisbane that Labor will end up with about 53 per cent of the two-candidate vote,” she told cheering supporters on Saturday night. Ms Trad had gone into Saturday’s election with a 13.8 per cent margin, but that was slashed by the Greens’ Amy MacMahon.

9.40pm

Sky News calls it for Labor

The network has projected Labor to win the election and the Oxley golf club where the Labor Party is holding its official function is definitely where the party’s at tonight.

A crowd of jubilant red-shirt wearing Labor supporters is already celebrating a Labor win.

The small balloon-filled room is packed with people wearing red T-shirts and huge smiles as some outlets have already begun calling another Labor win.

“What a relief,” one member was heard here saying.

The crowd has been told Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will be arriving soon, probably before 9pm, and presumably to declare victory.

But the ABC is unsure Labor will get enough seats to secure a majority.

At this stage Antony Green can only see Labor picking up 46 seats, falling short of the 47 it needs.

While Labor will get more seats than the LNP it’s not clear if they can get enough for a majority.

With more than 50 per cent of the vote counted, the ALP have gained about 36 per cent of the vote while the LNP is sitting on about 33 per cent.

9.10pm

Liberal National Party in no mood to party

LNP supporters are settling in for a long and probably disappointing night at the Brisbane Novotel where the party’s official function is taking place.

We’re not going to call it a party, because the mood here doesn’t seem all that celebratory.

News.com.au reporter Liz Burke has overheard LNP members, staff and supporters giving thanks for the well-stocked open bar, commenting that they are in for a long night.

Though the room is beginning to fill up, it appears the Party didn't predict a huge turnout at tonight’s function. They’ve hired only a small function room in the hotel.

The party’s shadow treasurer Scott Emerson is facing a tough fight to keep his seat in the new Brisbane seat of Maiwar, which has seen a big swing to the Greens.

“I think it will be a tough fight. We are still in it. We are not giving up anything at the moment,” he told the ABC.

The LNP is also at risk of losing the seat of Noosa.

Meanwhile Labor looks like it will pick up seats in Redlands, Aspley, Bonney and Gaven.

LNP's official function is taking place at the Brisbane Novotel.
LNP's official function is taking place at the Brisbane Novotel.

8.39pm

Labor ahead in tight poll as One Nation falters

While it’s too early to call it yet, it’s looking more likely that Labor will win.

There are a lot of close seats and ABC election analyst Antony Green said: “It will be a while before we call this election, it’s not clear”.

So far the ALP is predicted to win 44 seats, the LNP 37 seats, two seats for others and 10 unclear. At this stage One Nation is not tipped to win any seats.

Despite showing some good early numbers, Pauline Hanson’s party is struggling to cut through. Malcolm Roberts has missed out in Ipswich and it looks like leader Steve Dickson will also lose his seat of Buderim. Townsville had been expected to give the party votes, but that is not happening so far.

There are some upsets for the other parties too.

Sky says with nearly a fifth of the vote there’s been a statewide swing against Labor of one per cent.

LNP treasury spokesman Scott Emerson is in danger in the new Brisbane seat of Maiwar and former Labor minister Leeanne Donaldson is also likely to lose in Bundaberg.

Independent Sandra Bolton looks like upsetting the major parties by picking up the LNP-held Sunshine Coast seat of Noosa.

The Greens are having a good night. There has been a big 13 per cent swing to the Greens in South Brisbane and the ALP is only just ahead on preferences. They are also benefiting from a swing in Maiwar, which could see the ALP elected on preferences.

8.26pm

Malcolm Roberts misses out in Ipswich

The former One Nation senator has acknowledged he’s probably not going to win a state seat.

But he didn’t give much away when asked whether he would run again for the Senate saying “we’ll see what happens”.

8.10pm

Some bad news for One Nation

While One Nation is polling well in some areas, it is looking likely LNP defector Steve Dickson will lose his seat of Buderim as he is lagging well behind the LNP and the ALP. Former premier Peter Beattie told Sky News “he’s gone”.

With 23 per cent of the vote counted, Dickson is polling at 28.33 per cent compared to the LNP at 34.66 per cent and ALP on 23.73 per cent.

It looks like Malcolm Roberts will also miss out. The former One Nation senator who was forced to leave due to his dual citizenship hoped to gain support in Ipswich.

But with 31 per cent of the vote counted, he is only polling at 26.98 per cent, compared to ALP on 47.16 per cent.

Former One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Former One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

7.57pm

How the seat count is looking

The ABC is so far projecting 30 seats to the ALP, 23 to the LNP, two to One Nation, four for others and 34 seats are unclear.

The challenges facing One Nation in winning seats was pointed out by ABC election analyst Antony Green, who highlighted the numbers in Lockyer where about 34 per cent of the vote has been counted.

The One Nation candidate is polling at 36.94 per cent compared to the LNP candidate at 34.98 per cent. Despite the strong result Labor is preferencing LNP (and has 21.90 per cent of the vote) so it’s expected to remain a LNP seat.

Jim Savage, One Nation candidate for the seat of Lockyer, with his wife of 20 years, Jackie. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian
Jim Savage, One Nation candidate for the seat of Lockyer, with his wife of 20 years, Jackie. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

7.47pm

Some seats already being called

Despite the small number of votes counted, Nine is already calling some seats including a LNP hold for the electorate of Lockyer, while the ALP is expected to retain Algester and Lytton.

7.40pm

Early results show strong One Nation result

There’s only 5 per cent of votes counted but some early results in the seats of Burnett and Mirani, show One Nation is polling at more than 30 per cent.

7.20pm

What happened in 2015

The last time Queenslanders went to the polls, this is what the primary vote was:

LNP — 41.32%

Labor — 37.47%

Greens — 8.43%

Palmer United — 5.11%

Katter’s Australian — 1.93%

Family First — 1.19%

One Nation — 0.92%

Independent — 3.63%

If the Nine/Galaxy exit poll is accurate, One Nation’s vote will jump from 0.92 per cent to 13 per cent.

6.55pm

Exit poll predicts Labor victory

An exit poll from Nine/Galaxy has predicted Labor will win the election. The primary vote for LNP is down six points to 35 per cent, which has been described as a “catastrophic” result.

The exit poll is predicting the ALP will win up to 51 seats — four more than the 47 seats it needs to form a majority government. The two-party results were 52 to 48.

The result is consistent with a Newspoll in Saturday’s The Weekend Australian, which had Labor ahead of the Liberal National Party on two-party preferred basis of 52.5 per cent to 47.5 per cent. The most recent Galaxy, ReachTEL and Essential polls have shown similar results.

6.30pm

How well will One Nation do?

There will also be a lot of interest in the performance of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party, particularly in Canberra where the protest party has a lot of support in coalition-held federal seats.

Ms Hanson said she was confident the party will poll well but refused to speculate on the number of seas her party will win.

“This is going to be the real beginning and resurgence of One Nation,” she told AAP.

At the moment One Nation holds one seat in Buderim but the local MP Steve Dickson, who defected from the Liberal National Party earlier this year, told AAP he was not confident of holding it.

Mr Dickson has held the seat since 2009 but is widely tipped to lose on Saturday. Speaking in Buderim, Mr Dickson said the boundary changes to electorates had complicated voting.

“Boundaries have been moved in my seat, unfortunately,” he said. “I think what people have got to understand in Queensland is this election is probably the most unique election we’ve ever seen in Queensland’s history.”

— With AAP

Pauline Hanson at the polling booth at Mountain Creek State School for the 2017 Queensland State Election. Photo Lachie Millard
Pauline Hanson at the polling booth at Mountain Creek State School for the 2017 Queensland State Election. Photo Lachie Millard
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