QLD election results 2020: Jubilant Premier claims victory, 'gobsmacking' Frecklington speech fail
A victorious Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has thanked the people of Queensland as she declared victory in the 2020 state election, being returned for a third term as voters turned their backs on the LNP. But experts were left 'gobsmacked' by LNP leader Deb Frecklington's concession speech.
A victorious Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has thanked the people of Queensland as she declared victory in the 2020 state election but experts have been left 'gobsmacked' by opposition leader Deb Frecklington's speech fail.
Ms Frecklington made the extraordinary move to make her concession speech at the exact time Ms Palaszczuk was making her victory speech in front of a cheering crowd.
The move left political analysts 'gobsmacked' saying they'd never seen it before and her advisers had failed her.
Ms Palaszczuk has won a historic third term with Labor recording a 5.2 per cent swing across the state while the LNP and One Nation vote tanked.
But her former deputy premier Jackie Trad has been swept out of parliament by a Greens surge in South Brisbane, pushed on by LNP preferences flowing to the minor party.
Ms Palaszczuk said 'Queensland was the best place on earth' as she fronted her supporters.
She said her team would 'roll up our sleeves and get back to work as quickly as possible' to help the economy recover from COVID.
Meanwhile, an upbeat Ms Frecklington was giving her concession speech at the same time as Ms Palaszczuk's victory speech.
She said Queenslanders had made their decision, that it was respected by the LNP and she would continue as leader of the party.
“I’m so proud of the campaign that we have fought,” she said.
“I’m so proud of the 93 candidates that ran the good race.”
She said they had outlined a positive plan for the state to secure the next generation.
"It has not been an easy year for many many Queenslanders, but we have stood together strong and united," she said". "If we work together we will stay strong."
SEE THE FULL RUNDOWN OF HOW THE NIGHT UNFOLDED IN THE LIVE BLOG BELOW
Labor had the best of the early returns, recording swings towards them in some of their key targets of Currumbin and Burleigh on the Gold Coast and Hervey Bay, north of Brisbane while gaining Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast plus Pumicestone.
They have retained their vulnerable electorates of Barron River, in Cairns, Mansfield and Aspley in Brisbane and is likely to retain Mundingburra in Townsville.
Two more marginal seats in Townsville – Thurungowa and Townsville – were still on a knife’s edge.
And the LNP recorded swings across the southeast corner that could end Deb Frecklington’s leadership of the conservative party.
RESULTS LIVE: HOW EVERY SEAT IS FALLING
DAY BLOG: SEE ALL THE ACTION AT THE POLLS AS IT UNFOLDS
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Annastacia Palaszczuk has been returned to a third term with Labor recording a 5.2 per cent swing across the state
- Controversial former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has lost her South Brisbane seat to the Greens' Amy MacMahon
- The One Nation vote is collapsing - down 9.6 per cent across the state with votes flowing to Labor
- Clive and Anna Palmer skip election day campaigning, spends it on $8.3m mega yacht
- LNP clings on to Currumbin but loses Caloundra to ALP
- Up to 20 booths delayed counting due to storm damage
CATCH UP ON THE COURIER-MAIL'S UNRIVALLED ELECTION COVERAGE:
QLD DECIDES: THE SIDE POISED FOR VICTORY IN 2020 EELCTION
THE 13 SEATS WHERE ELECTION WILL BE WON OR LOST
TELL US THE TRUTH: CAMPAIGN FLOODED WITH MISINFORMATION
WILL QUEENSLANDERS CHOOSE INTEGRITY OR POPULARITY?
EDITOR'S VIEW: LNP BEST CHOICE TO MOVE STATE FORWARD
EXCLUSIVE POLL: THE ONLY LEADER VOTERS TRUST WITH ECONOMY
Originally published as QLD election results 2020: Jubilant Premier claims victory, 'gobsmacking' Frecklington speech fail