Annastacia Palaszczuk is confident of claiming a majority in the Queensland elections despite the result hanging in the balance – while One Nation has failed to pick up a seat.
With just over 60 per cent of the vote counted, Ms Palaszczuk’s Labor party has 41 seats, while the opposition Liberal National Party has 37.
One Nation, fronted by Pauline Hanson during this campaign, has yet to pick up a seat, but is in with a chance of picking up the marginal Labor sear of Mirani.
Annastacia Palaszczuk is confident of claiming a majority in the Queensland elections despite the result hanging in the balance
At least 47 seats are needed to form a majority in the 93-seat parliament.
Ms Palaszczuk has been on track to win the election after exit polls and early counting showed Labor would reach the required 47 seats.
‘Tonight, we are close to the peak, but we are not quite there, and we will not get there tonight,’ she said.
‘But I remain confident we will be able to form a majority Labor government once all the votes are counted.’
ABC election analyst Antony Green said there’s a ‘high probability Labor won’t get to 47 and they’re going to fall short’.
Former Queensland Labor state secretary Anthony Chisholm remained positive the party would secure a majority.
‘I still think there is enough seats in play for us to get there. I wouldn’t be pessimistic on that front at the moment but I would probably say it is looking less likely to know the result tonight,’ he said.
LNP leader Tim Nicholls retained his seat of Clayfield but suffered a swing of 4.2 per cent against him
LNP leader Tim Nicholls retained his seat of Clayfield but suffered a swing of 4.2 per cent against him.
‘Queenslanders have voted to shake things up,’ he told supporters.
‘It is clear the Premier has not won in her own right. But let’s be clear, neither have we.’
Ms Palaszczuk held her seat in Inala enjoying a swing of 6.6 per cent in her favour.
One Nation’s Queensland leader and LNP defector Steve Dickson has lost his seat of Buderim, while former senator Malcolm Roberts said his bid to win Ipswich was over.
One Nation, fronted by Pauline Hanson during this campaign, has yet to pick up a seat
‘It’s disappointing that we are not going to win, but I fell very encouraged especially by the support that people of Ipswich have given to me on the streets,’ he told the ABC.
Federal party leader Pauline Hanson was confident of gaining some seats.
‘I think we will win some seats, there’s no doubt about that. It’s going to be a long night,’ she said.