LNP take QLD election with less than expected lead
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Whilst former Premier Steven Miles’ election night speech is all anyone is talking about, there was also actually an election over the weekend with the LNP only just sliding in by a whisker after hopes for a confident victory as recent as two weeks ago.
The votes will continue to be counted this week, at the end of election night when the counting stopped, LNP held 48 seats, compared to Labor’s 32. The LNP is predicted to win 51, forming a majority for the first time in a decade.
It’s a narrow majority, with the seats Labor looks to be gaining and retaining to be much higher than thought possible during the campaign. Meanwhile the Greens have retained the seat of Maiwar, located in Brisbane’s inner west.
Independent Sandy Bolton retained Noosa with 58.4% of the vote, and the Katter Australian Party retained Hinchinbrook, Hill and Traeger, with a likely win for Marini.
The issue which almost tripped Crisafulli up has been abortion, following his vote against it in 2018 and goading from former Premier Miles throughout the campaign; with experts believing if not for him declaring his pro-choice stance at last Tuesday’s debate, we may be in a very different position post election.
Premier-elect Crisafulli has vowed to create a path for Queensland to rise again, especially in terms of infrastructure and investment, highlighting the four immediate issues to deal with being: crime, health, housing and the cost of living.
Throughout the campaign, despite the state’s record low juvenile rates, LNP have focused on youth crime rates, with a bold youth justice plan to sentence children to adult time, Now with only a slight majority, experts believe the tough crime stance may have to take a back seat.
Crisafulli and his Deputy Jarrod Bleijie will be sworn in as a Cabinet of two by Governor Jeannette Young today so they can appoint Ministers, with the Premier-elect vowing to introduce the adult-time for adult crime by Christmas.
Ex-Premier Miles has indicated his preference to stay on as Shadow Leader, with the hopes of taking power back in four years time. The two likely contenders outgoing health minister Shannon Fentiman, and outgoing treasurer Cameron Dick have told the Australian Financial Review today they will not be contesting leadership.