Friday, 8 December 2017

Queensland election: Labor's Annastacia Palaszczuk claims victory with at least 47 seats


Updated about an hour ago


Annastacia Palaszczuk's new government will be sworn in next Tuesday, after the Labor leader secured victory in the Queensland election.
The Electoral Commission of Queensland confirmed the full results on Friday evening, with 48 seats going to Labor, 39 to the LNP, three to Katter's Australia Party, while an independent, a Green and a One Nation member make up the rest.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, a beaming Ms Palaszczuk pledged to work with businesses and industry groups to boost jobs.
She also said her government would prioritise education and health services.
"As premier I will continue to work for all Queenslanders … I will continue to put Queenslanders first," she said.
"The concerns and hopes of Queenslanders that they discuss around their kitchen tables will be the concerns and hopes my government will address around the Cabinet table.
"I'm extremely humbled for the trust and support the people of this state have placed in me."
The Premier-elect said she would be having discussions with MPs to decide her Cabinet, which she plans to announce on Tuesday.
Ms Palaszczuk confirmed one of her first actions would be to write to the Federal Government to veto a publicly funded Commonwealth loan for the proposed Adani mine.
The move was one of her key election promises, but threatened to derail her campaign after revelations her partner had worked on the loan application through his employer PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).


'Who's next?': Palaszczuk lays down gauntlet

Ms Palaszczuk, who is currently battling the flu, said she would celebrate her victory tonight "with a cup of tea and some honey".
She is the first female Premier in Australia to be returned to office at an election.
"I am proud that this milestone is a Queensland milestone," she said.
She also issued a challenge to the next LNP leader, with Deb Frecklington and John-Paul Langbroek shaping as early contenders to replace Tim Nicholls.
'There's a lot riding on who they select," she said.
"But from where I sit — I think I've stared down Campbell Newman, I've stared down Lawrence Springborg, I've stared down Tim Nicholls.
"So, who's next? It doesn't really worry me."
Before the press conference, Ms Palaszczuk made a 15-minute visit to Governor Paul de Jersey to inform him that she was in a position to form a majority government.
It came after Mr Nicholls called Ms Palaszczuk to concede and wish her well for the future.
He also announced he would stand down from the LNP leadership.
A two-seat majority gives Ms Palaszczuk some breathing room, after she had to rely on crossbenchers to govern in 2015.
This campaign she repeatedly promised not to form government with crossbench support even if it meant going into opposition.
Queensland's 56th Parliament will have one of the most diverse crossbenches in years.

The state has its first elected Greens MP, the Katter's Australian Party's ranks expand to three, while One Nation has an elected MP for the first time since 2009.

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