Extract from ABC News
By Kate McKenna and Lily Nothling
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has won a third term in office, declaring victory for her party and entering the history books as a Labor legend after being rewarded by voters for her handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Labor leader is set to form a majority government, with the ABC's election computer predicting the ALP to win 52 seats, to the LNP's 34.
During the almost month-long campaign, Ms Palaszczuk campaigned strongly on her Government's handling of the pandemic and in her speech she acknowledged the toll the COVID-19 crisis has had on the state.
"We stood strong, Queensland," she said.
This will be Labor's first four-year fixed term in power.
It means Ms Palaszczuk will be the longest-serving Australian female head of government by mid-2021 and the longest-serving Labor premier in the state since World War II by mid-2024.
But she has already made history by becoming the first woman to win three elections in Australian history.
Senator Anthony Chisholm credited Ms Palaszczuk with bringing Labor "back from the dead" after the party's spectacular 2012 election loss.
"If she serves a full term [she] will overtake Wayne Goss and Peter Beattie, who are Labor heroes," he said.
It was also the first time in the state's history that two women battled for the premiership.
Deb Frecklington — who led the LNP to the polls for the first time — vowed to continue as "leader of this great party," saying they would keep on holding the Palaszczuk Government to account.
Seats still in doubt
With more than 65 per cent of the vote counted, Labor has so far seen a swing of 5.1 per cent.
It has picked up two seats, Caloundra and Pumicestone, but lost former deputy premier Jackie Trad's South Brisbane to the Greens — one of two seats secured for the party.
Eight were still in doubt on Sunday afternoon.
Last night, Ms Palaszczuk surrounded herself with friends and family at the Blue Fin Fishing club in her Inala electorate, in Brisbane's south.
Her father was there too, Henry Palaszczuk, who held the seat before her.
The returning Premier, who enjoyed a 2.8 per cent swing last night, did not receive a call last night from Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington to concede defeat.
Bizarrely, seemingly due to a communication error, both leaders ended up making speeches at the same time last night.
Cabinet and budget decisions to come
Ms Palaszczuk said she would not rush into a Cabinet reshuffle to replace outgoing ministers.
"The results haven't even been declared and I'll be turning my mind to that in the next few days," she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said Steven Miles would remain Deputy Premier and Cameron Dick would keep his role as Treasurer.
"We will be getting down to business tomorrow," she said.
"I promised Queenslanders that we will deliver a budget before Christmas and if that means working right up until Christmas, we will."
Hard-fought battle in the north pays off for Labor
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Labor has achieved "great results" in Townsville.
Mr Chisholm labelled the LNP's controversial youth curfew policy a "dog whistle" and said it "backfired".
"The absolutely cynical and outrageous effort of the LNP to announce a curfew in Cairns and Townsville came up for naught and they should absolutely hang their heads in shame, it was a disgraceful policy," he said.
"It is good that the people of Townsville and Cairns have seen through it, they saw it for what it was and they've rejected it."
Meanwhile, One Nation suffered a negative swing.
While sitting member for Mirani Stephen Andrew was re-elected, there was a 6.8 per cent swing against the party statewide.
Despite outspending all the other parties on paid social media advertising, Clive Palmer's United Australia Party failed to pick up any seats — attracting just 11,853 votes as of last night.
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