October 26th 2024.
David Crisafulli is on track to become the next Premier of Queensland, but his opponent Steven Miles has yet to concede defeat. Despite predictions of a Labor wipeout, the LNP has not achieved the landslide victory many had anticipated.
While it is likely that the LNP will form a majority government, nothing is set in stone. As the night draws to a close, Nine has declared 44 seats for the LNP, 32 for Labor, 3 for Katter's Australian Party, and one for an Independent, with 14 seats still in question.
The evening was filled with drama, twists, and turns. In his victory speech, Crisafulli exuded confidence in the LNP's ability to lead with a majority. "We asked Queenslanders to choose hope over fear, and they did," he declared. "We asked them to vote for a fresh start, and they did. Now, it's time for us to get to work."
Crisafulli also acknowledged the magnitude of the task ahead, stating that it will take every day of their four-year term to address the state's pressing issues such as crime, health, housing, and cost of living. He emphasized the importance of humility and decency in governing for longer than four years, noting that the LNP has not won back-to-back elections since 1986.
Nine's political editor, Charles Croucher, described Crisafulli's speech as gracious and befitting of a Premier. Meanwhile, Miles, the current Premier, accepted that Labor could not secure a majority but pointed out that the LNP also fell short of the required 47 seats. He remained hopeful, stating that more results will become clear in the coming days.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman acknowledged that it had been a tough night for Labor, but she expressed confidence in Miles' ability to continue leading the party as opposition leader. Among the Labor MPs who lost their seats were Brittany Lauga in Keppel, Don Brown in Capalaba, Jason Hunt in Caloundra, Scott Stewart in Townsville, Les Walker in Mundingburra, and Aaron Harper in Thuringowa.
The Greens also faced disappointment, with MP Amy MacMahon losing her seat in South Brisbane. They may only hold on to one seat in the parliament, with a slim chance of retaining Maiwar. Croucher noted the lackluster performance of the Greens, stating that while a blue wave may still come, the green wave was nowhere in sight.
Katter's Australian Party is expected to retain three, possibly four, seats, while Independent MP Sandy Bolton will also keep her seat in Noosa. The Electoral Commission has paused the vote count for the night and will resume tomorrow.
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