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Labor will return to power in Queensland, likely retaining majority but potentially having to rule with minor party support
Annastacia Palaszczuk won Labor election victory in Queensland state, becoming the first woman in the country’s political history to win three elections
As the vote count continues, Ms Palaszczuk told supporters in her electorate that she was confident in ruling by a majority
« It has been difficult not being able to see your family and friends in other states, or even all over the world, because we have been in the middle of a global pandemic
« But here in Queensland we have all remained strong and united, and together we are on top of the pandemic, and if we continue to work together we will remain strong »
On Saturday night, the Labor Party was on track to hold up to 49 seats – an increase from its previous figures
« Queensland is the best place on earth »: @AnnastaciaMP was greeted by cheers from her electorate in Inala after arriving to claim victory in Queensland #QLDvotes @SBSNews picTwittercom / QCHpuw0UTx
Collapse of One Nation vote – down by more than six percent – and blocking of Greens vote is a big factor going against the LNP The Greens appear on course to win a seat – South Brisbane held by former Deputy Prime Minister Jackie Trad – bringing number to two in new parliament
Deputy Prime Minister Steven Miles said keeping South Brisbane would be a « challenge » for Labor « But let’s be clear, this is only difficult because the Liberals chose to prefer her, » he said. he told ABC
Michael Berkman, Green MP for Maiwar, covering the western suburbs of Brisbane, said he believes voters have responded well to the popular Green Party campaign
« We have been running on a really bold platform on special interests. We have been honestly talking about a real green wave going through this election, » he told Channel Seven
At the start of the elections, of the 93 parliamentary seats, Labor held 48 to 38 for the LNP, with the cross-bench comprising three members of Katter’s Australian party, a Greens, a One Nation, a North Queensland First and an independent Sandy Bolton
One nation seemed likely to hold its seat with KAP also holding three and Ms Bolton returned to Noosa
While the LNP held most of its traditional ground, the seats of Currumbin, Bundaberg, Chatsworth, Pumicestone and Caloundra risked falling into Labor hands
Labor will enter 2020 election with 48 out of 93 seats, but a loss of two seats would see Palaszczuk government lose majority Meanwhile, LNP needs nine to win majority # QLDvotes2020 #qldelection @SBSNews picTwittercom / 5D4yBCCPQo
The swing was mixed statewide, with the southeast corner going 2% to Labor and 13% to TNL in regional areas
Some 165 million voters – half of the electorate – have already voted in the state election billed as Australia’s largest since the COVID-19 epidemic
Gold Coast-based Federal Minister for LNP Karen Andrews said the outcome « clearly did not go in the direction we would like it to go »
Ms Andrews handed Labor over to older voters who ‘probably feel safe with the borders closed’, endorsing Ms Palaszczuk’s strategy for dealing with the coronavirus’ What we’re saying is that it s ‘This is a crisis on two levels, health and the economy, but it is clear that in some cases health was the most important for people, « she told ABC
Labor National President Wayne Swan says Ms Palaszczuk has earned ‘lasting respect’ for her approach to the pandemic
« What interests me is the strength so far on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, » he said
Election day was not without obstacles, with Ms Palaszczuk heckled by a volunteer from the TNL and challenged by her rival candidate to reopen the Queensland borders while voting in Brisbane
Ms Palaszczuk spoke to reporters after voting in her South Brisbane electorate in Inala, which she holds at 261 percent, Saturday morning
« I was overwhelmed that everyone came over to say thank you for keeping us safe and it’s my number one priority to take care of the Queenslanders, » she told them, referring to her. COVID-19 response
« Today is a really important day and Queenslanders are making a choice It’s about who they want to be the prime minister to actually run the state, so this is the important choice they have to make «
Then, as the TV cameras continued to roll, a TNL volunteer started shouting that she should open the borders
« Think of the travel industry, 209,000 people out of work first Look at the people I employ, it’s time to open up the borders, » shouted the man named John
Libby, who now serves #democracysausage to voters, says she found numbers sparse at her sizzle station She attributed the decline to pre-vote 75% of Queenslanders voted early in this year #qldpol #QueenslandVotes @SBSNews picTwittercom / nbVzMFVYWx
The pandemic has been good for incumbents, with leaders across Australia getting good marks of approval and Labor governments recently re-elected in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory
Queensland recorded no new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday and marked 50 days since its last locally acquired infection
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Annastacia Palaszczuk, Australian Labor Party
World News – AU – Annastacia Palaszczuk « confident in majority Labor government » as Deb Frecklington admits defeat
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
