2015-01-31

Labor leader arrives to jubilant welcome at the election party and tells audience that although it is still to close to call, she is hopeful Labor can take office – follow all the updates here

12.20am AEST

Dad was a minister Annastacia defending radio 4zzz right to stay on campus at UQ 1989 #qldvotes #AnnastaciaPalaszczuk pic.twitter.com/msAPGcmpju

Another nugget of gold from Twitter: Annastacia Palaszczuk on stage at the University of Queensland in 1989, with bonus retro Channel 9 cameraman in the background.

12.15am AEST

A montage of recent Courier Mail front pages. We think the tweeter might be employing sarcasm.

If only Newman and the LNP could have got some fair media coverage, the result may have been different #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/VyYLe6b7j9

12.01am AEST

Yesterday Jason Wilson wrote that: The world is turning against austerity. Now it’s Queensland’s turn.

His headline is starting to seem quite prescient.

The rapid decline in Campbell Newman’s popularity is a symptom of Australia’s growing discontent with neoliberal economic policy

11.58pm AEST

Queensland federal MP, Jane Prentice, has refused to endorse Tony Abbott as the leader of the Liberal party in the wake of the Queensland election result.

Asked directly if Abbott is the man to lead the Liberal to the next federal election on ABC 24 she replied:

Well, that’s a discussion, isn’t it? We need to look at where we’re going.

I think we need to take lessons from that. I think they’re lessons we will be discussing. I think all members of Parliament, not just in Queensland but other States as well, will look at the results tonight and there is some serious questions coming out of it.

Look, I think everyone would - not everyone - I think most people would agree with that, we are not getting the message out there and results like today don’t help.

Tony has been a very, very successful leader - he is our fourth longest serving leader of the party. We need to examine what we are doing. We work as a team. I don’t think you can hang Tony out to dry.

11.47pm AEST

Annastacia Palaszczuk has arrived at the Labor election party and says while it is too close to call the election, history has been made.

Well I certainly said it was a David and Goliath battle and it certainly was. Who would have thought three years ago we would be making history tonight? It’s still too close to call but I’m very hopeful that we will be able to form government.

We do it tough but we stand up and we get things done.

Tonight Queenslanders sent a very clear message and that message is they do not want their assets sold and we will keep our assets in public hands.

I want ot unite Queensland, I want to pull Queensland back together. Let’s put the past three years behind us, let’s have a consensus government where we bring people together.

Palaszczuk "very hopeful we are able to form govt" #qldvotes @bkjabour pic.twitter.com/968ldtDX0T

11.38pm AEST

Billy Gordon has won for Labor in the Far North Queensland seat of Cook. This makes him the first male Indigenous MP for Labor in Queensland.

Eric Deeral was Queensland’s first Indigenous MP. He won the same seat for the LNP in 1974.

Leeanne Enoch and Billy Gordon become first Indigenous Queensland MPs for Labor. #qldvotes #auspol pic.twitter.com/uD5dw1MdLa

11.29pm AEST

The result will increase pressure on Tony Abbott’s federal coalition government, which has struggled to implement controversial budget policies and has lagged behind Labor in the polls for most of its term, Daniel Hurst reports:

The prime minister stayed away from Queensland during the campaign, saying Newman wanted to run his own race.

We must make sure that we’re able to take the people with us so they understand why it’s necessary to do things differently in the future.”

Queenslanders have now demonstrated a preparedness for volatility and I don’t think any government anywhere can ever after this result consider themselves to be safe, and that’s a good message that all governments should learn,” Truss said.

11.25pm AEST

It is unlikely we are going to have a result tonight though a hung parliament is looking like a distinct possibility.

With 69.7% of the vote counted there is a 11.4% swing to the Labor party. They have gone from nine seats (two picked up in by-elections since 2012) to 43. LNP have 40 seats and the Katter’s Australian Party has two seats.

11.05pm AEST

Deputy prime minister Warren Truss says no government is safe.

Truss has told reporters at the LNP event that the #qldvotes result showed no govt anywhere after this election can consider themselves safe

QUEENSLANDER! Kate Jones downs XXXX beer like a boss after beating Newman #qldvotes http://t.co/zQvXkJrG2Q pic.twitter.com/gErfWWDGtk

11.03pm AEST

Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten says while the final result is still not known, it is remarkable and happened against all the odds.

This was truly a David and Goliath battle - and Annastacia Palaszczuk has brought Goliath to his knees.

[Annastacia fought] against a party with 80 more seats in parliament. Against a party with a war chest of funding for advertising. Against a government with incumbency and a Liberal government in Canberra.

10.57pm AEST

Leanne Enoch, the new Labor MP in Algester, is the first indigenous woman elected to the Queensland parliament, Joshua Robertson reports.

Enoch, the sister of playwright and theatre director Wesley Enoch, was celebrating with family, some of whom had made the trip to the mainland from Stradbroke Island (the Enochs are Quandamooka mob).

I accept when you are the first, you have to open the door as wide as possible, to as many people as possible, whatever those roles may be.”

10.55pm AEST

Labor supporters wave goodbye to Campbell Newman as he finishes his speech on the television.

Labor supporters wave Campbell Newman goodbye #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/2laPetCn0m

Shadow health spokeswoman Jo Ann Miller, introduced as “the mighty fighter of Bundamba”, has made the first formal address to the Labor faithful at the Lions soccer club in Richlands, in Brisbane’s west.

“Friends, the politics of punishment have gone tonight. The politics of putting the dollar over decency is also gone tonight.”

10.42pm AEST

Campbell Newman is addressing the LNP election function. He says the result is still not clear but his political career is over.

My political career is over. It’s over. The times we are living in are uncertain, I had to make tough decisions but they were necessary and I do truly believe they put Queensland in a far, far better place. We have put the state in a far better place than what we found it.

It’s now time for us to go on with a new chapter in our lives. This is the lady, the love of my life, andI thank her for supporting me for 13 years in political office and we are going to go off together and have a great life together.

When the history of this government is written people should look long and hard at a political team that did the hard yards, and didn’t leak, didn’t bitch and moan, they got on with their jobs. I just wish the community knew you were all men and women of conviction and I wish you the very best.

For the MPs who have managed to win, you have important work at hand. We don’t know if you will be in government or in opposition but you will be part of a strong and stable LNP team.

LNP president Bruce McIver watches Campbell Newman declare "my political career is over" #qldvotes @bkjabour pic.twitter.com/7guT0KLK5V

10.28pm AEST

Campbell Newman expected to speak within minutes

Waiting for Newman #qldvotes @bkjabour pic.twitter.com/C781UeDlLS

10.28pm AEST

At the ALP election night party there are predictions of a hung parliament. My colleague Joshua Robertson is there:

Old Labor heads remain glued to the TV screen as this astonishing result unfolds, still keeping their hopes in check, saying the state will likely end up with a hung parliament.

But the mood among the rank and file grows increasingly jubilant, partaking in a seemingly inexhaustible supply of party pies and of course, the bar tab.

10.27pm AEST

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd, a Queensland man himself, has given his thoughts on tonight:

Anastacia Palaszczuk, against all the odds, and despite all the detractors over the last three years, has delivered a stunning result in Qld

10.25pm AEST

Here is the full video of Kate Jones claiming victory in the seat of Ashgrove.

10.22pm AEST

Annastacia Palszczuk’s father, Henry Palaszczuk, is a former state Labor minister himself. He has arrived at the Labor party election event; Annastacia herself is yet to appear.

With 63.2% of the vote counted there is a 11.7% swing to the Labor party. They are still short of the 45 seat majority but according to the ABC, on the current count, Labor has 44 seats and LNP has 39.

But I’d much rather be in the Labor party’s position than the LNP’s position. Queenslanders, Australians, when it comes to elections always get it right.

Proud Dad @HenryPalaszczuk has arrived at the ALP function. Says it's too early to say who's won #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/khUWvt55Nf

10.20pm AEST

Our colleague at the official LNP election event captured this shot of subdued attendees watching Kate Jones give her victory speech for Labor in Ashgrove.

10.14pm AEST

In light of how the evening is unfolding, it’s interesting to look back on the contrasting atmospheres as Campbell Newman and Annastacia Palaszczuk voted earlier today.

10.04pm AEST

The Sunday Mail endorsed the LNP for victory last week. Brisbane’s weekday newspaper, the Courier Mail, backed LNP throughout the campaign. This is yet another example of the waning influence of newspapers but the rules of politics are being rewritten. Queensland looks to be throwing out a government after just one term when in the last election it reduced the Labor government to just seven seats in opposition in an 89-seat parliament.

Here is the front page of tomorrow’s Sunday Mail for those interested:

Tomorrow's first edition front page. #qldvotes @katejonesqld pic.twitter.com/gYYSEA7c8S

9.53pm AEST

Kate Jones has arrived at her election night party after Campbell Newman rang her to concede defeat.

She apologises for keeping the party waiting and firstly reflects on her 2012 defeat to Newman.

When I was defeated in 2012 I retreated back into my community, I retreated back into my family and for the first time in many years I had the opportunity to step back and look on and what I saw happening over the past three years was a Queensland that was going backwards. A Queensland where I didn’t want to live and a Queensland where I didn’t want to raise my children.

They wanted a community that wasn’t divided but one where we work together. The vote here in Ashgrove sends a very clear message: we want a better way going forward.

Trust can never be bought, it’s something that is earned.

History was not written by me, it was written by each and every one of you

9.42pm AEST

The mood at the LNP official election function room – dire. My colleague Daniel Hurst says:

A smattering of claps in the LNP room at the prediction the party will retain the seat of Redlands - but mostly sombre mood as the dire statewide results come in.

9.32pm AEST

Transport minister Scott Emerson is talking about the huge loss of seats the LNP is suffering. There is currently a 11.5% swing to the Labor party with 56% of the vote counted.

This is a disappointing decision. There’ll be a lot of MPs out there who have worked hard over the past three years and my heart goes out to them.

I always take the view that voters never get it wrong but we had to make tough decisions for the sake of the state and sometimes you make the decisions that are tough even if not in the best political interest.

9.30pm AEST

LNP function. There's a lot of bewildered people here tonight. #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/lt2F1MWrrU

9.29pm AEST

Treasurer Tim Nicholls says Campbell Newman will be “disappointed” to lose Ashgrove and he and his wife Lisa Newman worked hard for the community.

I think he does accept the will of the people of Ashgrove and I think that is a sign of great maturity.

9.23pm AEST

Premier Campbell Newman has conceded defeat in Ashgrove to Kate Jones.

Newman has called Kate Jones to congratulate her on her victory, according to the media director for the government.

9.08pm AEST

Treasurer Tim Nicholls is conceding there looks to be a swing of between 12%-13% to Labor.

It has been from the ALP’s perspective a successful campaign. They have garnered the “we’re not them” vote. There has been no substance from them. I think it’s worrying governments that do the right thing to repair absolute financial failures [can face this].

8.59pm AEST

This really is an extraordinary night. For the second election in a row Queensland is making history.

After the biggest defeat in history in 2012, leaving Labor with seven seats in an 89 seat parliament it is now looking likely Labor will win enough seats to form government and premier Campbell Newman will lose his seat.

8.52pm AEST

Former prime minister Julia Gillard has congratulated Annastacia Palaszczuk on her campaign.

With 40.3% of the vote counted there is a 11.8% swing to the Labor party. The ABC is saying Labor is on 44 seats to the LNP’s 35.

Congratulations to Annastacia and the Labor team on a hard fought, courageous campaign. You can rightly be proud of your efforts. JG.

8.44pm AEST

Treasurer Tim Nicholls is stopping short of saying Campbell Newman has lost his seat but says it will be a real struggle for him to retain it.

It’s a sad day for Campbell and for the work he has put into the seat of Ashgrove but we still have a fair way to go. On those numbers it looks like it’s going to be very, very hard.

It’s far too early to start talking about those sorts of things. I know there’s a certain degree of anxiety...there are a lot of seats yet to be determined. Ashgrove does look like it’s going to a big struggle.

8.40pm AEST

Tweeted by Campbell Newman’s media director of the government, Lee Anderson.

@DavidCurnowQld @612brisbane pic.twitter.com/fmHFrjBVXA

8.35pm AEST

Inside the LNP and Labor party official election night functions:

Annastacia Palaszczuk's grandmother Beryl says she will be premier. Best quality? "Her brain" #qldvotes @bkjabour pic.twitter.com/DsC2Bo1yUk

Media waiting at LNP event; talk that they have seen glimpses of Newman in a room in the distance #qldvotes @bkjabour pic.twitter.com/c0NW7bdHPw

8.28pm AEST

Over on ABC veteran analyst Antony Green is calling the election: truly remarkable. No winning call from him yet.

ABC has LNP on 37 seats at the moment and ALP on 42. 45 is the magic number to form government.

8.28pm AEST

The Queensland Electoral Commission is providing this live stream of seat results by electorate, updated as they come in.

8.24pm AEST

Labor looks to be clawing back the inner-Brisbane seats that they lost in 2012.

Bulimba, the most marginal seat in the state on 0.1% to the LNP, looks to be swinging to Labor by 8.8% with 16% of the vote counted.

8.18pm AEST

In Lockyer, Pauline Hanson is putting up one hell of a flight. She’s on 29.7% of the primary vote!

Every party has preferenced her last though so LNP’s Ian Rickus, who is on 33% of the primary vote will likely retain it.

8.14pm AEST

Katter’s Australian party looks likely to retain at least one seat. In Dalrymple 24.1% of the vote is counted and KAP is on 64.5% of the primary vote meaning Shane Knuth should see another term through.

8.12pm AEST

Stunning sunset in Brisbane as the votes are counted.

That's more like it. #qldvotes #sundown pic.twitter.com/ux3CtKOk7Y

8.09pm AEST

One of the key seats in the election, Mirani, which is between Rockhampton and Mackay in central Queensland, looks like it’s going to be a Labor party gain.

The seat has been held by the Nationals party (now LNP) since 1947 but has been notionally Labor since redistibution in 2009 though it continued to be held by LNP MP Ted Malone.

8.00pm AEST

6.8% of the votes have been counted in Ashgrove and Labor’s Kate Jones is far ahead.

She currently has 1080 votes to Campbell Newman’s 856. That translates to 48% of the primary vote to Labor to LNP’s 38%.

7.54pm AEST

Inside the LNP election night function at the Brisbane convention centre:

The LNP podium .. Still only a handful of supporters in the room watching ABC coverage #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/9iCoutlRZo

7.53pm AEST

Our colleague Daniel Hurst has compiled this detailed graph. It compares Newspoll results for Labor and the LNP over the past three years, including this election.

7.50pm AEST

Journalists have now been allowed into the LNP’s official function at the Brisbane convention centre.

And we're in! #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/v8ThanAyZL

7.49pm AEST

In deputy premier Jeff Seeney’s seat the Palmer United party has put up John Bjelke-Petersen against Seeney. Bjelke-Petersen is the son of former Nationals party premier, Joh.

With 10.8% of the vote counted Seeney is ahead on 47.9% of the vote and PUP is on 26.2%. Labor is on 16.9%.

7.41pm AEST

Some polling booth results starting to come in, though it’s much too early to declare.

With 0.7% of the vote counted there is a swing to Labor of 8.6% and away from the LNP of 4.5%. Labor need an 11% swing to win government.

7.38pm AEST

The official Labor party function is being held at the Lions soccer club in Richlands. My colleague Joshua Robertson is there and he says there is a mood of “guarded optimism” among the top officials there:

One senior party source was not putting too much stock in the Channel 9 exit poll giving it to Labor, saying he wanted to “see a larger sample size”.

“I’ve seen too many people disappointed too many times,” the veteran campaigner said.

7.29pm AEST

The more things change, the more they ... change a lot. Here’s a great pic from outside Brisbane’s newspaper, the Courier Mail, in 1907, where election results were posted outside.

Posting of the election results on the outside of the Courier building, Brisbane, 1907 (@slqld pic) #qldvotes #qldpol pic.twitter.com/EDnMsPhV9f

7.19pm AEST

Since the polls are closed journalists are gathering at the official party functions but at Liberal National party headquarters for the night, the Brisbane convention centre, where Campbell Newman is spending the night, journalists are yet to be allowed inside.

Instead they’ve been ordered to stay in the lobby for now.

7.08pm AEST

Speaking of Ashgrove, Channel 7 have got a ReachTEL exit poll for Ashgrove that shows Labor’s Kate Jones has widened her lead over premier Campbell Newman, who is looking more and more likely to lose his seat.

The poll has Labor on 56% two-party preferred to LNP’s 44%.

7.05pm AEST

Spare a thought for the good burghers of Ashgrove, who although they were spared much of the circus in 2012, still had letterboxes absolutely brimming with election

propaganda
advertising material.

One person made the below video of all the material she collected during the campaign.

7.01pm AEST

6pm and polls have officially closed in Queensland! We can expect more exit polls and actual results over the next hour or so.

7.00pm AEST

Another suit for Queensland, a defamation suit:

The Electrical Trades Union has announced that it is suing the Liberal National party for defamation, AAP reports.

6.41pm AEST

Breaking: people wear clothes.

In a bizarre twist of fashion fate, both Kate Jones and Lisa Newman are out in the same dress: http://t.co/OWsYmnTZyZ pic.twitter.com/zzxYft37b0

.@couriermail OMG I'm wearing the same white shirt as Newman

6.36pm AEST

It was not just the parties behaving badly at some polling booths today (see previous post). Police are investigating the theft of about $1,000 from a coffee cart in Ashgrove, AAP reports:

Liz Hope’s Brew Booth has been serving coffees at the St Finbarr’s Parish School voting station since early Saturday morning.

6.34pm AEST

Still 30 minutes left at the polls for voters and then we should see the results rolling in. There are 89 seats in the Queensland parliament so the magic number to form government in a party’s own right is 45.

The LNP currently holds 73 of the seats and Labor has nine.

6.33pm AEST

A message from our moon-based correspondent for today’s voters ...

Queenslanders: you could vote for Campbell Newman, or Annastacia Palaszczuk, or you could change your state forever with a vote for this excellent cassowary.

6.16pm AEST

No doubt there are battles across Australia, not just in Queensland, for the television remote tonight.

I'm told I have to hand back the TV at 7pm for @Socceroos as "the @afcasiancup only happens every 4 years" #qldvotes #AsianCup

6.05pm AEST

The first exit poll of the night has an ALP victory with Labor on 54% to 46% on two-party preferred basis - though approach this cautiously.

The Channel Nine/Galaxy poll has Labor on a primary vote of 39% and the LNP on 38%. The poll was in 17 electorates and exit polls have been known to show elastic results, though of course the numbers are still interesting to note.

5.58pm AEST

Forecast for tonight: large hail, heavy rain and strong swings.

In classic Brisbane summer style a storm is rolling in as the polls close. Just when we didn’t think the night could get any more dramatic!

#bnestorm view from #Greenslopes #brisbane #weather pic.twitter.com/usu75N99vl

Looks like a big storm brewing! #GoldCoast #9News pic.twitter.com/7xbe2iZoPs

See what I mean! #hailstorm at Palaszczuk HQ @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/dpREVWxrQj

Very Dangerous Thunderstorms in SE QLD - http://t.co/i99jwC6pw9. Radar - http://t.co/wrNn9D7g6H. #bnestorm #7NewsQ pic.twitter.com/h3tM1TqgEH

5.53pm AEST

Be thankful you aren’t out to vote in Richlands today. Unless you are, in which case, good luck!

Big hail storm hitting ALP function at Richlands #qldvotes https://t.co/toMlYmVVpX

5.38pm AEST

There were some very strange moments in this campaign. Strangeness is not unique to Queensland but weird realities are thrust upon politicians and media alike during any election campaign.

From an MP’s chicken dance in response to questions from a citizen journalist to Campbell Newman suing broadcaster Alan Jones you can find the round-up here.

5.31pm AEST

Do you have any video of your Queensland election day experience? It could be featured here in this very blog. Send any videos to my colleague Fred McConnell at fred.mcconnell@theguardian.com or tweet him @fred_dash

5.16pm AEST

There has been some bad behaviour on the campaign trail today.

The Labor party had signs in the colours the Queensland Electoral Commission uses - and no Labor insignia - that said to number every square.

5.06pm AEST

We have some photos from out and about as Queenslanders went to the polls today:

Campbell Newman kisses his wife, Lisa, after casting his vote. Newman didn’t get to vote for himself, he lives just outside of Ashgrove but no doubt he was still casting a vote for the LNP.

4.46pm AEST

Extraordinary is a word thrown around too easily but the stage is set in Queensland for a genuinely extraordinary election result tonight.

Premier Campbell Newman looks set to lose his seat of Ashgrove with the latest polls putting Labor’s Kate Jones ahead 55% to 45% on a two-party preferred basis. It could mean he is the first politician in Queensland to only ever sit in parliament as the leader and will leave him a “one-term wonder” and the Liberal National party potentially the party to win government without its leader, though its majority is at risk.

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