Graeme Orr discusses the options ahead if Queensland finds itself with a hung parliament:
‘The ALP is … in the box seat in two senses. It is likely to have a seat or two more than the LNP. It also has a leader. Not just a leader in the ascendant, but a leader, full stop.
‘Palaszczuk can immediately begin negotiations with the crossbenchers. In contrast, the LNP is leaderless. Before the election the presumptive favourite was Nicholls, the architect of the LNP’s privatisation plans.
‘Privatisation is anathema to the Katter’s Australian Party (KAP), which has two continuing MPs. They represent bush electorates. After the 2010 federal election, their eponymous federal leader, Bob Katter junior, sided with Tony Abbott over Julia Gillard in negotiations to form a minority government.’