February 10, 2015
Caretaker Premier Campbell Newman released the following statement this morning:
“This morning I tended (sic) my resignation as Premier of Queensland to his Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, pending the appointment of a new Premier.
“In accordance with my constitutional duty, I have agreed it is my obligation to remain in Office as caretaker Premier until that time.
It is a duty I take very seriously and one I will continue to undertake to the best of my ability.”
The Electoral Commission of Queensland has so far declared results in just 16 seats, however election analysts have allocated 39 seats to the LNP and 44 to the ALP.
Three are still considered “in doubt” but are likely LNP wins: Lockyer, Mt Ommaney and Whitsunday.
Forty-five seats are required to form government. Independent Peter Wellington has already indicated his willingness to support Labor.
The two Katter’s Australian Party MPs are yet to announce their intentions but today released a list of priorities (447kb PDF) for both major parties to consider.
ALP leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has stated previously that she expected Campbell Newman to resign as Premier at 6.01pm tonight – one minute after the cut-off time for all postal votes.
“The governor then needs to make a decision about who he calls to Government House to give a commission to,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
However, Governor Paul de Jersey said today he would commission a new Premier following the poll declaration.
Final declarations could still take days.
NB. The result in Ferny Grove (ALP win) will be challenged in the Court of Disputed Returns as soon as the seat is declared, but the process of determining whether a by-election should take place could take some time, even months. The earliest date possible for a by-election by law would be April 11.
UPDATE 6:00pm: 35 seats have now been declared – 19 for the ALP, 14 for the LNP, 1 for KAP and 1 Independent
