Liberal National Party (LNP) Queensland leader David Crisafulli has claimed victory in the state election, ending an almost decade-long reign by Labor.
The LNP has narrowly secured a majority, ending the night with 48 seats — one more than the 47 needed for a majority.
Crisafulli, set to become the 41st premier of the state, said Queenslanders had voted for hope over fear in his election night speech to party faithful.
The Queensland election was a tight race after a roller-coaster four-week campaign. Source: AAP / Darren England
"They have voted for a fresh start, and they have voted for a majority LNP government," Crisafulli told supporters.
"To borrow a phrase from a different era and a different political movement, 'It's time' — it's time.
"It was a time for a fresh start for Queensland."
The premier-elect began by thanking Miles for his service as premier.
"Tomorrow we get to work, and do what we say we were going to do," Crisafulli said. "We don't do what we say we wouldn’t do. And we have a contract with Queenslanders. We intend to honour it."
Steven Miles said the election finishes "with many more questions about the LNP's plans than answers". Source: AAP / Darren England
Earlier in the night, Miles said Labor had lost its majority but did not congratulate Crisafulli. He also cast doubt on whether the LNP could form a majority government, despite counting indicating a Liberal National Party majority with 49 seats to Labor's 30.
"Queenslanders know what I believe and what I stand for, while David Crisafulli ducked and weaved and tied himself into the tiniest, small target Queensland has ever seen," he said to a room of cheering supporters at a tavern.
"This election finishes with many more questions about the LNP's plans than answers."
Labor went into the election holding 51 seats to the LNP's 35.
Crisafulli will become just the second Queensland Liberal leader this millennium after Campbell Newman held power from 2012 to 2015.
The member for Broadwater had long been tipped to end Labor's nine-year rein with polls favouring Crisafulli for much of the electoral term and before former premier
.
But Miles and Labor
right up until election day.
Labor Party National President Wayne Swan says Steven Miles has run an outstanding campaign in what could have been a wipeout. Source: AAP / Darren England
Miles and Crisafulli spent the final day of the campaign pressing the flesh at polling booths but had a long night as counting showed a close-run race before pre-polls were counted.
Miles made up last-minute ground in public opinion.
Deputy Premier Cameron Dick said his party had made an enormous improvement after facing an "absolute wipeout" in 2023.
Labor Party national president Wayne Swan said Miles had put up a good fight and he hoped he remained as opposition leader.
"It has been a first-class campaign which has avoided what could have been a landslide four months ago," he told the Australian Associated Press.
The parliament's makeup is yet to be cemented as votes continue to be counted, with Katter's Australian Party winning three seats and independent Sandy Bolton retaining her seat of Noosa.
After holding two seats in the last parliament, the Greens appear to have lost at least one — South Brisbane, to Labor. With around 72 per cent of the vote counted, the Greens are ahead in Michael Berkman's seat of Maiwar.
What were the issues the parties campaigned on?
Both leaders campaigned hard on key election issues youth crime, housing, health and cost-of-living pressures.
But
in the past fortnight after a crossbencher vowed to repeal the legislation if elected.
Abortion was decriminalised in Queensland in 2018.
Crisafulli has been under enormous pressure in the past two weeks, repeatedly refusing to explain how he would guarantee abortion laws would not change.
It has coincided with the LNP's dip in the polls.
The latest Newspoll conducted for The Australian showed Miles rated as a better premier at 45 per cent compared to 42 per cent for Crisafulli.
But the LNP remained ahead on a two-party preferred basis at 52 to Labor's 47 per cent.
Crisafulli has also vowed to legislate his controversial "adult time for adult crime" policy under which youth offenders would be jailed on lengthy sentences for committing serious crimes.
He also plans to introduce a 100-day review of 2032 Olympic Games infrastructure, deliver real-time health data and scrap a payroll tax on general practitioners.
More than 3.6 million people cast their ballots, with two million people turning out to vote early.
