In a significant political shift, the center-right Liberal-National Party has secured victory in the Queensland state election, ending Labor’s 18-year reign in power, Bloomberg reports.
This outcome sets the stage for a potential national election showdown by May, with implications for the upcoming federal race.
The Liberal-National Party is projected to win at least 48 out of 93 seats in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, securing a majority in state parliament. While 11 seats remain undecided, the outcome effectively marks a decisive victory for the coalition.
Premier-elect David Crisafulli, in his victory speech, expressed elation at the outcome.
“Tonight we get to celebrate the biggest achievement we’ve had in over a decade. Queenslanders voted for hope over fear.”
The Queensland election campaign was dominated by issues that are likely to play a pivotal role in the federal election. Voters expressed frustration with rising living costs, exacerbated by a state-wide housing shortage and persistent inflation, which has prompted the Reserve Bank of Australia to maintain interest rates at a 12-year high.
While a center-right victory in Queensland was widely anticipated, the outcome significantly alters the political landscape for Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He was reportedly waiting for the defeat of Premier Steven Miles’ unpopular government before calling a federal election, aiming to capitalize on potential gains in Queensland.
However, with federal opposition leader Peter Dutton hailing from Queensland, Labor now faces a more challenging task in retaining its existing seats in the state, let alone securing new ones.
