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Bob Katter: let’s do a deal

Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) says it is willing to cut a deal with the Labor Party to form a minority government in Queensland.

KAP won two seats in Saturday’s election, while Sunshine Coast independent MP Peter Wellington was also returned in the seat of Nicklin.

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The ABC’s election analyst Antony Green said Labor had clearly won 43 seats, with the electorates of Whitsunday and Mansfield in doubt and too close to call.

He said the seat of Maryborough was likewise still in question, and would either go to Labor or an independent candidate.

Annastacia Palaszczuk is greeted by children as she arrives for an election night function. Photo: AAP

Annastacia Palaszczuk is greeted by children as she arrives for an election night function. Photo: AAP

Labor needed 45 seats for an outright majority, but Mr Green said they were the only party that could form government.

“Certainly there’s no way the LNP can form government in that Parliament, they just wouldn’t have the numbers,” he said.

Counting stopped at midnight but was expected to resume on Sunday morning.

‘Both parties would be prepared to deal’

Re-elected Member for Mount Isa Rob Katter said the people of Queensland sent a strong message to the LNP that they did not like asset sales or leases.

“If there’s any opportunities there of course we’ll take them if the numbers are tight,” Mr Katter said.

“I’m not sure how I see a scenario how the Labor Party would be doing a deal – look I’m sure if it comes to the crunch and both parties would be prepared to deal.”

We are sick and tired of hearing about the great Labor Party and the great Liberal Party.

Shane Knuth, KAP Member for Dalrymple

Mr Katter said he was also ready to negotiate with the LNP but described asset privatisation as a deal breaker.

“I think the LNP would be stupid to pursue that agenda if it came to that because they’ve been told unequivocally by the public that they don’t want it,” he said.

KAP Member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth said they would not stop a government from governing.

“But we want to ensure that we have good governance,” he said.

“We are sick and tired of hearing about the great Labor Party and the great Liberal Party, we want to hear about the great Queenslanders that are out there that have been missing out that are hurting.”

Questions abound about the future of the Queensland Parliament.

Campbell Newman declared his political career over on Saturday night after he lost Ashgrove to Labor’s Kate Jones.

That means the LNP will be forced to address the leadership question it has avoided discussing publicly for the entire election campaign.

Even after it was clear Mr Newman’s fate had been sealed, senior LNP figures such as Tim Nicholls, John-Paul Langbroek and Scott Emerson were still refusing to answer the ABC’s questions on leadership.

However, by 6:30am on Sunday morning Mr Newman was back at his offices, firstly in State Parliament and a short time later at the nearby government executive building in the Brisbane CBD.

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