Palaszczuk to seek Governor's permission to form government by Wednesday

Palaszczuk to seek Governor's permission to form government by Wednesday

EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE BY  By Andree Withey and Kym Agius

Updated about an hour agoMon 9 Feb 2015, 2:19pm
Lawrence Springborg and Annastacia Palaszczuk Photo: LNP leader Lawrence Springborg (left) and Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk (right). (AAP/ABC)
Map: QLD

Queensland could have a Labor government by the end of Wednesday, with Labor Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk saying she will seek permission from the Governor to form a minority government with independent Peter Wellington.

A small number of seats are undeclared, but Ms Palaszczuk said Labor was on track to win the two it needs, Ferny Grove and Maryborough.

Counting wraps up on Tuesday, with the seats expected to be declared by the evening.

"I will be speaking to the Governor, and I would expect Campbell Newman to do the honourable thing and resign his commission," Ms Palaszczuk said.

    This is nothing more than a sneaky arrogant and hungry grab for power when the will of the Queensland people was clearly delivered.
    Labor frontbencher Jackie Trad

"I am confident over the next few days Labor will be able to form government.

"What we've seen in the last 24 hours is an arrogant attempt by Lawrence Springborg to cling to power."

It is unclear at this stage whether a by-election will be called in Ferny Grove after a candidate was disqualified.

Palmer United Party candidate for Ferny Grove Mark Taverner, who has so far received 1,000 votes, was found to be an undischarged bankrupt therefore ineligible to run in the seat.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) announced on Sunday it would refer the northern Brisbane seat to the Court of Disputed Returns after the seat was declared.

The court will then determine whether to order a by-election.

Labor MP Jackie Trad, tipped to become deputy Labor leader, said it could take up to six months for a court determination.

She called on the LNP to relinquish control as caretaker government by Tuesday evening, which is the deadline for postal votes to be received.

She said the LNP did not have the numbers.
READ MORE  = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-09/labor-calls-on-lnp-to-relinquish-power/6079022