Labor leader Anastacia Palaszczuk will form the next Queensland government according to a Queensland academic.
Sessional academic and former Queensland parliamentary Speaker John Mickel said Labor would have 44 seats in the new state parliament.
"With the support of Sunshine Coast independent Peter Wellington, Labor will have the 45 seats necessary to form government," he said.
"In contrast, the LNP will have 42 seats and even with the support of the Katter party would secure 44 seats in the Parliament.
"To date, the Katter Party has not given an undertaking as to whom they would support in the parliament.
"Even with that support, the LNP fall short of being able to form a majority."
Mr Mickel said Ms Palaszczuk was the leader of the party with the largest number of seats in the Parliament.
"It will be a minority government but one in which one of the independents has given support," he said.
"Under these circumstances, Ms Palaszczuk should be given the commission to be Premier and should demonstrate that support by winning a vote of confidence in the Parliament."
Mr Mickel said the formation of a new government should be not delayed because a seat has been referred to the Court of Disputed Returns.
"This is exactly what happened in 1995 when the seat of Mundingburra was the subject of a referral to The Court of Disputed Returns," Mr Mickel said.
"A government can be formed and should be formed whilst that case is being judged," Mr Mickel said.
Media contact: Rose Trapnell, QUT media team leader, 07 3138 2361 or 0407 585 901 rose.trapnell@qut.edu.au
