Expect LNP to survive swing

As for the implications for the next federal election, there are some straws in the wind.

Palaszczuk has chosen a theme, that the Newman government ''picks fights with its citizens'', which refers in the main to the sacking of public servants. While this has no direct federal electoral implications, the theme may resonate and federal Labor may test it for later use. It will underline Labor's position that it wants to be everyone's friend: as it leads them into debt.

Palaszczuk has not mentioned the Abbott government and federal parliament will not return before the state election, but of course Abbott will be mentioned from time to time.

While volatility in the electorate will be keenly observed, there will be, somewhat paradoxically, a consolidation of the major parties. Although less rusted on than was once the case, voters have no alternatives to Red and Blue. Palmer, Katter, Greens and sundry others will not feature at the state election.

The Newman government has started paying down Labor's enormous public debts. It did so boldly by cutting the public sector, and in so doing confining the pain to those persons sacked. The Abbott government has sacked no-one, its voluntary thinning of the ranks of public servants is mild and it has barely started paying down debt by cutting outlays.

Should the LNP lose, Queensland and Australia should abandon all hope of rational politics and economic reform.