One Nation in central Queensland could return LNP to power

Should central Queensland hold the balance of power, the entire state would wake to a new dynamic: the needs and desires of voters in and around cities such as Maryborough, Bundaberg, Yep­poon, Rockhampton and Mackay.

These voters would have little interest in Brisbane city underground rail or Brisbane-to-coast highway duplication - the big pitch from Labor and the LNP - or indeed any of the other regions.

Labor won government on the back of a too-crude Campbell Newman approach to public debt control.

His one-term government terminated the contracts of 14,000 public servants. I believe the Palaszczuk government has instructed every department head in Queensland to hire public servants regardless.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's one strategy - indeed, the only Labor strategy at a state level - is to hire public servants.

Meanwhile, the Queensland budget wallows in debt, $80 billion at last count. The previous Labor government under Anna Bligh lost the state's AAA credit rating, and the LNP is reluctant to revisit public service numbers or the sale of public assets to win government.

One Nation seats gained at the expense of the LNP will count for little in terms of governing, as One Nation cabinet posts are unlikely. Whatever the comparative numbers, a minority LNP government with the support of One Nation will rely on a good line of communication and experienced negotiators between the parties.

The hope for Queensland is that stable government may be able to pay down debt slowly and regain the AAA credit rating. Keep a lookout for central Queensland: its time has come.