Nothing really stands out from Palaszczuk’s near-9 years in office

Protest vote campaigns only really work when the other side doesn't know what you are up to-there are basic strategies to inoculate against them.

Unaccountably, the Liberal Party didn't use any of them.

So instead of Mr. Newman scoring a narrow win, probably losing his own seat, but being parachuted back into parliament via the resignation of a backbencher, and a chastened government mending its ways and doing politics smarter, the LNP was traumatised and cast into the wilderness.

Mr. Newman's philosophy was classic small liberal-low taxes, modest borrowings, efficient government, a muscular social welfare net, and leaving as many decisions up to individuals, families, and businesses as possible. A former army officer, he is also keenly patriotic and family-oriented.

These are all characteristics that could have been used over a couple of terms to make durable inroads in the outer-suburban seats that dictate the results of Australian elections, but he didn't get that opportunity and was penalised for a rocky first term.

The opposition spent the next almost nine years running away from the Newman legacy. This was another lucky break for Ms. Palaszczuk.

Former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman speaks to media at Parliament House in Brisbane, Australia, on Jan. 6, 2015. (Glenn Hunt/Getty Images)

The LNP couldn't mount an effective criticism of her because as soon as they did, she'd claim they were just Newman acolytes, and they weren't prepared to defend that position.

So the Palaszczuk years were a period of rolling back, uncontested, all the things Mr. Newman had done, as well as tilting policy in the direction of favoured constituencies, like the trade unions.

Good leaders bear signature policies

The telling thing about Ms. Palaszczuk's legacy is that almost all of her colleagues, like the prime minister, who have praised her, have done so for being a woman or being in power for so long.

Most really successful leaders have a signature policy that defines them.

For Prime Minister Bob Hawke, it was reconciliation, for Prime Minister John Howard, the GST, or "deciding who will come here and on what terms."