An electoral gutting… Campbell concedes his seat and the bloodshed goes on

Campbell Newman has conceded his seat as Queensland’s LNP takes a beating.

#BREAKING: @theqldpremier Campbell Newman has conceded Ashgrove. @LNPQLD #QldPol #QldVotes #9News

— Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) January 31, 2015

With more than 42% of the vote counted in the Queensland election, it has been declared this evening by Wayne Swan @SwannyQLD that “an electoral earthquake” is occurring. Anthony Greene of the ABC [@AntonyGreenABC] was even asked to confirm whether the computer was broken and there really are 15-20% swings going on against LNP.  But the slaughter we are seeing on Queensland screens is real and a very firm warning it seems for the LNP all over the country, most particularly at the helm I suspect.

LNP representative David Crisafulli [@DavidCrisafulli] says the statewide results so far are “quite frightening” and declares that even his own seat is in “a bit of trouble”. The media reports at 8pm are declaring that Campbell Newman has “lost” his seat of Ashgrove and that there is a lot of bloodshed to come.  

Left-leaning Queensland journalist Paul Syvret was tweeting “Holy feckin crap #qldvotes how do you go from the biggest majority in history to possibly unable to call tonight?” as the voted sat at a 40-33 majority for the ALP without preferences distributed at 8pm and Newman clearly down 10% in his own seat after greens preferences are handed to Kate Jones. It is not going to be a pretty night.  

Tony Abbott, who stayed out of Campbell Newman’s fight will no doubt be watching in horror after his torturous week in politics, where it seemed likely his own party was turning against him. And Clive Palmer remains, at this point of the night, seatless, despite fielding John Bjelke Petersen in the seat of Callide, up against Jeff Seeney.   It is an interesting political landscape on Twitter, where those in red shirts are crowing their strength and those in blue are silently mortified. Share your thoughts tonight… Is this one big fight against privatisation on the whole, is it the backlash for a struggling Queensland economy, or has Campbell lost this election for his team?

With 44.1% of vote counted, @QLDLabor is up to 43 seats vs @LNPQLD 36 http://t.co/bHvLCTHbq4 #qldvotes — ABC Radio Brisbane (@612brisbane) January 31, 2015

Peter Beattie: ‘The bottom line is privatisation has shaped this election.’ @SmartState1 #QldVotes #9News pic.twitter.com/jT3DzPjZQW — Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) January 31, 2015

.@LaurieOakes: If there’s a change of Govt tonight or massive swing, PM @TonyAbbottMHR’s dead meat. #QldVotes #9News pic.twitter.com/zJHSCpMw6k — Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) January 31, 2015

The Courier-Mail called it two weeks ago. Front page January 17 #qldvotes @mumbletwits pic.twitter.com/6jHtOzSFo1 — Christopher Dore (@wrongdorey) January 31, 2015

The result also shows that no-one really takes Clive’s party serious #qldvotes — Michael Hovey (@MSH73GT) January 31, 2015

There it is, folks. Voters are demonstrating what they do to governments who aren’t concerned with governing in their interests. #qldvotes

— Peter Irelandisms (@Hippopeteamus) January 31, 2015

Question for the political savy out there: is this the great swing against a 1 term government to date? Genuinely want to know #qldvotes

— Shadow Shadson (@andthegeekshall) January 31, 2015

At least someone has a sense of humour today!

Fantastic! RT@reblev:RT @courteneyh: ALL HAIL QUEEN(SLAND) TAY TAY RT @BigVicTIA: This really happened #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/cKNFMV0ryA — ABC Radio Brisbane (@612brisbane) January 31, 2015   (and please – keep it kind – any rude comments or personal attacks will be deleted and the commenters banned)