The decision brings to an end months of useless speculation on the election date – thankfully the last time that will happen with the next one set for October 31, 2020 and then every four years from that date.

The opinion polls have Labor slightly ahead and for what it’s worth, my prediction is that after two elections of wild swings (Labor annihilated in 2012 and then coming back from the dead to win government in 2015) in this one nothing much will change.

In other words I think Annastacia Palaszczuk will still be Premier on November 25 though likely with a minority government. I’d be happy enough with that, assuming Pauline Hanson’s One Nation don’t win too many seats.

Unlike with Anna Bligh in 2012 and Campbell Newman in 2015 I don’t think the baseball bats are out this time. Ms Palaszczuk has proved likeable and Tim Nicholls has not got the trust of the electorate.

The refrain from him and his team of Labor as a “do nothing government” has not cut through and the reason Labor seems to “do nothing” is that they have put many decisions to committee – no bad thing to seek the opinion of experts and the community.

Not to mention the approval of the minor parties and independents that have kept them in power and are likely to continue to do so.

I’ve never been too fixated on the need for an absolute majority and I believe the need to have to work with others to get your agenda through leads ultimately to better decision making.

It means we in the new seat of Traeger will be in a good position, if as is likely, Robbie Katter wins the seat he needs to makes sure our issues are front and centre if Labor needs his vote. It won’t be easy of course, and Danielle Slade (ALP), Ronald Bird (LNP) and Sarah Isaacs (Independent) are all good candidates, any of which would do a fine job in parliament.

But only Robbie has the name recognition so vital in a huge seat that stretches from Isa to the Towers.

– Derek Barry