The celebratory beer was cut before the arrival of Queensland's next premier, but his predecessor Steven Miles “went to the pub” after losing the election.
Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli spent little time toasting his success and got down to business as he looked set to form a majority government and end Labour's nine-year rule.
However, he paid tribute to outgoing Prime Minister Miles, who indicated on Sunday that he hoped to retain the Labor reins as opposition leader.
A long electoral career had ended, but Crisafulli got to work on Sunday after receiving a 7:30 a.m. phone call from Miles, who admitted defeat.
Crisafulli even had time to attend a gym session before summoning his senior LNP colleagues to the Queensland Parliament to discuss his next steps.
He will become Queensland's second Liberal National Premier this millennium following Campbell Newman's tenure between 2012 and 2015.
Labor has governed Queensland for 30 of the last 35 years.
“Given where we started historically, I said it was like climbing a mountain,” Crisafulli said Sunday.
“Well, it was like climbing a mountain… carrying a backpack and snow falling.
“If you mean the electoral mountain, we have reached the top. If you mean doing what we need to do for Queenslanders, we've taken a small step forward.
After around 70 per cent of the votes have been counted, the LNP is on course to win 47 seats and Labor is on 29 seats, with 13 seats still in doubt.
It needed 47 votes to form a majority government after winning 35 seats, compared to Labor's 51 before the election.
Speaking by phone after Miles' confession, Crisafulli spoke to LNP candidates as he prepared for “four years of hard work” before receiving a 20-minute congratulatory call from the Prime Minister.
He also confirmed that David Mackey will be the ministry's new acting director-general, replacing the “generous” Mike Kaiser.
Crisafulli will visit Governor Janet Young on Sunday and tell her the LNP can form a majority government.
On Monday, LNP leader and deputy leader Jarrod Belligey will be sworn in to take on interim leadership roles until the final seat count is announced.
Crisafulli promised to legislate by Christmas his controversial “adult time for adult crimes” policy, under which minors face long sentences for serious crimes.
It also plans to conduct a 100-day review of infrastructure for the 2032 Olympics, introduce real-time health data and scrap the payroll tax on GPs.
Crisafulli, the grandson of Italian immigrants and northern Queensland sugar cane farmers, dominated the initial vote but appears to be faltering as the finish line approaches.
Miles stumbled into the Liberal National Party when Crisafulli came under enormous pressure to clarify his position on abortion after an MP pledged to repeal abortion laws if elected.
“I wish him all the best in his future, but he'll certainly be able to spend some quality time with his family in the meantime,” Crisafulli said of Miles.
Miles was proud to be back on the campaign trail but admitted a lot of work had to be done to win back Queensland after the Liberal National Party took control of regional areas.
He was vying to win his first full term as prime minister after replacing Anastasia Palaszczuk, who resigned in tears in December.
“Our team will have to do the work of re-engaging with Queenslanders, Queenslanders have spoken and Queenslanders are right,” Miles said.
When Miles was asked about the possibility of becoming opposition leader, he said: “Once we see exactly the makeup of the caucus, I will ask for your support.”
The count indicated an LNP majority with three members of Katter's Australian Party and one independent member, but the Green Party could lose outright.
Miles' long-term future as Labor leader was up in the air, but his immediate plans were clear: a trip to the pub.
“I think I'll pull a bitter XXXX out of the wood.”
