Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's threats of an early election have been extinguished by three regional MPs sitting on the crossbench threatening to side with the opposition.
Katter's Australian Party MPs Rob Katter and Shane Knuth, along with newly-independent MP Rob Pyne, have officially formed a north Queensland voting bloc, significantly increasing their power in the house.
Under a written agreement sent to Governor Paul de Jersey, the trio would offer Liberal National Party (LNP) leader Lawrence Springborg their support if Ms Palaszczuk makes any move towards a poll.
"There needs to be a reasonable amount of time to let this parliament play out," Mr Katter said on Monday.
"There needs to be a circuit-breaker in the parliament."
Mr Knuth said they would not hesitate to "look elsewhere" if the premier does not want to govern.
Last week, Ms Palaszczuk threatened to call an election if her legislative agenda was blocked, following Mr Pyne's resignation, which left Labor and the LNP tied at 42 seats a piece in the 89-seat parliament.
Mr Pyne initially said he would continue to support Ms Palaszczuk.
When pressed on his change of heart, Mr Pyne said he believed the premier would continue to govern after hearing their "strong message".
Speaking prior to the trio's announcement, Ms Palaszczuk denied any north Queensland alliance represented a threat to the government.
"As I said very clearly, that we have a clear jobs agenda, and they must support my government's jobs agenda," she said.
In a letter to the premier, a day before parliament resumes on Tuesday, the trio said it was the premise of a democracy that governments do not dictate elected members of parliament vote for specific ideas.
"Queenslanders do not deserve the expense and inconvenience of an election every 12 months just because a politician cannot get their own way on everything they want," they wrote.
Mr Springborg did not believe there would be an early election.
"Threatening to call a snap poll leads to all sorts of wild speculation," he said.
Mr Springborg previously said he would not want to be gifted government, but Mr Katter believed that could change.
"All I'd say is people, when given the opportunity to govern Queensland, will make some decisions that perhaps you wouldn't expect."
Former Labor MP-turned independent Billy Gordon agreed to caucus each day before parliament with the others, but has not signed the agreement to support Mr Springborg.
Share
