New One Nation MP Steve Dickson has threatened to try to bring down the minority Palaszczuk government unless its budget includes a funding boost for regional Queensland, but he may not have the support of the other crossbenchers.
Mr Dickson, who met with Katter party MPs Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth and Labor defector Rob Pyne on Monday, said the cross bench could unite to block the government's budget and potentially force the premier to call an early election
"It's pure mathematics. There are 41 members of the LNP, there are 42 members of the Labor party and we do at the moment have crossbenchers who wield the balance of power, and I think it's absolutely appropriate that they use that power for the benefit of all Queenslanders," Mr Dickson told reporters on Wednesday.
But fellow crossbenchers Mr Katter and Mr Knuth were more diplomatic on Wednesday, saying they were still prepared to work with the government.
"We have the ability to do that (block the budget), but we can work through things with government any time," Mr Katter said.
Ms Palaszczuk said her government had always negotiated with the crossbenchers, but said the upcoming budget would focus on delivering jobs across the state.
"I dare anyone to vote against a jobs budget that is going to mean growing jobs right across this state," Ms Palaszczuk said on Wednesday.
"This is why I need a majority, because it is only a Labor government that can provide stability."
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls refused to say whether he would support moves to block the June budget.
"We'll see what the budget is. I mean I'm not ruling in or ruling out, we haven't even seen a budget yet," Mr Nicholls said.
"This could be solved very quickly if Annastacia Palaszczuk simply set an election date."
The election is due by early 2018, but is widely tipped to be called in the latter half of this year, after the government delivers what is expected to be a relatively positive budget.
The budget is expected to include a multi-billion dollar windfall from higher coal royalties, at least some of which is likely to go to regional projects.
Ms Palaszczuk has been spending a significant amount of time in the regions since returning from holidays in late January, with extended trips to western, central and northern Queensland.
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