Queensland's probable new premier has suggested the state could remain in limbo for another week before the government is determined.
Annastacia Palaszczuk received the support of key crossbencher Peter Wellington on Thursday, but was not yet ready to claim victory in Saturday's tight election.
That is despite Labor being on track to gain 44 seats, meaning Mr Wellington's endorsement would give the party the 45 it needs to govern in Queensland's 89-seat parliament.
"I think at this stage we all just need to be calm at the moment and wait for the outcome for a few of the seats," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"My understanding is back in 1998, it was about 12 days until Queensland knew the final result."
Ms Palaszczuk said support of independent Mr Wellington meant she was optimistic Labor could form government and she was hopeful the party could even win enough seats to govern in its own right.
She named Maryborough, Whitsundays and Ferny Grove as crucial, close seats she hoped would fall Labor's way.
Ferny Grove, which on Thursday evening Labor was leading by a little more than 500 votes, could go to a by-election after Palmer United Party candidate Mark Taverner was ruled ineligible as an undischarged bankrupt.
Mr Wellington said he backed Labor due to its focus on integrity and accountability, including a commitment to conduct an inquiry into the potential links between political donations and the awarding of tenders, contracts and approvals.
He was also scathing of the Liberal National Party's leadership turmoil after Premier Campbell Newman's defeat in the seat of Ashgrove.
Mr Wellington said he happily spoke to the LNP's appointed negotiator, Health Minister Lawrence Springborg, but condemned the instability caused by other MPs - including Speaker Fiona Simpson, Transport Minister Scott Emerson and Racing Minister Steve Dickson - "jockeying" for the leadership.
"I believe he's being undermined by people in his own party," Mr Wellington said of Mr Springborg, his preferred LNP leader.
But Mr Springborg was more tempered, refusing to comment on any potential damage that leadership hopefuls negotiating separately with crossbenchers was having on the party.
"The LNP is a democratic party and will decide its leader on Saturday," he said.
"We're dealing with a complex situation unlike anything that we've ever seen before."
The party's weekend meeting comes after former deputy premier Jeff Seeney tried on Monday to set up a similar meeting but was overruled by Mr Newman, who is still acting as caretaker premier.
Meanwhile, the two other crossbenchers, Katter's Australian Party MPs Rob Katter and Shane Knuth, said they would not choose a side until the seat count was clearer, and criticised Mr Wellington for his early decision.
"It is far too premature and akin to running to the try line without the ball," Mr Katter said.
He said KAP did not want to lose its leverage by picking a side too early, and hoped to use the situation to deliver outcomes for the Galilee Basin, the ethanol industry, rural and regional infrastructure, and their northern electorates.
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