Pinned against a federal election that would become a marker between two distinct elements of a single period, state politics were largely overshadowed before 18 May, and the subject of media and public fascination thereafter. Indeed, a substantial swing against federal Labor in Queensland — especially in the regions where voters demanded regional employment in blue‐collar industries — shaped the agenda of the Palaszczuk government like no other. Within days of federal Labor's defeat, state cabinet — hitherto dominated by a Left faction sceptical of (or even opposed to) coal mining — “backflipped” and speedily approved a stalled Adani mine project before delivering a generous budget promising jobs and infrastructure to regional Queensland. Despite high unemployment and yet more crises in the Health portfolio, Labor's public opinion standing remained competitive with the Liberal National Party opposition.