"Abbott is aggressive, confrontational and overly partisan. Baird is inclusive and gives the impression he would much prefer to govern without the political warfare that is second nature to Abbott.
"Baird highlights what people dislike in Abbott. Abbott highlights what people dislike in Baird."
Despite a swing to Labor of about 9 per cent - which Foley said had made the party electable again after its near wipeout in 2011 - the result was a credit to Baird, who became Premier only a year ago after Barry O'Farrell's resignation.
Commentators said a defeat - or even a narrow win - for the Coalition would have been disastrous for the Prime Minister, probably triggering another attempt to unseat him.
In January, it was Campbell Newman's shock loss in Queensland that pushed Liberal rebels over the edge.
Now Abbott has been given a breathing space until early May, when Treasurer Joe Hockey will deliver his second Budget - one that the Social Services Minister, Scott Morrison, said yesterday would be both strong and modest.
The Greens enjoyed a big swing in the election, taking an inner-city Sydney seat off Labor and two rural seats off the Nationals.
?Queensland's Premier has put her government on the line by sacking an MP over domestic abuse allegations.
Annastacia Palaszczuk expelled Cook MP Billy Gordon, who's also released his previously undisclosed criminal record, from the Australian Labor Party yesterday morning.
"I've always maintained integrity is fundamental to any government I lead," she said. "Today I'm prepared to put my premiership on the line."
She's also put her government at risk by calling for Mr Gordon to resign from Parliament.
Speaker Peter Wellington also wants the MP to resign so there can by a byelection in his far north Queensland seat. Either way, Gordon's sacking leaves the new Labor government in trouble.
The party holds 43 seats, the Liberal National Party holds 42, Katter's Australian Party has two seats and the final two are held by Wellington, who's an independent, and Gordon.
Katter's Australian Party MP Robbie Katter said his party has been in talks with Labor.
Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the premier knew about the abuse allegations for more than a week before acting.
He said Palaszczuk told Parliament that Gordon had been dealt with, only to refer him to police when the media found out. "Did she mislead Parliament? What did she know and when did she know it? Queenslanders deserve to know."
Springborg accused Palaszczuk of playing the victim by claiming her premiership was on the line.
"This is vintage Peter Beattie [a former premier]. Make yourself the victim, when Billy Gordon's wife is the victim."
Former Liberal National Party MP Gavin King's blog, which first published the allegations against Gordon, claimed yesterday to have new information about another Labor MP.
Springborg said he didn't know about any fresh claims.
"It's up to Annastacia Palaszczuk to say if there's anyone else floating around."
- additional reporting: AAP
