Queensland votes and Australian politicians shudder

The state of Queensland held a state election at the weekend. A conservative government with a huge majority looks to be defeated after a relatively short period in government. This is the second, first-term state government to be rejected in the last few months. The federal Abbott Government has its own developing problems, beset by policy stagnations and despondency about leadership. What is happening in Australian politics and can the Queensland election teach us any lessons about the contemporary electorate in general?