1944 Queensland state election
The election was the first that Labor had contested under Premier Frank Cooper, who had been in office for 19 months by the time of the poll.The election resulted in Labor receiving a fifth term in office, albeit with a reduced majority.Frank Barnes, a colourful identity who supported social credit theories popular since the Great Depression and declared himself opposed to the Labor government, retained his seat of Bundaberg.Various changes were taking place in conservative politics as well, with the dissolution of the United Australia Party and the formation of the Queensland People's Party (QPP), led by the mayor of Brisbane and member for Hamilton, John Beals Chandler.One of the former United Australia Party members, Louis Luckins (Maree), did not join the QPP originally and retained his seat in 1944 as an independent.