They were colourful characters in a time of beige politics.

Their resignations and the resulting by-elections may yet breathe some fire into the Queensland pre-election build-up.

Jo-Ann Miller and Jann Stuckey were two of the longest-serving and loudest MPs in the house and weren't afraid to speak out about their respective parties on their way out the door.

Both said they were bullied in their party rooms and both said they were victims of "faceless" operatives.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 3 minutes 25 seconds 3 m 25 s Ms Miller caught many off guard when she announced her resignation in State Parliament.

While most expect the Government to hold on to Bundamba, the results could send shockwaves through Labor's ranks if its primary support goes through the floor.

Political commentator Paul Williams from Griffith University said there was a traditional reputation at stake.

"I think everyone's expecting a swing away from them in Bundamba with the loss of Jo-Ann's personal vote, the circumstances in which Jo-Ann departed … so, of course there's going to be a primary swing away from Labor, it's just a matter of how much they can contain it," he said.

"If it's around 4 or 5 per cent, Labor can say 'Meh, that's expected'.

"Obviously the bigger the swing, the bigger the problem.

"If they can't get a primary vote above 40 in Ipswich-based seats, well that means they're definitely in trouble in similar blue-collar seats and provincial areas like the three Townsville seats."

Currumbin candidates Laura Gerber (LNP), Sally Spain (Greens), Nicholas Bettany (ON) and Kaylee Campradt (ALP). ( ABC News / Supplied )

But he said the results could have even harsher consequences for Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington if the LNP failed to hang on to Currumbin.

"The Government is being judged on its performance past and the LNP is being judged on its performance future," he said.

"If this seat goes down and Labor takes it, it would be the first domino to see Deb Frecklington toppled," he said.

"It would be inevitable — it wouldn't happen immediately but I think you would see things move fairly quickly and Frecklington would be replaced."

One Nation factor keeps Labor on its toes

There are eight candidates running across the two seats between the two major parties, One Nation and the Greens.

Bundamba candidates Lance McCallum (ALP), Danielle Mutton (Greens), Robert Shearman (LNP) and Sharon Bell (ON). ( ABC News / Supplied )

Unlike at the state election, One Nation is running in Bundamba and the party hasn't missed a beat, beginning its campaign the moment Jo-Ann Miller walked out the doors of Parliament House.

Former Labor speaker, now an adjunct professor at Queensland University of Technology John Mickel, said Labor will need to concentrate on retaining its traditional base.

"The more recent case to examine I think with Bundamba is 1998 where Bundamba is at the epicentre of One Nation support — Labor was driven to a 6 per cent lead in Bundamba courtesy of One Nation," he said.

"So it's one Labor can't take for granted, it's got to go out there and campaign because the sentiments may be right for a boost in the One Nation support."

The by-election has far reaching implications for both major parties. ( ABC News )

He said a general shift away for the two major parties should not be ignored.

"If you have a look at the most recent published polling … what you will see is there's a shrinkage of support for both majors," Mr Mickel said.

"In fact in the last state election, if you add in the people who didn't vote and then voted informal, and then voted for the other majors, it is getting historically high.

"So the by-election is a climate where that discontented person can ventilate that view."

Local seats 'decided on world issues': Prentice

Of course, the wildcard no-one could have foreseen is the huge impact on the economy in the wake of coronavirus.

Former federal Liberal MP Jane Prentice said voters will be looking for stability.

"These by-elections will actually be decided by voters on what are currently world issues — and that's the economy which is being affected," she said.

"I think voters are very concerned about the impact of the economy through the coronavirus situation.

"They understand very well how that impacts on our jobs and how that impacts on our economy."

But perhaps gone are the days where you can put voters neatly in a box.

Ms Prentice said all traditional methods of prediction are basically out the window.

"I don't think there's a set formula anymore," she said.

"There definitely used to be, you used to say, 'Oh if there's a by-election there'll be a swing this way or that way but now with the other parties involved, I don't think you can predict anything'."