Jackie Trad has been appointed opposition spokeswoman for transport, environment and the arts despite votes in the South Brisbane by-election still being counted.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland is yet to declare Ms Trad the winner of Saturday’s by-election and the Liberal National Party has not conceded defeat.

LNP candidate for South Brisbane Clem Grehan with Premier Campbell Newman during a press conference at West End State School. Credit:Harrison Saragossi

Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said there was only 1200 votes, mostly postal, left to be counted and the LNP would need to secure an unlikely 75 per cent of that to win.

On Sunday afternoon Ms Trad, a former ministerial adviser in the Beattie and Bligh governments, had 52 per cent of the vote compared to the LNP’s Clem Grehan’s 48 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.