Following a week with more drama than an Origin Decider you could be forgiven for believing the election was at its end, however there are still ten days left of the Queensland campaign.

This week saw a return of several federal faces on the hustings with Premier Steven Miles flanked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the Gold Coast, to spruik the record of spending on the light rail. During his time in the state, the Prime Minister and Premier sought to highlight disunity within the LNP by speaking on the Federal Coalition’s nuclear plans. 

The Premier confirmed that under the Nuclear Facilities Prohibition Act 2007, a plebiscite is required should a future Federal Government take action towards allowing the construction of a nuclear facility in Queensland. However, Miles suggested the plebiscite could be run earlier and concurrently with the next Federal Election should he be returned to power. 

The Federal Coalition’s plan includes the construction of two nuclear power stations at Callide and Tarong, both located in the LNP strongholds of Nanango and Callide. However, State Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has publicly rejected the proposal, asserting that nuclear energy is “not in my plan.” He highlighted his disagreement with his Federal counterpart Peter Dutton, stating, “Canberra will have their campaign,” during a media briefing on Monday.

This week, David Crisafulli unveiled his to-do list for a future LNP government, sharing the First 100 Days plan. Known for his rigid and disciplined campaigning, this plan aligns with his previous approach while expanding his “small target” strategy as the election draws near. The 100-day plan outlines the proposed legislative agenda for a Crisafulli government through the end of 2024, along with a detailed to-do list for the first week and month in office. These include:  

• Scrapping of the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro within the first week.
• Implementing an Electricity Maintenance Guarantee on government-owned power plants within the first month. 
• Legislating the Making Queensland Safer Laws, including Adult Crime, Adult Time, removing detention as a last resort, and putting victims’ rights first.
• Introducing legislation to re-establish the Productivity Commission, with its first order of business to be a regulatory review into the building industry.  

Political Landscape

Termination of pregnancy and voluntary assisted dying laws of 2018 continued to be the focus of much of the campaign this week, with candidates of both sides regularly fielding questions on whether they would support the repeal of the laws. While Opposition Leader David Crisafulli had pledged no changes to the existing laws, Labor leaders are vocal about telling Queenslanders they don’t believe him, running several attack ads on the matter. 

The Opposition is also facing renewed pressure from Treasurer Cameron Dick to release the LNP’s costings for its election promises. David Crisafulli on revealing his 100-day plan, told reporters that state debt would be lower under an LNP Government without borrowing from the operational costs of government. Crisafulli confirmed that costings will not be fully revealed until next Thursday. Labor, who are always keen to remind the public of the Newman years, responded suggesting that job cuts would be necessary in the public service for the LNP to deliver on its promises. 

In more localised news Queensland’s only sitting independent Sandy Bolton, the member for Noosa and described as ‘the first teal’, saw a major show of local support this week with three former mayors of the highly parochial region. Bolton who retained the coastal seat with a 43.9 per cent primary vote in 2020 was endorsed publicly by former Noosa Mayors Bob Abbot, Tony Wellington and Noel Playford. Missing was the most recent former Mayor, Clare Stewart who is running against Bolton under the LNP banner.   

Key Issues / State of Play

Crunch time at lunchtime 

Premier Steven Miles, joined by his daughter Bridie, announced a $1.4 billion commitment to provide free lunches to every child at Queensland state primary schools. The Labor camp says the program will save parents $1,600 per child each year. Meals will be delivered “in partnership with the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops, P&Cs Queensland, Health and Wellbeing Queensland and non-government food providers”, but P&Cs Queensland has already come out and said that while “the free lunch initiative acknowledges a problem, we believe the funding would be better distributed across all state school students, allowing parents to target things they need most”. Furthermore, the Greens have accused the Premier of “plagiarism”, after it was revealed that the member for South Brisbane, Amy McMahon, introduced a private members’ motion in 2021 calling for the policy, which Labor voted down at the time.

Dam – that’s a water plan 

The LNP has committed to reviewing all 23 current regional water plans, along with projects in the pipeline, to address agricultural and future population demands. They also announced a new dam for Queensland by 2035, but couldn’t indicate where this will be located. Crisafulli also ruled out pursuing a project at what would have been the controversial Traveston Damn in the Mary Valley, northwest of the Sunshine Coast. 

Under the pump 

The LNP also re-confirmed its plans to ditch the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project, instead indicating that it would build smaller pumped hydro projects in a range of regional areas at a lower cost. Labor, however, remains committed to the project, which they say will create jobs, boost renewable energy infrastructure, and align with its goals to maintain public ownership of energy generation and transmission sites under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan. 

GPs in your neighbourhood 

Premier Steven Miles, alongside Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, announced a $365 million commitment to establish 50 bulk-billing GP clinics. The Premier said, “the locations of the 50 clinics and the support required will be determined based on need in consultation with industry.” In last week’s ‘Easier Access to Health Services Plan’ from the LNP, Crisafulli and Shadow Health Spokeswoman Ros Bates committed to stopping “Labor’s Patients’ Tax”, which Labor subsequently matched, meaning neither party will enforce new payroll tax provisions on GP clinics. Regarding Women’s Health initiatives, Miles and Fentiman announced the expansion of the existing trial program that allows trained pharmacists to treat and prescribe for a range of common conditions without GP intervention, as well as a collaboration with QENDO – the peak body for women affected by endometriosis – to establish a statewide peer support program. 

Katter’s castle 

The Katter’s Australia Party (KAP) have this week reaffirmed their two key priorities as part of the election and into the next Government. The first is the introduction of ‘Castle Law’ which grants an individual the right to defend their home by ‘whatever force necessary’ similar to laws in the US. The proposal which was first raised by the KAP in June this year aimed at addressing concerns over crime and “giving victims the right to defend themselves without fear of prosecution puts the rights of victims before the rights of criminals.” 

The KAP is also seeking to provide parents with ‘greater rights to discipline their children’. Despite calling for further tools to support parents and teachers in addressing youth crime, the party media release provided no additional detail on what these tools or legislative mechanisms may be.  

Polls, Indicators, and Commentary

With the first early voting stations open to the public this week, we have an initial glimpse into voters’ views. Exit polling undertaken by Newscorp across Queensland on Tuesday indicated that support for a change of government remained. The polling covered over 1,000 voters across ten seats and showed a 48.2 per cent primary vote compared to Labor at 30 per cent. 

The Australian^[paywall] however, cited internal polling by Labor pointing to a more positive result in Brisbane seats following the ongoing debate on termination. The newspaper quoted leaked polling suggesting the at-risk Labor seat of McConnel, located in inner city Brisbane, saw an improvement in its primary vote to 27 per cent, over the Greens at 24 and LNP at 34 per cent. Labor will need to push past the Greens’ primary vote in that seat to secure it. Similarly, a party insider is quoted as suggesting that there are more positive signs in Cairns, Rockhampton and Maryborough.  

Looking Ahead

Early voting centres opened yesterday. 

Today Miles and Crisafulli will be back in Brisbane for the second leaders’ debate, hosted by the Queensland Media Club.

Meanwhile, next Tuesday, Miles and Crisafulli will field questions from 100 undecided voters during the Sky News/Courier Mail QLD People’s Forum.

The media blackout period will begin at midnight on Thursday 24 October, which prohibits any election advertising material being shown from that point until election day.  

This is the third of our Queensland Election 2024 newsletter series, featuring analysis of campaign activities, policy announcements, polling and other political developments. For more information about the Election, or to enquire about our public affairs and government relations services, please contact our Brisbane office on +61 2 7192 1500 or at [email protected]