Extract from ABC News
Updated
Queenslanders will go to the polls on January 31,
with Premier Campbell Newman saying an early election is needed to
provide certainty to the economy.
Mr Newman cut his holidays short
and cancelled a trade mission to India to announce the poll, which is
being held two months earlier than scheduled.He wants voters to judge the Liberal National Party (LNP) on its economic plan, which includes privatising $33 billion worth of assets to reduce debt and build new infrastructure.
Mr Newman believed Labor was in striking distance and if it prevailed the LNP's economic gains would be lost.
"We cannot afford to go off track right now," he said.
"Labor, through the support of wasted votes going to independents and minor parties, could fall across the line."
Since winning 78 of the state's 89 seats in the 2012 election the LNP's fortunes have dramatically changed, with polls now indicating it is neck-and-neck with Labor.
The sacking of thousands of public servants, stoushes with the judiciary and doctors, the asset sale agenda and controversial anti-bikie laws have all been blamed for the LNP's declining popularity.
Also working against the LNP could be Mr Newman's perceived combative leadership style, which he has been keen to overhaul since two by-election losses.
The Premier is at risk of losing his inner-Brisbane seat of Ashgrove to Labor's Kate Jones, but he would not be drawn on who would lead the LNP if it won power but he lost his seat.
It is the same question that dogged the 2012 campaign.
"I won't be wining Ashgrove if we don't win the state," Mr Newman said.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott would be welcomed by Mr Newman during the election, but only when needed.
"I would see him being here if we have a particular announcement about some sort of federal support, or some policy to benefit Queenslanders," Mr Newman said.
"But I make the point - this campaign is about state issues and the performance of the strong LNP team."
Labor ready for election despite snap announcement
The Opposition said Mr Newman was trying to sneak into the back office by calling a snap election, but it had not been caught off guard.Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queenslanders knew the Newman Government's legacy and its broken promises.
"We have seen an axing of thousands of jobs across the state, we have seen cuts to our health service," she said.
"My number one priority will be creating jobs, youth unemployment in our regional centres is almost 20 per cent.
"This is going to be a David and Goliath battle, make no mistake - we have nine seats out of an 89-seat Parliament.
"But Queensland deserves so much better.
"They deserve so much more than what they have been delivered by this arrogant and out of touch Newman Government."
Clive Palmer, who lost his only two sitting MPs in Queensland, said the Palmer United Party (PUP) would stand across the state and was ready to go.
Media player: "Space" to play, "M" to mute, "left" and "right" to seek.
He said the early election was in response to Mr Newman's deteriorating popularity as Premier.
"Of course the polls have moved drastically against the government, more Queenslanders are moving against him and that's why he's moved so quickly, because he's running scared," Mr Palmer said.
Queenslanders will need to be enrolled by Saturday January 10.
Business leaders back short campaign
Nick Behrens, from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland, said the short election campaign was good for business.2015 election at a glance:
- Election will be held on January 31, almost two months early.
- LNP government under Campbell Newman is seeking a second term.
- It won 78 of 89 seats in March 2012 - has since had three MPs defect to minor parties, and two quit parliament.
- Opposition under Annastacia Palaszczuk seeking to rebuild from only seven seats won in 2012 - has since picked up two more in by-elections.
- LNP seeking a mandate to raise more than $33 billion by privatising assets to reduce debt and build new infrastructure.
- Law and order will be a major issue in light of the LNP's contentious anti-gang laws.
- The government is expected to campaign on its achievements in health, such as reducing waiting lists.
- Katter's Australian Party has three seats but has languished in recent opinion polls.
- The Palmer United Party had two MPs, but both have quit the party.
- Pauline Hanson also running again.
"That means that we minimise any economic disruption, so as long as we see economic policies or political policies early on in the piece," he said.
"We think any uncertainty in going to the polls will be minimised."
However, Queensland Council of Unions president John Battams rejected Mr Newman's reason for calling a snap election.
Mr Battams said it was more about stopping a slide in support for the LNP, than protecting the economy from uncertainty.
"There hasn't been much speculation at all - in fact people are really focussed on the holiday period, the beach, shopping, the cricket," he said.
"The real reason for this snap election is to arrest the trend in the LNP's polling figures."
Together union spokesman Alex Scott said the LNP had failed to deliver on jobs.
"Unemployment is reaching record levels now and we're seeing unemployment levels continue to get worse," he said.
"This Government has called the snap election because they know the next round of unemployment figures are going to continue to get worse month after month after month."
Meanwhile, Nick Heath from the World Wildlife Fund called on both major parties to do more to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
"The Great Barrier Reef is dying. Fifty per cent of the reef's coral has been lost in the last 30 years," he said.
"Neither side ... governments of the last five years, 10 years, haven't done enough.
"We're calling on both parties to step up at this election and provide more money and more laws to arrest the decline of the Great Barrier Reef."
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