Updated
Photo:
Annastacia Palaszczuk and Tim Nicholls both clarified their positions on minority government. (AAP: Dan Peled)
Annastacia Palaszczuk has told a Brisbane audience
she would rather lose government than work with One Nation to hold onto
power.
In an impassioned speech at a Queensland election leaders
forum also featuring LNP leader Tim Nicholls and One Nation state leader
Steve Dickson, the Premier said she would be "throwing away" the work
she had done in Parliament by agreeing to work with One Nation.While she has previously made similar comments, the Queensland Labor leader delivered her most emphatic statement on the matter to date at the Sky News event on Thursday night.
"Sometimes you've got to stand on your principles and I will stand on my principles," Ms Palaszczuk told the audience.
"If that means going into opposition, we'll go into opposition.
"I don't want to see the chaos and confusion that will come from having these two former cabinet ministers forming an alliance that would be an embarrassment not just to Queensland, not just to our nation, but to the rest of the world."Ms Palaszczuk's comment was prompted by a question from a female audience member.
The woman said she was beginning to consider voting for One Nation and wanted to know whether either major party would work with Mr Dickson and other One Nation MPs if they held the balance of power.
To which Ms Palaszczuk abruptly answered: "Ah, no".
The response prompted laughter and applause from the audience.
However, Mr Nicholls deflected answering the same question for several minutes before eventually saying he would work with whoever was elected.
"We will deal with the Parliament and the elected representatives the people of Queensland put forward," Mr Nicholls said.
Mr Dickson said both leaders were shunning the 20 per cent of Queensland voters he believed would vote for One Nation.
"I'm happy to work with both these people for the benefit of all Queenslanders and that is what all politicians should do in this state," Mr Dickson said.
'Yes, I made that mistake'
Mr Nicholls apologised on behalf of the LNP to a woman who said she was sacked from a public sector job under the Newman Government."We made mistakes in our term in government that an LNP government that I lead would never make again," Mr Nicholls said."We have heard really loudly and clearly the stories like yours.
"I'm sorry for that.
"We made mistakes and I put my hand up and say, 'yes I made that mistake'."
Photo:
Annastacia Palaszczuk and Tim Nicholls shake hands ahead of the leaders debate. (AAP: Dan Peled)
A question of state debt
Debt reduction proved a hard question for both major party leaders.Both the Labor and LNP leaders were asked if they would stop debt climbing to a projected $81 billion.
Ms Palaszczuk replied: "Moody's has looked very clearly at our economic plan and they have taken us off negative watch."
Mr Nicholls said: "We're going to stabilise it. We're not going to rush in to try and immediately reduce debt because of what might happen."
Truck driver Rob lamented the individual agendas of each party and pleaded with the leaders to work as a team.
"Why can't you just get together and say, 'righto, let's get it done?'," he said.
"So please, how about you start working for Queensland?
"Become the State of Origin, and let's win it."
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