Saturday 25 November 2017

Queensland election: Political leaders make final push to persuade voters

Updated about 11 hours ago

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk addresses the Queensland Media Club in Brisbane
Queensland's political parties have made their final pitches to voters ahead of tomorrow's state election.
After criss-crossing the state, shaking hands, and making billions of dollars of promises, the major parties ended their campaigns in the south-east, which polling shows could be crucial if, as expected, One Nation gains seats in the regions.

Vote Labor 'just this time': Palaszczuk

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has continued to frame the election as a choice between Labor or a minority LNP-One Nation government, pleading pointedly to "Liberal" voters to make their vote count.


"Your choice is to support a One Nation coalition or just this time to vote Labor for a strong, stable majority government," she said.
Ms Palaszczuk defended the decision to wait until the dying days of the campaign to announce four new taxes.
The tax hikes on large land holdings, luxury cars, property purchases by foreign buyers, and a new tax on interstate online gambling companies would deliver about $491 million to state coffers over three years.
"Many commentators have referred to it as 'Robin Hood', I don't mind being compared to Robin Hood," she said.
"If you own a luxury car over $100,000, yes you'll pay more.
"If you're an investor from overseas looking at buying property here in Queensland, yes you will pay more."

South-east seat blitz


Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has spent his day on a blitz of the south-east, seeking to shore up crucial seats which polling shows could fall to Labor.
"The real poll is tomorrow, and that's what I'm hoping for and working hard every day," he said.
Mr Nicholls' plan was to hit seven electorates in 12 hours, but the day started with a stumble.

In the middle of a Channel Seven breakfast TV interview he nearly promoted the wrong party.
"The best thing to do is to support you local LNP One … ah LNP candidate at the election," he said.
Mr Nicholls chalked it up to the long campaign, one he said isn't over.
"I wont rest until 6:00 tomorrow night on making sure people understand it's the LNP who've got the policies to deliver cheaper power, more jobs, invest in the future of this great state," he said.

Greens could hold balance of power

The Greens have their own hopes of exerting influence by holding the balance of power in alliance with Labor, targeting the three inner-city seats of South Brisbane, Maiwar and McConnel.

Party spokeswoman Amy MacMahon, who has led Labor deputy premier Jackie Trad in several polls in South Brisbane, said the Greens potentially stood to be in a "powerful balance-of-power situation".
"In fact, if One Nation do get seats in Parliament, it's even more important we have Greens in there, pulling Labor to the left, and be providing balance," Ms MacMahon said.
The Greens would push for $1 public transport fares, new social housing for 29,000 people, a ban on corporate donations and "pay-per-view" fundraisers, and the scrapping of approvals and concessions for Adani's giant Carmichael coal mine.
"What's the point of a government when people are still homeless, we have legalised bribery in the form of cash-for-access meetings, and we have a Government rolling over for a company like Adani?" Ms MacMahon said.

Put money on the table: Katter

Federal MP Bob Katter said parties would need to be willing to stump up to get the support of the Katter's Australian Party in a hung parliament.
"If we have the balance of power then we will not give the government to the ALP or the LNP unless we get $3.5 billion — B for bravo — dollars of discretionary money for North Queensland," he said.
He said the party would be fiscally responsible with the money.
Ms Palaszczuk said while she worked well with the KAP, they disagreed on "matters of principle" such as gun laws.
"I will not form a government with the Katter's Australian Party," she said.

One Nation calls for leader change

One Nation state leader Steve Dickson had another visit from his party's namesake, Pauline Hanson.

The focus of much of Labor's campaign to tarnish the LNP, Senator Hanson took aim at the Premier and her promise not to work with One Nation.
"I'm putting it back on Annastacia Palaszczuk — if you don't get your 47 seats to win in your own right, then I'm calling on her to resign as leader of the Labor Party," Ms Hanson said.
"Hand it over to someone else who will be able to work with One Nation on the floor of parliament."
Mr Dickson faces an uphill battle to hold onto his seat of Buderim.
But Ms Hanson insisted there was no need for a succession plan.
"I really have been able to pick previous elections and I do believe Steve will win his seat," she said.

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