Queenslanders will head to the polls on Saturday October 26. It’s been almost a decade of the Labor government, with ‘new’ Premier Steven Miles facing the biggest challenge of his political career.
Steven Miles and David Crisafulli shake hands before the second leaders debate on Wednesday (Newswire/John Gass)
It will be 3,556 days since Cambell Newman was ousted as Premier since 2015 - the last time the LNP governed in Queensland. David Crisafulli will be looking to end an almost 10 year drought in Opposition for his party. Annastacia Palaszczuk famously resigned as Premier last December, with Steven Miles taking over, hopeful of leading Labor to a fourth straight term.
Six News was the FIRST media outlet to interview the new Premier, minutes after finishing his party room meeting and walking along the street towards his 1 Eagle Street office. Now, 10 months on, Steven Miles and his government are hoping the polls are wrong, which currently predicts a landslide defeat for Labor. Both leaders have spoken to 6 News multiple times, most recently Steven Miles in April and David Crisafulli in March.
A lot has happened since Annastacia Palaszczuk won the 2020 election, COVID was in it’s peak, Brisbane won the Olympic bid, Queensland have a new Premier, ambulance ramping is at almost 50% and arguably the most important, a cost of living crisis.
Below are the major issues affecting Queenslanders ahead of election day:
Cost Of Living
Health
Housing
Youth Crime
Cost Of Living:
As mentioned above, the biggest issue gripping the state currently. Labor has added measures in this year’s budget to ease the pinch of costs on Queenslanders, but some say it’s not enough. 50 cent fares, $1,000 off power bills, 20% off vehicle rego are the headliners from the state budget. The LNP have laid out their initiatives, which include lowering government spending, removing gas price caps and lowering taxes where possible. A number of election promises include free school lunches for state primary school students, opening 12 state-owned petrol stations and reducing petrol stations to only increase their prices by 5 cents a litre per day, once a day and to be announced a day in advance.
Housing:
An important issue for a numerous amount of Queenslanders. The governments “Homes For Queenslanders” plan, to invest $2.8 billion into building 1 million homes and 53,500 social homes by 2044. To put this into perspective, approximately 900,000 homes have been built since 2004. There will be help for first home buyers also with stamp-duty concessions and more renter protection. The LNP will aim to build the same figure of a million with the end date two years earlier, in 2042. They will also propose abolishing stamp duty for first home buyers.
Health:
Ambulance ramping, wait times and staff shortages in hospitals a highlight the health crisis in Queensland. Labor has committed to more training and recruitment of doctors and nurses as well as expanding mental health services. Ambulance ramping currently sits at 44.7% with the LNP promising to decrease that figure to under 30% before 2028 and also to improve elective surgery wait times in that same 4 year period. The Opposition have also promised the ability for every Queenslander to track real-time hospital data to reduce waiting times and use resources efficiently. They will also focus on preventative health strategies to minimise the use of hospitals in the first place.
Youth Crime:
It’s hard to put into perspective how many Queenslanders have been affected by this youth crime wave. Victims of youth crime are fed up with the current government, with the LNP establishing their biggest plan. Adult Crime, Adult Time. Plastered on billboards across youth crime prone areas. The weird part is new policing data shows youth crime numbers at a near- record low. Their figures show the rate of child offenders dropped by 2% in 2023-2024. Most of the community's concern about youth crime is the severity of it, with youth offenders committing various serious incidents like home invasions, fatal car accidents and alleged murders. At the 2020 election, youth crime was an issue, particularly in Townsville, where Labor held onto marginal seats. This time around, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli appears ahead in polling in the northern region of Queensland and frequently spends time there, platforming victims of youth crime. Labor says the police statistics used are working, but some experts have a different view, saying the reduction of crime is like “kicking a can down the road” until after the election. Labor’s approach is to provide Rehabilitation over Punishment, community engagement and the investment into Child Protection Services. The Opposition will also establish specialised schools for at-risk youths. The LNP has promised more police officers in community areas as well as the need for reform in the Child Safety system.
Other:
Of Course, they aren’t the only issues and policies from either side - things like Abortion, the Olympics and urgent repairs to the Bruce Highway are all other issues. To find out more information on these - and both parties stance on this - simply search ‘Queensland Election Policies.’
Seats to watch Ultra Marginal Marginal Fairly Safe
LABOR
Bundaberg - Tom Smith 0.01%
Nicklin - Robert Skelton 0.01%
Hervey Bay - Adrian Tantari 2.0%
Caloundra - Jason Hunt 2.5%
Barron River - Craig Crawford 3.1%
Townsville - Scott Stewart 3.1%
Thuringowa - Aaron Harper 3.2%
Redlands - Kim Richards 3.9%
Mundingburra - Les Walker 3.9%
Aspley - Bart Mellish 5.2%
Pumicestone - Ali King 5.3%
Cairns - Michael Healy 5.6%
Keppel - Brittany Lauga 5.6%
Redcliffe - Yvette D’Ath 6.1% (retiring)
Cook - Cynthia Lui 6.3%
Inala - Margie Nightengale 6.7% (by-election in March)
Mackay - Julieanne Gilbert 6.7% (retiring)
Pine Rivers - Nikki Boyd 6.7%
Mansfield - Corrine McMillan 6.8%
Gaven - Meaghan Scanlon 7.8%
Springwood - Mick De Brenni 8.3%
Rockhampton - Barry O’Rouke 8.6%
Macalister - Melissa McMahon 9.5%
Capalaba - Don Brown 9.8%
LNP
Currumbin - Laura Gerber 0.5%
Coomera - Michael Crandon 1.1%
Burleigh - Michael Hart 1.2% (retiring)
Chatsworth - Steve Minnikin 1.3%
Glass House - Andrew Powell 1.6%
Clayfield - Tim Nicholls 1.6%
Everton - Tim Mander 2.2%
Whitsunday - Amanda Camm 3.3%
Theodore - Mark Boothman 3.3%
Ipswich West - Darren Zanow 3.5% (by-election in March, Zanow retiring due to health)
Moggill - Christian Rowan 3.6%
Ninderry - Dan Purdie 4.1%
Mermaid Beach - Ray Stevens 4.4%
Oodgeroo - Mark Robinson 4.5% (retiring)
Buderim - Brent Mickelberg 5.3%
Southport - Rob Molhoek 5.4%
Burdekin - Dale Last 7.0%
Toowoomba North - Trevor Watts 7.3%
Gympie - Tony Perrett 8.5%
Maroochydore - Fiona Simpson 9.1%
Kawana - Jarrod Bleijie 9.3%
REMINDER: 6 News will be LIVE on-the-ground in Queensland on election night from 6pm AEDT (5pm AEST) and rolling coverage throughout the day.
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