Voter Verdict on week three of the Queensland election campaign

The Courier-Mail’s Voter Verdict have weighed in on the third week of the election campaign with a brutal assessment of both leaders. But who won the week?

Steven Miles’ attempt to win over voters with his free lunches pledge has backfired, with ordinary Queenslanders blasting it as a waste of taxpayer dollars and a logistic impossibility in some cases.

VOTER VERDICT: WATCH IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Both leaders still aren’t connecting enough for undecided voters, while many are disappointed Opposition leader David Crisafulli is still dodging questions on abortion.

The Courier-Mail’s exclusive Voter Verdict of 19 undecided voters chosen by pollster YouGov found Mr Crisafulli narrowly won the third week of the campaign after two weeks of Mr Miles winning the panel.

Many of the undecided voters said a key reason they swayed away from Mr Miles was because of his pledge to give free lunches in state schools.

Simon Levy, of Margate, slammed Miles’ announcement.

“Free school lunches was really a big joke and another sign of socialism. How can it be free? Somebody has to pay now or in the future,” he said.

“And why would people want the government to choose what their kids eat as school? It’s terrible.”

The Voter Verdict has weighed in on the third week of the campaign.

Troy Enright, of Brisbane City, said it was misleading to call the lunches free.

“I mean, it’s going to cost taxpayers a whole lot of money,” he said.

“It probably swayed me away from that party for sure.”

Khatra Nekzad, of Brisbane city, said it sounded like a logistic nightmare.

“The fact that if he is going to actually propose something like that, I don’t think he’s actually thought about what logistically that would mean for every single school that has to do this throughout Queensland,” she said.

“Not every single school is the same either.”

Sarah Curry, of Wavell Heights doubted that if he won the election, it would actually happen.

“Don't be silly,” she said.

“Put something out there that's actually attainable and that we actually think you are going to do.”

While those who support the idea, still don’t quite understand how it will work.

Elodie, of Kenmore, said it was an interesting idea that might increase learning in schools.

“I don’t know if he’s really quite thought through how he would deliver them, given that children in primary schools sit on benches that don’t have tables like they have in European countries to have school lunches,” she said.

“And whether he’s thought about the distribution of the school lunches, dietary requirements, a lot of things to think out to do.”

Matthew Wilson, of Geebung, said it was a great initiative but he questioned how it would happen logistically.

“How are we going to ensure that the food that we’re providing our children is going to be nutritious and edible and all in all standardised across the board,” he said.

“Those are some bearing questions. And I think Steve really needs to expand upon that and actually come out with a solid business plan and to back that out. “

Gail McIntyre, of the Sunshine Coast, said Miles’ whole campaign seemed to be about throwing gifts at the elector.

“50 cent fares, free school lunches. A second energy retailer, bulk billing GPS, government owned fuel stations,” she said.

“If these initiatives were so great, why hasn’t the current government already implemented them?

“And where is the money going to come for them?

Beth, of Newmarket, believed if free school lunches was going to happen it should be extended to private schools.

“Not all kids who go to private schools come from families that are earning lots of money,” she said.

“And I think that, to be fair, I think that needs to be extended to all kids.

Kimberley Lusk, of Imbil, said she loved the idea and believed it could also help with youth crime as kids who were embarrassed to go to school cause they didn’t have food might actually attend.

Originally published as Voter Verdict on week three of the Queensland election campaign