LNP leader Campbell Newman says Queensland run by drunks, punks, desperadoes

CAMPBELL Newman says Queensland is run by "drunks, punks and desperadoes" as he seeks to deflect questions about his family's business interests.

Campbell Newman

LNP Leader Campbell Newman says Queensland is being run by "drunks, punks and desperadoes" as he seeks to deflect questions about his family's business interests.

He also described Premier Anna Bligh as "a liar and a hypocrite".

Speaking on the Gold Coast today, Mr Newman launched a stinging attack on the Bligh Government's "dirt unit" which he suggested was behind ongoing media reports about his family interests.

"Queensland is run today by drunks, punks and desperadoes headed by Anna Bligh with her dirt unit,'' he said.

"This is just more of the same (upcoming pre-election) summer of sleaze.''

Mr Newman said Ms Bligh was the "desperado", Treasurer Andrew Fraser the "punk" and "you can work out who the drunks are".

He said the LNP would reveal more details about the so-called 'dirt unit' which he suggested was being funded by taxpayers.

"There's definitely a dirt unit,'' he said.

"Can't Anna Bligh focus on the real issues? Can't Anna Bligh focus on what really matters to Queenslanders because that's what I want to do,'' he said.

"Anna Bligh's the person in July who said 'we wont be targeting Campbell Newman's family'. What a liar and what a hypocrite our premier is.''

Responding to reports about his family's business interests, he said he was "not my brother-in-law's keeper" and his wife Lisa was "an independent, strong-willed woman".

He said he would immediately relinquish interest in one family company that The Courier-Mail revealed today owns two luxury Port Douglas holiday units and wife would consider doing the same.

Asked about reports his brother-in-law was being sued by a US company he allegedly claimed to be representing while touting for Queensland Government flood relief work, Mr Newman said he was "not my brother-in-law's keeper" and denied the controversy would hurt his election campaign.

Mr Newman said Queenslanders had told him they believed the Government was merely digging "dirt" in an attempt to discredit him.

"Anna Bligh's dirt unit went after my wife, went after my brother-in-law, went after my father-in-law and now they're going after my mum,'' he said.

"Come on Anna Bligh - haven't you a got something better to do like actually sort out the economy of Queensland?''