Annastacia Palaszczuk more unpopular than Campbell Newman but still our preferred Premier

Annastacia Palaszczuk is now more unpopular than Campbell Newman, but while the numbers cost Newman his job, the current Premier has one advantage: It has been a horror season for the Leader of the Opposition, writes Steven Wardill.

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk is now more unpopular than Campbell Newman. Surely that can’t be right?

Yet far fewer Queenslanders are currently satisfied with Ms Palaszczuk’s performance and prefer her as premier to when her predecessor chalked up his worst result in mid-2014.

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It is impossible to uncouple Ms Palaszczuk’s punctured popularity from the integrity crisis that has engulfed her Government over Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s errant property purchase.

Sure, there would be some of the usual second-term blues being experienced by the Government, because voters believe they have seen and heard it all before.

But even though the Crime and Corruption Commission cleared Ms Trad of any wrongdoing months ago, Ms Palaszczuk’s rapid fall indicates many Queenslanders believe the issue did not come to a satisfactory conclusion.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has sunk in the ratings. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

The critical difference between Ms Palaszczuk’s and Mr Newman’s numbers is that while voters were decided one way or another about the former LNP premier, they are apathetic about their current options.

Between a bunch of Young LNP kids posting racist videos on Facebook to veteran MP Jann Stuckey quitting and partly blaming bullying, it has been a horror season for Deb Frecklington. When the October poll rolls around, you can guarantee Labor will be reminding voters what the LNP did last summer.

Palaszczuk’s unpopularity is a problem that Labor can’t afford to ignore.

However, what action is required will depend heavily on whether Frecklington and the LNP continue to stuff up.