Editorial: Voters turned off by politics as usual

If there is one thing voters dislike more than politicians who talk in soundbites it’s politicians who plot to overthrow their leaders outside of elections, writes the Editor.

ONE of the things often missed when commentating on the political success of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is the (accidental or not) genius of the way she presents as someone who is almost not a politician.

The Premier’s folksy demeanour is regularly sneered at by those “inside the bubble” – but it is a key part of her appeal in a real Queensland fed up with the fast-talking snake-oil salespeople they traditionally associate with those enjoying the leathery comforts at the top end of George Street.

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Never forget Ms Palaszczuk is a Premier who won office literally two days after admitting live on radio that she had forgotten what the GST rate was because she had not yet had her morning coffee. That gaffe didn’t hurt. And in fact it might well have helped, as voters agreed that, yes, they too are a bit slow before their caffeine hit.

Fast-forward five and a half years and voters still applaud Ms Palaszczuk’s approachable demeanour. Her party is now languishing on a primary vote of just 32 per cent (down from 35.4 per cent at the 2017 election), but Ms Palaszczuk herself dominates her opponent Deb Frecklington in the popularity stakes. Even before the coronavirus crisis cruelled any Opposition Leader’s chance of meaningful cut-through, the Premier was ahead 34 per cent to 22 per cent as preferred premier. Today that gap has widened to 44-23, according to The Courier-Mail’s latest YouGov poll published earlier this month.

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Perhaps prompted by that finding, the LNP organisation commissioned a deep dive – surveying 1300 voters in 26 key electorates across the state about their views of both leaders across 18 attributes ranging from “likeable” to “parochial” and “optimistic” – and “will deliver good things for regional Queensland” to “has a family of her own and shows compassion”. Ms Palaszczuk led Ms Frecklington on every measure.

Queensland Opposition leader Deb Frecklington (centre) flanked by members of the LNP front bench as they arrived for a party room meeting at Parliament House yesterday. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

The polling was then tellingly leaked to this newspaper late last week – forcing Ms Frecklington to stand up on Sunday and declare she was not going anywhere, and would not be bullied by “backroom boys”.

She deserves credit for doing so. If there is one thing voters dislike more than politicians who talk in soundbites it’s politicians who plot to overthrow their leaders outside of elections. Australians have seen far too many of these unseemly battles over the past decade. They are frustrated and turned off by those motivated by self-interest rather than the public interest.

It is true that Ms Frecklington has failed to deliver cut-through. But which Opposition Leader has in the current environment? Perhaps Ms Frecklington does lack the x-factor that another more risky leader might bring to the table. But perhaps that’s not what an electorate still burned by Campbell Newman’s whirlwind three years in office is looking for.

It is not true to suggest that Ms Frecklington has had her chance. Political leaders are marked on their performance during the election campaign, not on the years of hard work leading up to it. Ms Frecklington has not had the opportunity to be tested in that critical environment yet, and she deserves that as the one who has done the hard yards since assuming the leadership at the end of 2017.

Want to know what Queensland voters think? It’s simple: that they should be the ones who determine the outcome of this contest.

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SCRAP THE COVID TIMETABLE

PREMIER Annastacia Palasczcuk’s decision to bring forward the easing of COVID-19 restrictions regarding funerals is a welcome, commonsense decision.

From today, a maximum of 100 mourners can attend funerals, as long as they maintain social distancing and leave contact information.

Earlier restrictions on funerals – previously only 20 people were allowed to attend and before that just 10 – have caused much pain to people already suffering.

But with no new cases in Queensland again recorded yesterday, the State Government made the decision to do away with the timetable that had seen funeral restrictions due to ease on July 10.

It’s an important precedent. Perhaps the Premier can now look at opening state borders earlier than flagged by National Cabinet.

That move, as well as replacing the 20 person per area restriction on restaurants and pubs, would be a welcome reward for our diligence during this crisis.