Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls calls on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to set date for Queensland election

OPPOSITION Leader Tim Nicholls has tried to goad the Premier into calling an early election, saying the LNP had dozens of policies and most of the candidates it needs.

OPPOSITION Leader Tim Nicholls has tried to goad the Premier into calling an early election while visiting a pie shop in suburban Brisbane.

Mr Nicholls said the LNP only had eight to 10 seats in which preselections were not finished and the party was ready to return to Government.

“Not only are we ready to fight an election — we’ve released over 40 policies — we are ready to govern in the interests of all Queenslanders,” he said.

“I simply repeat the call to Annastacia Palaszczuk, stop the uncertainty (and) name the election date.”

Mr Nicholls said the LNP had “expressions of interest” out in the remaining seats and he expected them to be filled “in a very short period of time”.

It comes as speculation ramps up that the election is likely to be called before the end of the year after last week’s horror sitting in Queensland Parliament.

One of its own backbenchers, Jo-Ann Miller — a former police minister — claimed that the Premier and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad had turned a blind eye to corruption allegations against Paul Pisasale.

The election can be held up until May 5, 2018.

During the visit to Piefection Gourmet Pies yesterday — where a steak pie was named in his honour — Mr Nicholls said rising electricity prices were preventing businesses from hiring more staff and repeated his attack on Labor’s renewable energy policy.

“We need to reject this crazy 50 per cent renewable energy target,” he said.

Labor has preselected candidates in 76 seats — including all the key electorates it is targeting to form majority government after the redistribution — and has 17 preselections still being finalised.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk claimed the Opposition wanted an early election to try and hide their leader from prolonged scrutiny.

“Tim Nicholls wants an early election because he thinks Queenslanders have forgotten who he is, what he did with Campbell Newman and what he stands for — cutting services, sacking workers and selling assets.

“Tim Nicholls needs to tell Queenslanders how he will pay for $18 billion in unfunded promises.

“He needs to release policies. He also needs to explain who the secret LNP donors are.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she did not believe uncertainty over the election date was hurting Queensland businesses.

“Not one person from business has raised with me the election date (as an issue),” she said.