Qld Premier: Coalition has some ‘soul searching’ to do, but we’ll continue to work with a Labor PM

Queensland’s Premier says he’s “enjoyed” working alongside PM Anthony Albanese and will continue to do so, but has a clear stance around his own plans and working with the federal government.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says the Federal Coalition has “soul searching to do” in the wake of its devastating Queensland results including the fall of its leader Peter Dutton, but he will not deviate from the plan he took into his election six months ago.

This would include the hospital program rescue plan which has plunged key projects such as a cancer centre into hiatus while the government navigates cost blowouts and structural problems.

But Mr Crisafulli said he “enjoyed” working alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and he would collaborate further with the Brisbane Olympics and the promised 80-20 Bruce Highway funding upgrades.

“I think Peter has made an amazing contribution to the country, I think he’s one of the best defence ministers the nation’s seen, and he’s a big loss to the parliament, he really is.

“But in a democracy, people speak, you listen, and you work with the way that Parliament looks.

“I’ll work with Mr Albanese to get Queensland’s fair share at a local level.”

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (right) and Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli during the LNP Convention in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Mr Crisafulli said he hoped newly elected MPs from 13 seats that shifted to Labor would be on “Team Queensland”, and that they could work in agreement on important issues for the state.

“We don’t care what colour the money is from Canberra, we just want it to come to Queensland,” he said.

Mr Crisafulli said he already had worked for a favourable education deal and worked together on a new direction for Olympic infrastructure, and he said this was “not a bad start” between a state and federal government of contrasting parties.

Dickson’s Ali France said the day after the election she was concerned for the future of the cancer clinic, having seen the pressure placed on the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

It had affected the 18-month treatment of her son Henry, who died early last year after battling leukaemia.

“The whole system was so under pressure, those families who are in there and those people caring for cancer patients,” Ms France said.

Mr Crisafulli said the Health Minister had a plan to increase health services and to offer the necessary resources that had not been properly allocated, and he was willing to sit down with new federal MPs to explain its importance.

“It really is (important) because without it, we are not going to be able to deal with the growing population, we are not going to be able to fix Labor’s health crisis, so it’s important for all the members to be able to do that,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles warned healthcare workers were being “stretched”, and he believed this would increase if the government did not deliver on the new hospital projects identified by the prevouis Labor government.