YouGov poll reveals Queenslanders believe Premier more to blame for cost-of-living crisis than Ukraine war

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has promised Queenslanders they can expect more “concessions” and measures to ease cost-of-living pressures in the upcoming state budget.

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Queenslanders should expect more “concessions” and measures to ease cost-of-living pressures in the upcoming state budget Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has promised.

A recent exclusive YouGov poll found voters blamed the Palaszczuk state government more than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for escalating living costs.

But Ms Palaszczuk said high inflation and hip pocket woes were a “national issue” as she swerved around questions of who should wear more responsibility.

The YouGov poll, of a total of 1015 people who responded during the week of March 30 to April 5, revealed cost-of-living was the top issue impacting voters with a quarter of Queenslanders already on the brink of financial breaking point or over the edge.

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When asked to pick who they blamed from a list of options, half of voters overall pointed at “global economic conditions” followed by the Reserve Bank of Australia, while 29 per cent blamed the third term Palaszczuk state government.

The polling revealed Brisbane voters, who were allowed to pick more than one option, ranked the state government fourth on the list of who is to blame for the cost of living crisis, below global economic conditions, the RBA and Ukraine, Ukrainian war.

But it found regional Queenslanders believe Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government wears more blame than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the RBA, or the nearly decade old Palaszczuk state government.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczu. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glen Campbell

New Australian Bureau of Statistics data found Brisbane had suffered through the steepest cost-of-living increase in the nation this year, with the capital hit with rises across the board.

The city was slugged with increases to the cost of housing, health, tertiary education and a whopping 32.5 per cent increase in electricity prices in the March quarter — though the power costs were partially attributed to the unwinding of rebates from 2022.

Ms Palaszczuk, speaking on Thursday, acknowledged “more things need to be done” on cost-of-living, saying concessions and other measures would feature in the state budget in June.

“We acknowledge that this is a big issue in the community,” she said.

Asked if she thought the state government should shoulder more blame for the cost increases than Ukraine, Ukrainian war, as per voters thoughts, Ms Palaszczuk said the issue was a “national” one.

Ms Palaszczuk reaffirmed an electricity rebate would be included in the state budget, and that it would be higher than the previous handout of $175 — though the final dollar figure will likely depend on the scale of federal concessions to be announced in a fortnight.

The war in Ukraine has had a major impact on global economies. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Across all of 2022, inflation increased by 7.7 per cent in the River City.

The polling revealed Brisbane voters ranked the state government fourth on the list of who is to blame for the cost of living crisis, below global economic conditions, the RBA and Ukraine, Ukrainian war.

The polling found cost-of-living were the top two most important issues impacting Queenslanders more generally.

A total of 58 per cent of regional voters said they were worse off now than 12 months ago — higher than the state average of 50 per cent and the Brisbane average of 43 per cent.

A staggering 29 per cent of regional Queenslanders were close to their financial breaking point or already fallen over the fiscal edge.

And there was not much optimism, with 43 per cent convinced their financial situation will get worse in the next 12 months while 44 per cent believe it will stay the same.

The persistent concerns among voters with cost of living will likely prompt the state government to take action.

The 36 per cent of voters who blame the RBA for the cost of living situation comes in the wake of an unprecedented 10 consecutive interest rate hikes.