QLD sentiment survey reveals Queenslanders have lost faith in politicians
Weeks out from a critical state election that will plot Queensland’s course through COVID-19 economic disaster, it can be revealed many don’t trust either the Premier or Deb Frecklington. But when it comes to who should govern the state, there is one clear winner.
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Queenslanders don’t trust state government, are negative about Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her government’s performance but the LNP Opposition hasn’t won them over either, The Courier-Mail’s Your Say 2020 sentiment survey reveals.
Just weeks out from a critical election that will plot the state’s course through the COVID economic disaster, 61 per cent of respondents have lost faith in state government, compared to 43 per cent who believe in the federal level.
Asked which leader they trust more, Ms Frecklington came out well in front with 47 per cent compared to the Premier’s 29.6 per cent.
More than 8000 people completed Your Say 2020, making it the biggest ever survey of its kind in Queensland.
Your Say 2020: Desperate plea for plan to save Queensland
Sentiment survey: Queenslanders have their say
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Queenslanders want more out of the Premier and the government she leads, the results show, but her opponent at the October 31 poll, Ms Frecklington, has work to do too.
Queenslanders are calling for more infrastructure across the state, back the Bradfield Scheme, renewable energy and Fast Rail.
We aren’t sold on privatisation – a third of us would consider it to pay down state debt and pay for infrastructure but half are opposed – but would back cutting the public service if frontline staff were protected.
The Gold Coast and North Queensland are least impressed with the Premier and her government while Brisbane North and Central Queensland are slightly less negative.
Head to head, 39.8 per cent of respondents picked Ms Frecklington as most capable of leading Queensland’s economic recovery, compared to 30.5 per cent for Ms Palaszczuk.
But most concerning for both leaders, 29.8 per cent said neither were capable of leading the state out of the COVID pandemic and 23.5 per cent trusted neither of them.
The LNP (58.6 per cent) lead Labor (31.6 per cent) as best placed to govern Queensland after the election, which was also reflected in which party is most capable of creating jobs for Queensland (LNP 61.3 per cent, Labor 29.5 per cent).
Nearly two-thirds of the survey backed major infrastructure like the Bradfield Scheme, and 64 per cent thought Labor wasn’t doing enough to support small business.
A State Government spokesman said “the Premier has demonstrated she puts Queenslanders first.
“This has been plainest during the pandemic.
“The Premier will do what’s right, not just what’s popular.
“She’ll stick to her guns, not vacillate depending on the latest poll or loudest voice.
“That’s a claim the LNP can’t make.
“Queensland is weathering the global pandemic better than most.
“That’s leadership Queensland can count on.”
LNP leader Ms Frecklington said the Queensland economy had been in trouble long before COVID.
“The Queensland economy is struggling but we have been struggling for the past five years,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Every year since 2017, Queensland has had Australia’s highest unemployment.
“Only the LNP has a plan to stimulate the economy, create a decade of secure jobs and drag Queensland out of this recession.
“I am determined to provide the economic leadership that Queensland needs and deliver a clear vision for Queensland’s future.
“That vision is to make Queensland the economic powerhouse of Australia once again, the best place to get a job, get ahead and raise a family.
“The LNP will start work on the drought busting New Bradfield Scheme a major new economic driver for Queensland.
“We will back Queensland small businesses speeding up payments and providing a no new tax guarantee to support private sector investment.
“Our economic plan also includes policies such as a investing in road infrastructure to stimulate the economy, building the Second M1 and building dams to improve water and food security.”
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL SURVEY RESULTS
Dams and renewable energy projects were the top priorities for regional infrastructure while more than 50 per cent picked Fast Rail as the most critical improvement for southeast Queensland.
The demand for major projects came as no surprise to the proponents of Queensland’s biggest infrastructure scheme, the Southeast Council of Mayors, who are pushing a $16.9bn to $28.8bn Fast Rail that would create a “45-minute region”.
But council of mayors chairman Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the State Government had so far been deaf to demands to investigate the project.
“The State are yet to respond to the SEQ Mayors’ requests for a partnership approach to fast rail business cases,” Cr Schrinner said.
“While we’ve seen some encouraging public commentary from the State, we’ve seen little detail on how the region’s fast rail business case funding is being spent.
“The main response from the State is the need for Federal investment into fast rail. This will only happen if we work as three levels of government to explore fast rail in South East Queensland.
“If the State is being genuine, then it should have no issue partnering with the Commonwealth, Council of Mayors (SEQ) and industry to investigate a South East Queensland fast rail network.”
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the state was already working with councils and the Commonwealth on fast rail and if councils wanted to be more involved they should put up some money.
“Councils are critical stakeholders and of course we’ll make sure they’re part of the journey,” Mr Bailey said.
“Right now, the Palaszczuk Government is working with the Federal Government and its National Faster Rail Agency to establish arrangements for fast rail planning in the south east.
“We’re developing business cases for a passenger line from Salisbury to Beaudesert and between Toowoomba and Brisbane with the Federal Government, and the North Coast Connect consortium’s fast rail business case is with Infrastructure Australia for assessment.
“We provided the business case for the Sunshine Coast Line upgrade project as a contribution in kind towards North Coast Connect.
“Importantly, we’re getting on with major rail projects like Cross River Rail and the Sunshine Coast rail upgrade with – projects that need to be completed before any serious conversation about fast rail can be had.
“If local government is keen to be more involved in the process, both levels of government would welcome any funding commitments by them to get fast rail moving.”