Analysis: Nature blows LNP leader’s plans off track

THE sting for the LNP in the latest Galaxy poll won’t necessarily come from Labor’s primary support surge, from something seemingly much more innocuous. Interactive poll tracker

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls with Yatala Pies managers Susan Porter and Heather Gay after the shop was flooded in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie. Picture: Jodie Richter

• Poll shows Labor’s revival
• Palasczcuk popularity still trails

SOME statistics hurt worse than others.

However, the sting for the LNP in the latest Galaxy poll won’t necessarily come from Labor’s primary support surge or Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls’ rising dissatisfaction rate.

It could come from something seemingly much more innocuous.

SCROLL DOWN FOR INTERACTIVE POLL TRACKER

Among the stats demonstrating endorsement of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Cyclone Debbie ­effort is a figure showing 65 per cent of the LNP’s own supporters approved of her performance.

The latest Galaxy poll figures, exclusive to The Courier-Mail.

For Nicholls, this will be like having his hand punctured by a nine-inch nail.

Firstly, Queensland’s authorities are like well-oiled machines and the main ­duties of political leaders ­during disasters are often ­little more than weather updates. Afterwards it’s all about empathy.

Nicholls will know Palaszczuk was handed an event that played to her strengths just when Labor looked luckless.

And LNP MPs will remember that it was Nicholls that led the coup to install Campbell Newman when fortune fell on Anna Bligh. At that stage, the LNP was still well ahead of Labor and then leader John-Paul Langbroek’s preferred premier number was better than Nicholls’ is now.

Cyclone Debbie may be long gone.

But her ill winds are still battering the Opposition Leader’s office.