Annastacia Palaszczuk ahead in polls but not as popular as former premier Anna Bligh

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk’s efforts during Queensland’s disasters have been lauded by voters, but it is a far cry from the euphoria received by a former premier. New poll data tracker

Then-premier Anna Bligh and Julia Gillard at a media conference in Kedron during the Brisbane floods, on January 12, 2011. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

• Poll shows Labor revival
• Nicholls’ plans blown off track

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk’s efforts during Queensland’s disasters have been lauded by voters, but it is a far cry from the euphoria received by Anna Bligh in 2011.

Polling has found 76 per cent of Queenslanders rated the Premier’s performance during Cyclone Debbie as ­either good or very good.

Only 16 per cent of voters rated Ms Palaszczuk’s performance as poor.

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The Premier’s highly visible efforts before, during and after the disaster, including constant weather updates and frequent visits to affected areas, largely mirrored the model adopted by Ms Bligh, who became the standard bearer for leaders nationwide.

However, Ms Bligh achieved a much stronger result in the wake of Cyclone Yasi and Brisbane’s infamous floods.

Polls taken in 2011 show 93 per cent of voters rated Ms Bligh’s efforts, which included her emotion-charged “we are Queenslanders” speech, as good or very good.

The post-disaster polling in 2011 also gave Labor a significant boost, but it was short-lived after the LNP elected Campbell Newman as leader.

Then-premier Anna Bligh on the Brisbane river to watch young members of the Centenary Rowing Club on the first anniversary of the Brisbane floods, which wiped out the club’s sheds and flooded surrounding Riverhills.

The latest Galaxy Research results show 43 per cent of Queenslanders rated Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls’ ­efforts as good or very good.

This was comparable to the results of Ms Bligh’s then opponent John-Paul Langbroek, who was endorsed by 47 per cent of voters.

“It’s interesting to remember that Anna Bligh and her Labor government got a boost from her leadership during the joint crises of the 2011 Brisbane floods and Cyclone Yasi, with Labor’s primary vote jumping from 28 per cent in November 2010 to 35 per cent in February 2011,” Galaxy managing director David Briggs said.