LNP gives public servants guarantee ahead of Queensland election

AS LABOR enjoys a bounce in the polls, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has moved to break from the past. Interactive poll data tracker

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THE LNP will today move to neutralise one of its biggest political headaches ahead of the state election, announcing its plans for the public service should it win office.

The Sunday Mail can reveal Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls and his deputy, Deb Frecklington, will rule out forced redundancies and promise to protect frontline services in a bid to win back public servants alienated by the LNP following cuts by the former Newman government.

Rather than pledging to rein in employee expenses once again, Mr Nicholls will instead put a range of sweeteners on the table, including a private sector exchange and secondment program for public servants wanting to hone their skills in certain areas.

Talented public servants will be identified and offered the chance to upskill, while a gender quota will be brought in to raise the number of women in senior leadership roles to 50 per cent over 10 years.

Campbell Newman’s (left) former treasurer Tim Nicholls (right) is trying to distance himself from the former LNP administration.

The LNP would also move to double the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in senior leadership roles over that period, Mr Nicholls said, with an advisory committee set up to determine how best to increase representation for other equal opportunity groups including people with a disability and people from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

Appointments would be merit-based under the plan.

But while forced redundancies were off the table, Mr Nicholls – who served as treasurer in the Newman government – said he would move to ensure the public service was held more accountable for the services they deliver to Queenslanders.

“The LNP is focused on streamlining processes and ensuring public servants spend less time dealing with bureaucratic red tape and can spend more time delivering outcomes for Queenslanders,” he said.

The LNP has refused to speculate on whether it could use natural attrition to help control employee expenses but it is understood the party will focus on protecting the frontline, including refilling positions as they become vacant.

The policy announcement comes as an exclusive Galaxy poll conducted for The Sunday Mail found the majority of Queenslanders were opposed to an early election.

When asked if Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk should call an early election this year or wait until the new year, 75 per cent of those polled said they would prefer to vote next year.

Just 21 per cent favoured a state election this year. Labor voters were the most keen for Ms Palaszczuk to go full term.