Tim Nicholls told ‘why I don’t vote for you’

OPPOSITION Leader Tim Nicholls has fronted a fiery community forum in Townsville, where he was challenged to win back conservative voters or spend another term out of government.

Tim Nicholls in Townsville Wednesday night.

OPPOSITION Leader Tim Nicholls has fronted a fiery community forum in Townsville, where he was challenged to win back conservative voters or spend another term out of government.

Pinnacles resident and small business owner Debra Gibson said she — like many others — had stopped voting for the LNP because it did not speak to conservatives.

“There’s a lot of people like me that don’t vote for you any more,” she said.

“I don’t vote for you now because I don’t see any difference between you and the Labor Party.

“If I am looking at you as a leader, what are you going to do for people like me that are voting for every stupid right-wing (political) party out that comes along that isn’t delivering?”

Tim Nicholls fronted a vocal crowd.

Mr Nicholls said he understood many conservative voters were frustrated but the state’s issues were complex and the solutions would not be solved easily.

“People think there are simple solutions to complicated problems,” he said.

“You think a snap of the fingers will be able fix those things up.

“I can tell you that’s not how it works.

“We have to work harder, we have to get people’s trust back.

“We have to say what we will do and how we will go about doing it.”

One Nation is expected to poll well in Townsville at the next election after the city has suffered a prolonged economic downturn.

Mr Nicholls was also questioned about the LNP’s plans for a new coal-fired power station in North Queensland but he ruled out using taxpayer funds to build it, instead promising to remove red tape for the private sector to invest.