Queensland politics: LNP leader Tim Nicholls apologises for Campbell Newman government

OPPOSITION Leader Tim Nicholls has apologised to voters wronged by the Newman government, admitting “we didn’t do well enough”.

Former premier Campbell Newman. Picture: Kym Smith

OPPOSITION Leader Tim Nicholls has apologised to voters wronged by the Newman government, saying he’d do better if elected premier, as he accepted the possibility of forming a minority government with One Nation.

On another visit to regional Queensland yesterday to counteract the growing One Nation threat, Mr Nicholls said he was ready for government, having learned some “very hard lessons” from his time as Campbell Newman’s treasurer.

“People placed their trust in us to do things but we didn’t explain everything we did well enough and people understandably scratched their heads and said we don’t understand why you’re doing this and got upset about it,” he told The Sunday-Mail at the Chinchilla Melon Festival, where he took part in a watermelon eating contest.

“I think the appropriate thing to do is to say ‘I’m sorry, we got it wrong, we’ve learned a hard lesson, a very hard lesson … we won’t make those mistakes again’.”

Mr Nicholls was one of seven local “celebrities” to take part in the watermelon challenge but was pipped for first place.

He struggled when he bit into a bit of rotten watermelon in his slice but powered through with his official green and pink melon festival hat turned backwards so as not to hinder the chow down.

The Opposition Leader managed not to dirty his shirt in the scramble, during which contestants have to hold their hands behind their back.

Tim Nicholls competed in the melon-eating competition at the Chinchilla Melon Festival. Picture: Steve Pohlner

While there will not be an LNP coalition with One Nation, Mr Nicholls confirmed he would be willing to rule with their support from the crossbench if that’s what the Queensland people served up at the upcoming poll. “You can’t tell what the outcome will be but I think our obligation is whatever we’re dealt with we’ll have to try and make work,” he said.

It came as a spokesman for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk unequivocally ruled out Labor accepting One Nation crossbench support to rule under any circumstances. He said: “No deal with One Nation full stop.”

The LNP could call on the support of Pauline Hanson‘s One Nation if it has to form a minority government. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

It means if Labor does not win majority government, it will definitely sit on the Opposition benches.

The ALP instead launched it’s first negative ad of what will be a fierce election season. The advertisement, posted on Queensland Labor’s Facebook page yesterday afternoon, takes aim at Mr Nicholls’ refusal to rule out forming minority government with One Nation.

“So if you’re not in the business of ruling in or ruling out what are you in the business of, Tim Nicholls?” the ad asks. “No plan for Queensland — just a plan to sell out to One Nation.”

Meanwhile, the LNP selected Lockyer Valley Regional Council member Jim McDonald as its Lockyer candidate to run against One Nation’s Jim Savage.

Also yesterday One Nation state leader Steve Dickson confirmed another One Nation candidate had dropped out, this time Damien Emery in Pumicestone for business reasons.