Queensland Election 2017: Former premier Campbell Newman on LNP chances

QUEENSLAND Opposition leader Tim Nicholls has hit back at his one-time boss Campbell Newman after the former premier declared the LNP could not win the state election without One Nation.

Campbell Newman (right) with now Opposition leader Tim Nicholls during the 2015 state election. Picture: Jack Tran

QUEENSLAND Opposition leader Tim Nicholls has dismissed claims by his former boss Campbell Newman that the LNP cannot win the state election without One Nation.

Former LNP leader Mr Newman, who was ousted at the 2015 election, told Sky News on Sunday the primary vote for both Labor and the LNP is too low to win on November 25 and the outcome will be about preferences.

He says he expects Labor and the LNP to lose some seats, and One Nation to pick up five to 10 seats putting them in a prime position to influence the outcome.

“Tim Nicholls, if he wants to be premier, has to have their support,” Mr Newman said.

It was an observation backed by former Labor premier, Peter Beattie.

“Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the LNP will only get to office with some understanding from One Nation,” he told Sky.

“There’s no other alternative and the Labor party will campaign against them on that basis.”

When Mr Nicholls was asked by reporters to comment on Mr Newman’s predictions he replied: “He’s wrong, next question.”

“Campbell is a commentator on Sky but I’m focused on what is most important for Queenslanders.

“We’ve learnt from the mistakes from the past. We’ve now got plans to deal with jobs and managing the finances.”

Former Queensland premiers Peter Beattie and Campbell Newman. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese

Both the government and LNP go into the election on 41 seats and need to win a total of 47 to govern in their own right.

The addition of four extra seats created under a major shake-up of Queensland’s electoral boundaries and a shift in the perimeters in a majority of electorates will cause chaos for both Labor and the opposition.

Adding further complications to the poll will be the return of full preferential voting and the revival of right-wing establishment One Nation.

Mr Nicholls on Sunday again reiterated the LNP would not be seeking a deal with One Nation.

“I have ruled out, on countless occasions, any deal with One Nation - there will be no deal, no coalition and no shared ministry. Put simply, a vote for One Nation is a vote for Labor,” he said, kicking off his campaign.

One Nation is standing at least 60 candidates out of 93 seats, and is polling around 16 per cent of the vote. But that is much higher in certain regional seats which are traditionally LNP.

One Nation MP Steve Dickson and Member for Buderim at a press conference on the Sunshine Coast today. Picture: Warren Lynam

The LNP is particularly wary after the West Australian Liberal party’s preference deal with One Nation at the WA election in March backfired spectacularly.

One Nation’s Queensland leader Steve Dickson expects to hold the balance of power at least, but is not predicting how many seats the party will win.

“I’m counting on winning as many of those we can ... I’m not limiting ourselves,” Mr Dickson, who is the only One Nation MP in the Queensland parliament, told reporters in Buderim on Sunday.