Queensland election 2017: Political leaders to face off in debate

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk will face Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls and One Nation state leader Steve Dickson in what is expected to be the only major debate of the election campaign.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will go head to head with Opposition leader Tim Nicholls at this Thursday’s debate. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England and Glenn Hunt

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk will face Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls and One Nation state leader Steve Dickson in what is expected to be the only major debate of the election campaign.

Ms Palaszczuk’s office has confirmed the Premier will take part in the Sky News/The Courier-Mail People’s Forum on Thursday night.

The Premier said debates were “a tradition of election campaigns” and she looked forward to taking part.

“I welcome the opportunity to debate my commitment to backing Queenslanders and Tim Nicholls’ record for sacking Queenslanders,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will go head to head with Opposition leader Tim Nicholls at this Thursday’s debate. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England and Glenn Hunt

The forum – to be held at the Broncos Leagues Club in Red Hill – will be moderated by Sky News political editor David Speers.

The trio will be asked questions from an audience of 100 undecided voters, sourced independently by Galaxy Research.

One Nation State Leader Steve Dickson with Senator Pauline Hanson. Picture: Lachie Millard

Her confirmation comes as the Premier campaigned in north Queensland again yesterday, visiting the Clare solar farm in the electorate of Burdekin to announce a $151 million solar package including $50 million in new money to encourage the private sector to build a solar thermal baseload generator.

A Sunday-Mail-Galaxy poll yesterday revealed the LNP’s Dale Last is leading Labor candidate Mike Brunker in the Burdekin seat, 51 per cent to 49 per cent, two-party preferred.