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Don't misquote me': Leaders clash over border during Sky News and The Courier-Mail People’s Forum

Annastacia Palaszczuk has taken out the Sky News and The Courier-Mail People's Forum over Deb Frecklington, with a group of undecided voters declaring the Premier a decisive winner in what was at times a heated debate. HOW IT UNFOLDED

QLD 2020 Debate: Palaszczuk vs Frecklington in The People’s Forum

The votes are in and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has emerged the clear winner of the Sky News and The Courier-Mail People’s Forum.

Of 70 undecided voters, 53 per cent believe Ms Palaszczuk won, while 30 per cent gave the debate to Deb Frecklington and 17 per cent were undecided.

The pair had a fiery clash over reopening Queensland's international borders with Ms Frecklington accusing the Premier of 'verballing her' and Ms Palaszczuk accusing the opposition leader of 'misquoting' her and firing back 'I stood strong'.

They took questions from undecided voters during the one-hour forum, hosted by Sky News Chief News Anchor Kieran Gilbert, with just three days to go until Election Day.

The COVID border lockdown dominated the questions.

WATCH THE DEBATE REPLAY IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE AND SEE HOW IT UNFOLDED IN THE BLOG BELOW

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) and opposition Leader Deb Frecklington engage in a debate during the Sky News - Courier Mail People's Forum at the Broncos Leagues club in Brisbane, ahead of the October 31 state election. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) and opposition Leader Deb Frecklington engage in a debate during the Sky News - Courier Mail People's Forum at the Broncos Leagues club in Brisbane, ahead of the October 31 state election. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

During a fiery stoush over international  borders, the leaders clashed when Ms Palaszczuk said the opposition called for the border to be reopened 64 times and defiantly said 'I stood strong' in the face of interstate pressure.

Ms Frecklington accused the Premier of 'verballing' her after Ms Palaszczuk said she was 'concerned' the LNP would open up borders too quickly.

Things got tense when Ms Frecklington said  Ms Palaszczuk 'miraculously' opened the borders following pressure.

'That is not true, we have not opened to WA and we have a border bubble, don't misquote me please... you are misleading this forum'.

The leaders clashed over reopening the international borders when questioned over bringing international students back into Australia.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was 'huge risk' to allow international students back into Australia without hotel quarantine and 'we can't risk a huge number of international people coming into Queensland and risking our quarantine'.

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Deb Frecklington and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will face voters in the People’s Forum. Picture: Adam Head
Deb Frecklington and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will face voters in the People’s Forum. Picture: Adam Head

FOLLOW THE LIVE BLOG AND CATCH UP ON THE KEY MOMENTS IN THE VIDEOS BELOW

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Updates

That concludes the People's Forum

Tanya Westthorp

That concludes the People's Forum. Thanks so much for joining us!

Stay with 'stability not chaos': Premier urges

Tanya Westthorp

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has finished the debate by urging Queenslanders to stay with "stability, not chaos".

"I have honestly done my best for this state," she said.

"There is nothing more important than the dignity of work."

She said the single question that voters should leave with tonight is how the LNP would pay for its promises.

– Jack McKay

A minority government ...

Tanya Westthorp

Both leaders have been asked whether they would form a minority government with minor parties.

Ms Palaszczuk and Ms Frecklington both said no. 

The Premier said she was asking for a majority.

– Domanii Cameron

'Over prescriptive' development rules

Tanya Westthorp

The leaders have been asked if there is anything the state government could do to deal with over-prescriptive development rules.

Ms Palaszczuk said most of these issues were in the council jurisdiction. But she also said Labor was looking at more social housing in priority development areas.

Ms Frecklington also pointed out that it was a council issue, but she also acknowledged it was an issue in the city.

– Jack Mckay

The leaders have clashed over reopening the international borders with Ms Palaszczuk accusing Ms Frecklington of 'misquoting her' and defending her stance that 'I stood strong' against interstate pressure to reopen domestic borders.

Both leaders were asked about the importance they place on international students returning to Queensland.

LNP leader Deb Frecklington acknowledged it was the third largest export in the state.

She said she had met with all of the vice chancellors of the universities to address the issue.

"The Queensland international education market provides so much back into our economy," Ms Frecklington said.

"We need to look at how that bubble is working for other states."

She promised to continue to work with the federal government to assist the industry.

Ms Palaszczuk said she had concerns about opening up international borders.

"We can't rush a whole lot of international people coming into Queensland and putting at risk our quarantine," she said. 

"At the moment our hotels are keeping up with the demand."

The Premier said the Government could not extend Queensland's resources that would put the lives of Queenslanders at risk.

"I do acknowledge international education is important," she said. 

Then things got tense with Ms Frecklington accusing Ms Palaszczuk of verballing her after the Premier claimed the LNP leader called for the border to be opened 64 times.

"You called for the borders to be opened 64," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"You called for all the borders to be opened with Scott Morrison … and I stood strong on behalf of the people of this state."

She accused Ms Frecklington of 'misquoting her' when Ms Frecklington said the government 'miraculously' reopened domestic borders after the pressure.

"Don't misquote me please … I stood strong," a defiant Ms Palaszczuk said.

"You are misleading this forum."

– Jack Mckay, Domanii Cameron and Tanya French

Youth curfew a 'blunt instrument'

Tanya Westthorp

Asked about youth crime, Ms Palaszczuk pointed to her government's plan to employ an extra 2,025 police officers over the next four years.

She said the LNP leader had been unable to explain her curfew policy, saying it could affect children who work late nights at KFC and McDonalds.

The LNP's proposed curfew to crackdown on young criminals was called a blunt instrument.

Ms Frecklington said it was a blunt instrument.

She said police would use their discretion as to which young people would be picked up and taken to refuges if they're found on streets after the curfew.

– Jack Mckay and Domanii Cameron

The Premier has heaped pressure on Ms Frecklington to reveal her costings.

'How are you going to fund all your election promises?" Ms Palaszczuk demanded.

"That is the single most important question the leader of the opposition needs to answer tonight."

Ms Frecklington retorted – 'Firstly, we'll stop Labor's waste'

Ms Palaszczuk claimed 30,000 people would lose their jobs under an LNP government – something Ms Frecklington branded a "Labor lie".

Ms Frecklington accused the premier of having no record to run on, pointing to her continued attacks on the former government.

The LNP has previously committed to releasing their costings on Thursday, while Labor released their costings on Monday.

– Tanya French and Jack Mckay

Premier doubles down on LNP costing question

Tanya Westthorp

The Premier has heaped pressure on Ms Frecklington to reveal her costings.

'How are you going to fund all your election promises?" Ms Palaszczuk demanded.

"That is the single most important question the leader of the opposition needs to answer tonight."

Ms Frecklington retorted – 'Firstly, we'll stop Labor's waste'

Ms Palaszczuk claimed 30,000 people would lose their jobs under an LNP government – something Ms Frecklington branded a "Labor lie".

Ms Frecklington accused the premier of having no record to run on, pointing to her continued attacks on the former government.

The LNP has previously committed to releasing their costings on Thursday, while Labor released their costings on Monday.

– Tanya French and Jack Mckay

How can future generations afford to live

Tanya Westthorp

Both leaders have been asked how they would encourage younger generations to have children when the cost of living was expensive.

Ms Frecklington said before and after school care needed to be made cheaper.

"Child care is one of the most expensive prohibitors from going into the workforce," she said. 

"You need an economy that is firing on all cylinders."

– Domanii Cameron

LNP leader Deb Frecklington has been asked if she thinks renewable energy is "crazy" and a "fantasy", after The Courier-Mail's state affairs editor Steven Wardill referred to previous comments made by her MPs.

She rejected those suggestions and said an LNP government would not back away from the current 50 per cent renewable energy target.

Ms Frecklington talked up the hydroelectricity opportunities for her New Bradfield Scheme, as she hit out at the Premier for not approving the New Acland mine.

She said renewables energy was just as important as other industries in the state, as she spruiked her plan to develop a recycling industry for solar panels.

– Jack Mckay

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/state-election-2020/debates/leaders-take-part-in-sky-news-and-the-couriermail-peoples-forum/live-coverage/60e65a7eeef7f337479033aeddc6ecd8