WATCH REPLAY: Annastacia Palaszczuk v Deb Frecklington in final election debate
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition leader Deb Frecklington have faced off in their final debate of the election campaign before voters head to the polls tomorrow and the Premier became emotional over one question. WATCH THE REPLAY
Jack Mckay Domanii Cameron Tanya French
less than 2 min read
October 30, 2020 - 9:18AM
The stakes couldn't have been higher when Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition leader Deb Frecklington faced off in the final debate of the election campaign before voters head to the polls tomorrow.
They traded barbs over Queensland's hardline border stance, the COVID response and debt during a debate at the Media Club. but it was a question over euthanasia which led to an emotional response from the premier.
WATCH THE REPLAY IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE OR SEE HOW IT UNFOLDED IN THE LIVE BLOG BELOW.
Ms Frecklington said she would 'never ever politicise' such as sensitive issue like voluntary assisted dying.
"I would never, ever politicise this issue like Annastacia Palaszczuk has," she said.
Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deb Frecklington debate at the Media Club today. Photo: Dan Peled
"We must make sure the legislation is right."
The comment led to an emotional reaction from Ms Palaszczuk who responded that her grandmother died in pain during the coronavirus pandemic and she was not able to see her due to the restrictions.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk got emotional during the debate. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled
It was a critical debate as voters head to the polls tomorrow. The Courier-Mail and Sky News will call the winners first in unmissable seat-by-seat coverage at couriermail.com.au which begins when the polling booths open and continues right through until the end of the count tomorrow night.
As well as live results coverage, we'll bring readers in-depth analysis of how the vote plays out, what it means for Queenslanders plus live video from the winners and losers speeches.
CATCH UP ON THE COURIER-MAIL'S UNRIVALLED ELECTION COVERAGE:
The Premier has used her closing statement to spruik her Government's investment in education and health services.
"There is dignity in having a job," she said.
"There is a clear choice this Saturday. Do you want stability or do you want chaos and reckless behaviour?
"Our plan is fully costed, it's fully funded."
The Premier said the LNP had put a "pure hoax on regional Queensland."
"There is no duplication or four-laning of the Bruce Highway," she said.
"There is no funding for it."
– Domanii Cameron
Annastacia Palaszczuk has been asked about what she is going to do to bring down the state's debt, which is set to reach $101.9 billion this financial year.
She renewed her promise to hand down a Budget before the end of the year and insisted that experts had recommended now is the time to borrow.
"Our economic recovery plan is clearly based on $7 billion of stimulus to make sure we're getting people back into work," she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said her government would borrow $4 billion, saying it was necessary to borrow to build while in the midst of a pandemic.
Deb Frecklington used the question to say the LNP would not give up on the debt.
She claimed debt would be $2.4 billion less under an LNP government than it will be under Labor.
She said the best way to pay down debt was to grow the economy, and pointed to a number of her party's policies including a buy local procurement target.
– Jack Mckay
Annastacia Palaszczuk asked Deb Frecklington what she believed the impact would have been on Queensland if the borders had opened on July 1.
Ms Frecklington had previously called for the border to open on that date.
She responded by saying that she was first to call for the borders to Victoria to be closed.
She said when she made that call for the July 1 reopening, the Victorian second wave had not happened.
Ms Frecklington pointed out that the Premier had initially reopened the borders, following her calls for them to be opened, but subsequently closed them during Victoria's second wave.
– Jack Mckay
The debate has finished
Tanya Westthorp
That concludes the debate, thank you once again for joining us!
The final pitch
Tanya Westthorp
The Premier has used her closing statement to spruik her Government's investment in education and health services.
"There is dignity in having a job," she said.
"There is a clear choice this Saturday. Do you want stability or do you want chaos and reckless behaviour?
"Our plan is fully costed, it's fully funded."
The Premier said the LNP had put a "pure hoax on regional Queensland."
"There is no duplication or four-laning of the Bruce Highway," she said.
"There is no funding for it."
– Domanii Cameron
Union puppet ... how are those property developers?
Tanya Westthorp
Ms Frecklington has used her final question to the Premier to accuse her of being a puppet of the unions.
Ms Palaszczuk responded by saying "How are those property developers going? They're banned."
The Premier said her team worked as a team.
"And we get up every day and we want the best for the people of this state," she said.
"I'm very honoured and privileged to work with a bunch of people … represent their communities.
"They fight hard."
– Domanii Cameron
What would've happened if border reopened on July 1?
Tanya Westthorp
Annastacia Palaszczuk asked Deb Frecklington what she believed the impact would have been on Queensland if the borders had opened on July 1.
Ms Frecklington had previously called for the border to open on that date.
She responded by saying that she was first to call for the borders to Victoria to be closed.
She said when she made that call for the July 1 reopening, the Victorian second wave had not happened.
Ms Frecklington pointed out that the Premier had initially reopened the borders, following her calls for them to be opened, but subsequently closed them during Victoria's second wave.
– Jack Mckay
Ms Frecklington has been asked whether she would commit to following the advice of the chief health officer or go it alone on borders if she becomes premier.
She said the borders shouldn't be closed for any longer than they need to be
but that she would follow the advice of the chief health officer.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the only reason Queensland had exemptions was because of its hardline borders – which she said kept Queenslanders safe.
She said the Sunshine State had granted more exemptions on compassionate grounds than any other state in the country.
"I say to the Leader of the Opposition, you have to, in this position as Premier … you have to be guided by the expert advice.
"If you don't stand by the expert advice, you cannot lead this state."
Ms Frecklington accused the Premier of politicising the borders in the midst of the election campaign.
She accused her of hiding polling conducted by the government to gauge the feedback of Queenslanders to the COVID response.
Ms Palaszczuk insisted she had always listened to the advice of Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young when making COVID-related decisions.
"It's a very complex situation that we are dealing with," she said. "It is not an easy fix."
– Domanii Cameron and Jack Mckay
QLD's hardline border stance - you have to take health advice
Tanya Westthorp
Ms Frecklington has been asked whether she would commit to following the advice of the chief health officer or go it alone on borders if she becomes premier.
She said the borders shouldn't be closed for any longer than they need to be
but that she would follow the advice of the chief health officer.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the only reason Queensland had exemptions was because of its hardline borders – which she said kept Queenslanders safe.
She said the Sunshine State had granted more exemptions on compassionate grounds than any other state in the country.
"I say to the Leader of the Opposition, you have to, in this position as Premier … you have to be guided by the expert advice.
"If you don't stand by the expert advice, you cannot lead this state."
Ms Frecklington accused the Premier of politicising the borders in the midst of the election campaign.
She accused her of hiding polling conducted by the government to gauge the feedback of Queenslanders to the COVID response.
Ms Palaszczuk insisted she had always listened to the advice of Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young when making COVID-related decisions.
"It's a very complex situation that we are dealing with," she said. "It is not an easy fix."
– Domanii Cameron and Jack Mckay
Deb Frecklington was asked about her support for voluntary assisted dying, but would not say where she stood on the issue.
It came after Annastacia Palaszczuk put the issue on her election agenda, promising to introduce euthanasia legislation to the parliament by February.
Ms Frecklington said she did not want anyone to die in pain or alone and that she wanted more support for palliative care, as she hit out at the Premier for bringing the issue up during an election campaign.
"I would never, ever politicise this issue like Annastacia Palaszczuk has," she said. "We must make sure the legislation is right."
She said she did not know how she would vote on it because she did not know the boundaries of the legislation.
"And you must consult your community," she said.
Ms Frecklington claimed the Premier's euthanasia pledge appeared to be a move to secure the Gold Coast electorate of Currumbin, narrowly held by the LNP with a margin of less than 2 per cent.
An emotional Ms Palaszczuk responded by revealing she lost her grandmother during the pandemic and she was not able to see her during her dying moments because of restrictions.
The Premier said she personally supported euthanasia and would be offering a conscience vote to her MPs should Labor be re-elected.
"I consider myself a Christian," she said.
"I hold deep Christian values but it's not for me to tell other people how to end their lives."
She said her grandmother had been in pain and that it was a very distressing time for her.
