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The Queensland election campaign moved to the key battleground of Townsville today, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk unveiling a grab bag loaded with promises while LNP Leader Deb Frecklington promised tough new youth crime laws. FOLLOW OUR LIVE BLOG

Queensland government’s ‘lack of transparency’ on state budget is ‘concerning’

Deb Frecklington’s Liberal National Party has played into the growing unrest in the Townsville region over a reported surge in youth crime.

It has promised to introduce controversial new laws which will jail children who have committed a third criminal offence.

The LNP has also put forward a local law enforcer to run for the seat of Mundingburra, former police inspector Glenn Doyle.

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Qld election 2020: Morrison slams Palaszczuk over coronavirus border dispute

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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos October 7, 2020: Queensland opposition leader Deb Frecklington speaks to the media at Brisbane based steel fabrication company Watkins Steel The company uses cutting edge technology and is employing more Queenslanders as it expands. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos October 7, 2020: Queensland opposition leader Deb Frecklington speaks to the media at Brisbane based steel fabrication company Watkins Steel The company uses cutting edge technology and is employing more Queenslanders as it expands. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

At the launch of the LNP’s crime policy in Townsville in July, Ms Frecklington said the region’s youth crime statistics were “frightening”.

“Youth crime is going through the roof under the Palaszczuk Government,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Ms Palaszczuk’s Labor Party flew into battle with a grab bag loaded with promises to help retain all three seats held by tight margins.

This includes a $100 million investment in TAFE as well as $25 million to expand the Townsville University Hospital.

The Labor candidate, Les Walker, has his own experience with law enforcement as a former corrections officer.

“We have to have a wholistic approach with juvenile crime,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“Yes, incarceration for these very serious offenders and repetitive offenders, but we’ve got to have answers to the other issues.”

He cited the TAFE investment as a way to encourage Townsville youth to be more productive.

“If we, as a community, don’t stick up for our young people, and the people who train them and resource them, we’ve got chaos.”

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LNP to strive for surplus

Caitlin Smith

The LNP will try to achieve a surplus, but Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has pointed out the dire state of Queensland's economy under Labor. 

"The LNP's goal is to make sure that we give Queenslanders a majority government so we can implement the LNP's economic plan to drag Queensland out of recession," she said. 

Pressed on whether the LNP could achieve a surplus, the Leader said the party would "certainly try".

"But what I'll say is this, is that the Labor Government haven't got a budget so there is no plan and there is no transparency over where Labor have left Queensland," she said. 
"Of course it is a fiscal principle for the LNP to achieve a surplus over the economic cycle but given the fact that Labor has left Queensland in a dire state, an absolute dire state, let's remember for the four years before COVID we had the highest unemployment rate in the nation."

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington ruled out accepting support from minor parties or independents, even without a deal. 

She said the deal struck between One Nation and Katter's Australian Party was a matter for them. 

– Domanii Cameron

LNP rules out deal with minor parties

Caitlin Smith

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington ruled out accepting support from minor parties or independents, even without a deal. 

She said the deal struck between One Nation and Katter's Australian Party was a matter for them. 

– Domanii Cameron

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has refused to be drawn on colleague Gladys Berejiklian’s criticism of Queensland's border criteria, instead saying she follows the health advice.

The New South Wales Premier yesterday warned it was “highly unlikely, highly improbable” that the southern state would ever get to 28 days with no community transmission.

Asked whether she agreed with these comments, Ms Frecklington would not answer directly, instead saying, “In relation to the borders I’m following the health advice, I do understand from advice that’s just been given to me that there has been untraceable community transmission at this stage in New South Wales and it takes a couple of days to be determined.”

She said she wanted to see the cases traced as soon as possible, with the 48 hour timeframe given for tracing threatening Queensland’s November 1 opening.

“We would like to see and like to make sure that our borders don’t have to be shut a day longer than they have to be,” she said.

Asked what she would do if elected this month, Ms Frecklington said she would follow the health advice.

She said she had a briefing with Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young this morning, after yesterday saying Ms Palaszczuk had not responded to her request for briefings with the CHO during the caretaker period.

“I’m going to commit to making sure that when it comes to the restrictions and the borders that I as premier show compassion, consistency and common sense,” she said.

– Domanii Cameron

Protesters attack LNP's 'flip flopping' on borders

John Farmer

About half a dozen protesters from various unions affiliated with the Queensland Council of Unions have taken aim at the LNP’s “flip flopping” on borders and the party's election commitments.

Gathering outside the LNP’s press conference this morning, the protesters held signs that read, “Less jobs, No job security, Privatisation. Keep Queensland LNP Free.”

One of the protesters said there were concerns about how the LNP’s policies were going to be funded.

“We remember when Campbell Newman was in Government, he promised there would be no job cuts,” they said.

Local ETU organizer Rob Hill said they were protesting to give Ms Frecklington “a bit of a welcome into Cairns”.

“We also know Deb’s record in the Newman era where she was part of a government that said that workers have nothing to fear and then straight after the election they sacked 14,000 workers,” he said.

“Deb and her Frankenstein Government just can’t be trusted.”

– Domanii Camern

Frecklington won't be drawn on NSW border criticism

John Farmer

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has refused to be drawn on colleague Gladys Berejiklian’s criticism of Queensland's border criteria, instead saying she follows the health advice.

The New South Wales Premier yesterday warned it was “highly unlikely, highly improbable” that the southern state would ever get to 28 days with no community transmission.

Asked whether she agreed with these comments, Ms Frecklington would not answer directly, instead saying, “In relation to the borders I’m following the health advice, I do understand from advice that’s just been given to me that there has been untraceable community transmission at this stage in New South Wales and it takes a couple of days to be determined.”

She said she wanted to see the cases traced as soon as possible, with the 48 hour timeframe given for tracing threatening Queensland’s November 1 opening.

“We would like to see and like to make sure that our borders don’t have to be shut a day longer than they have to be,” she said.

Asked what she would do if elected this month, Ms Frecklington said she would follow the health advice.

She said she had a briefing with Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young this morning, after yesterday saying Ms Palaszczuk had not responded to her request for briefings with the CHO during the caretaker period.

“I’m going to commit to making sure that when it comes to the restrictions and the borders that I as premier show compassion, consistency and common sense,” she said.

– Domanii Cameron

LNP promises $20m ship-lift in Cairns

John Farmer

Northern Australia’s largest ship-lift would be built in Cairns in a bid to land more defence contracts and secure jobs under a $20 million proposal by the LNP.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington with Barron River candidate Linda Cooper and Cairns candidate Sam Marino made the announcement at BSE Maritime Solutions in the marginal seat of Cairns this morning.

Labor’s Michael Healy is the sitting member in Cairns which is held by a margin of 3.39 per cent.

Palaszczuk Government Minister Craig Crawford holds Barron River by just 1.86 per cent.

The $20 million would be spent on a syncrolift capable of lifting vessels of 5000 to 7000 tonnes which allows ships to undergo maintenance work.

Ms Frecklington said the Northern Territory Government was investing heavily in Darwin’s marine facilities but Cairns had been “let down” by the Palaszczuk Government in Queensland.

“The LNP will make sure that Cairns can be the defence marine hub for northern Australia,” she said.

“Make no mistake, we are in a battle with the Northern Territory when it comes to defence maintenance for northern Australia.

“Manufacturing jobs in and around Cairns have gone by the wayside because the Labor Government have actually been dragging the chain.”

The LNP, which would form a commercial partnership with the Cairns marine industry as part of the proposal, claims it would secure 6000 local jobs.

Mr Marino said since 2017, more than 2300 local manufacturing jobs had been lost.

-Domanii Cameron

Preference swap deal 'recipe for chaos': Premier

John Farmer

A preference swap deal between One Nation and the Katter’s Australian Party is a “recipe for chaos,” according to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Ms Palaszczuk is campaigning in Townsville today, where Labor is desperately trying to hang on to three marginal seats (Townsville 0.38 per cent, Mundingburra 1.13 per cent, and Thuringowa 4.15 per cent).

She criticised the announced preference deal between the two minor parties, who have agreed to put each other second on how-to-vote cards in seats across the state.

“What we’re seeing is once again, a recipe for chaos in this state, let me say to Queenslanders one more time: I’m asking for a majority,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“A majority will give our state stability in a time when we need to focus on managing COVID as part of our health crisis, and at a time when we have a clear plan for economic recovery.

Asked whether she would rule out accepting supply from independent MPs and minor parties, such as the Greens, who have ruled out backing the LNP, Ms Palaszczuk doubled down on her pleas for a majority government.

“I’m asking Queenslanders for a majority. I asked for it last time, and Queenslanders granted me that wish. Now I’m asking one more time. Please, in the midst of a pandemic, in the midst of an economic recovery.”

“(A recovery) where we’re growing our skills and training, $100m investment in TAFE, building on the $150m we’ve previously invested, giving our Year 12s free TAFE courses so they can get a job. Please, I’m asking Queenslanders, give me a majority.”

Touring the Bohle TAFE, in the electorate of Townsville, today, Ms Palaszczuk announced Labor’s first new, big-spending policy of the campaign: $100m over three years to expand TAFE facilities across the state.

The $100m will come from Treasurer Cameron Dick’s previously announced $4bn in extra borrowings, pushing the state’s debt towards $100bn.

A list of the projects show many of the TAFEs to be expanded or built are in Labor electorates, including a $2m for a Cyber Security Training Operation Centre in Cairns (Labor 3.39 per cent), $7.5m to expand the Ooralea Trade Training Centre in Mackay (Labor 8.34 per cent), $8m for stage one of the Central Queensland University campus consolidation in Rockhampton (Labor 5.19 per cent), nearly $1m for a new robotics lab at Southbank (South Brisbane, Labor, 3.55 per cent) and a $7m for a Metal Trades, Manufacturing and Robotics Centre at Bundamba in Ipswich (Labor 21.55 per cent).

There’s also $3.4m for an Agriculture Centre of Excellence in Bowen, in the LNP seat of Burdekin (0.8 per cent) Labor is hoping to pick up at the October 31 election. In Whitsunday, currently held by independent Jason Costigan but targeted by the major parties, $2m will be spend on an Aquaculture Training Centre at Cannonvale.

– Sarah Elks

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation says it will not support a Labor minority government as the party announces a preference swap with Katter’s Australia Party.

Senator Hanson announced the alliance as One Nation confirmed it would place the Greens last on every how-to-vote card it issues.

“There has always been a synergy between One Nation and Katter’s, particularly when it comes to regional matters like our strong support for coal mining and our farming sector,” she said.

“For the first time in political history, we’re seeing Labor and the LNP preference the Greens, which most regional Queenslanders are horrified at the thought of.”

Senator Hanson said that if her party were in a position to support the formation of government, it would never support a Labor/Greens coalition, nor any other Labor/minor party coalition.

PHON has already announced they will not issue traditional how-to-vote cards this election, instead using an app for its voters to select whether they would rather their preferences are distributed to favour the LNP or Labor, and provided with a voting order to achieve that.

“Regional Queenslanders are crying out for proper representation at this election and if the Katter’s can help One Nation secure seats and vice versa, that will be a significant win for the regions, particularly those in the western and northern parts of the state,” Senator Hanson said.

oth Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington have ruled out doing any “deals” to form minority government if neither party achieves majority government.

But Queensland’s electoral system means that they will need to try if Queenslanders deliver a hung parliament.

Katter’s can help One Nation secure seats and vice versa, that will be a significant win for the regions, particularly those in the western and northern parts of the state,” she said.

The KAP and PHON command three votes and one vote respectively on Queensland parliament’s current seven-member crossbench.

– Jessica Marszalek, Madura McCormack

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/state-election-2020/queensland-election-2020-live-one-nation-unveils-preference-deal-with-katters-australian-party/live-coverage/31452108dc04bf7c1f789c95bfc67c93