Qld election 2024: Labor invokes ghost of Campbell Newman

Steven Miles has pleaded with Queenslanders to give him more time in the state’s top job amid a “desperate” attack on David Crisafulli.

Premier Steven Miles ascends the hill to Government House on Tuesday. Picture: Adam Head

Steven Miles has pleaded with Queenslanders to give him more time in the state’s top job amid a “desperate” attack on David Crisafulli.

In a first, the Premier caught public transport from Mango Hill to Government House on Tuesday morning, where he requested Governor Jeannette Young issue the writs for a 26-day election campaign.

Mr Miles maintained a smile and spring in his step walking up the steep hill from the bus stop to Fernberg estate despite consistent polling predicting he and Labor are marching towards a convincing defeat.

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“Every election in Queensland is really hard, but I’m confident about the plans we’ll outline for Queenslanders over the next few weeks,” Mr Miles said as he attacked Opposition Leader Mr Crisafulli’s record in the Campbell Newman government.

“It was him that cut those health workers, it was him who closed those schools, it was him who cancelled those projects. Their plan has not changed,” he claimed.

Mr Crisafulli, who was local government minister at the time, denied those claims and said Labor’s “desperation meter is topping out”.

Premier Steven Miles (second from right) kicks off the election with a visit to Government House with ministers (from left) Grace Grace, Cameron Dick and Shannon Fentiman. Picture: Adam Head

“But the more desperate the government gets, the more I’m going to talk about a right plan for Queensland’s future and the need for a fresh start,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Mr Miles, Treasurer Cameron Dick and their travelling press pack flew to Townsville where three Labor seats are at serious risk of falling to the LNP.

The Premier moved to “categorically” rule out deals with minor parties to hold power, but said Labor would instead test its numbers on the floor of parliament.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli travelled from Cairns to Bundaberg, the state’s most marginal seat, for his first stop of the official election campaign.

The regional Queensland electorate, known for its farming and rum, was won by Labor’s Tom Smith by nine votes in 2020 as older residents backed Annastacia Palaszczuk’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Crisafulli visited a crime-affected car yard in Bundaberg to announce a $40m fund to help businesses install CCTV, safety lighting and alarm systems.

He said the fund would be available to small businesses and councils, with grants of $25,000 and $100,000 respectively aimed at driving down insurance costs.

Mr Crisafulli has also rehashed his commitment to extending the life of the Callide coal-fired power station beyond 2028 while the LNP developed a long-term renewable energy plan.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli on Tuesday. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The last thing Queenslanders want is for us to be prematurely closing power generation at a time when they can’t afford their bills and there isn’t sufficient supply into the market,” he said.

Bundaberg is one of five seats the LNP must win back if it has any chance of forming government.

Mr Miles landed in sunny Townsville and declared Queensland’s cohort of serious young offenders was shrinking as he attempted to spruik the government’s record on crime.

He also pledged $3m for locally based provider CommunityGro to run early intervention programs.

The Premier, flanked by his three at-risk Townsville MPs, pointed to the region’s strong economy, low unemployment and a list of government-backed infrastructure projects as proof the northern capital was prospering under a Labor government.

All three of the city’s Labor MPs – Resources Minister Scott Stewart in Townsville, Mundingburra’s Les Walker and Thuringowa’s Aaron Harper – hold their seats with a margin of between 3 and 4 per cent.

The seats have been plagued by crime in the past four years but Mr Miles said his move to reduce offending was working.

Premier Steven Miles took public transport to Government House. Picture: Adam Head

“Our community safety plan invests into programs that we know are working, and many of those programs have been piloted here in Townsville, and we are either ­expanding them or taking them elsewhere around the state,” he said.

The premier’s office said there had been 497 serious repeat offenders in October 2023 and, according to the Department of Youth Justice, this had dipped to 405 in July.

Mr Dick, hammering home the importance of areas like Townsville, said regional Queensland was fundamental to the election campaign.

Mr Dick said: “When our regions are strong, Queensland is strong … we have been the jobs powerhouse of the country and regional Queensland … have delivered that stunning economic recovery. We shouldn’t put that at risk.”

Labor has increasingly used Mr Crisafulli’s single term as member for Mundingburra and local government minister under Campbell Newman to frame the LNP as having a “devastating impact” on the north.

As the LNP confirmed it would preference Labor above the Greens, Mr Miles refused to say whether Labor would urge its supporters to back the LNP over the progressive minor party.

“That will be a matter for the party,” he said.

Those decisions haven’t been made, but it’s not ­unusual for us to preference the LNP.”

Originally published as Qld election 2024: Labor invokes ghost of Campbell Newman