Editorial: Critical state election campaign covered differently

What you think about the issues, and the questions you want Queensland’s politicians to answer will be at the centre of The Courier-Mail’s coverage of the state election campaign, writes the Editor.

It is hardly a shock, but it sure is telling that on the eve of the state’s formal election campaign, voters on the one hand do not feel confident in returning Premier Steven Miles to power, but on the other they also do not yet know who Opposition Leader David Crisafulli is.

This is one of the key revelations of The Courier-Mail’s Voter Verdict panel, a select group of 20 everyday Queenslanders who will inform our coverage over the next four weeks.

The 20 were chosen by respected pollster YouGov as representative of the type of voters that both sides will need to convince over the next four weeks to cast their ballot for a certain party’s local candidate.

Reflecting the findings of broader statewide polling, our voter jury say the big issues when it comes to the October 26 election are cost of living, youth crime, housing, and access to regional healthcare.

All four are issues The Courier-Mail has led the conversation in over the past four years – with campaigns on youth crime and housing delivering outcomes, and coverage of regional healthcare and cost of living having dominated the headlines.

Distrust of the political process was another theme that emerges in the voter panel’s first video diaries submitted last week and available to view on couriermail.com.au.

A clear majority of participants say they do not believe the promises would be fulfilled from either party, thanks to memories of empty pledges from past elections.

But it is the verdict on the leaders themselves that is perhaps most telling when listening to the panel.

For the Premier, most criticism is around a lack of connection and a general air of malaise among voters for him personally.

Interestingly, criticism also appears to be bubbling away over the Premier’s captain’s call to build a temporary athletics venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032 at the site of the old QEII Stadium at Nathan in the southern suburbs – a decision Mr Miles only made because he was concerned a brand new inner-city stadium was not what voters wanted.

But there is not a lot of good news for Mr Crisafulli, either.

Our voter panel’s insights would suggest that not only do they not really know him yet, but that they have also clued into a perception that the LNP has not yet fully explained what it will do if – as the polling and bookmakers suggest – it wins power at the election.

Now, this might not be a concern to the LNP now, as the opposition strategy is built around the truism that governments tend to lose elections rather than challengers winning them. But it will be telling to hear from the voter panel over coming weeks as they get to hear more from Mr Crisafulli in the spotlight of an election campaign.

The Voter Verdict panel is just one of the ways The Courier-Mail will cover this election uniquely.

We have joined forces with our sister publications across the vast length of our state to give readers access to election coverage from more than 40 reporters in every key community. Their stories will be included in a free-to-read blog on couriermail.com.au every day.

Subscribers can also sign up to receive a daily email that condenses the day’s big campaign events, and includes the state’s best political analysis and commentary.

And for the first time ever, we will also be giving our readers the chance to submit and vote on questions to be asked of the leaders.

We say next to our masthead every day that “we’re for you”. This campaign is a chance for us to prove that adage. Backing our readers will be our team’s North Star over the next four weeks as we strive to deliver on that, through the state’s most comprehensive coverage.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details are available at www.couriermail.com.au/help/contact-us

Originally published as Editorial: Critical state election campaign covered differently