Queensland Election 2015: The Leaders’ Debate, Premier Campbell Newman vs Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk
PREMIER Campbell Newman and Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk have hit each other with the hottest question of the election - what will happen to Queensland’s assets?
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THE leaders of the LNP and the ALP have gone head-to-head in the second debate of the Queensland Election.
Premier Campbell Newman and Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk outlined their visions for Queensland in The Leaders’ Debate at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Read the blog for all the tweets, or scroll down for a blow-by-blow account of the debate.
1.45pm: In his closing statement Mr Newman went on the attack over Ms Palaszczuk’s decision not to name which ministries she would have or what her job creation target was,
“The bottom line is after three years with 22 staff ... they haven’t got a plan. They have got four pages of costings. That is an insult to the people of Queensland,” he said.
“The LNP does have a plan. We can fund the future, we have a strong team, we are offering certainty.
“In contrast we could see chaos, job destruction from Labor.”
Ms Palaszczuk fired back, again honing in on the LNP’s asset privatisation plan.
“Labor’s plans are moderate, Labor’s plans are sensible, Labor’s plans are fully costed.
“We will keep those assets.
“Queensland deserves a government that listens ... that creates jobs.
“We will be a government for everyone. We will not seek to divide. I will bring Queensland together.
“Queenslanders have to think, do you want three more years of this?”
1.40pm: Ms Palaszczuk then asked Mr Newman about his pre-election promises regarding frontline services, unemployment and the public service.
He defended his record, insisting there had not been cuts to services in areas like health and education.
“The unemployment rate did drop,” he said.
He then accused Ms Palaszczuk of negligence for not outlining how she would pay for future infrastructure.
Mr Newman asked Ms Palaszczuk to name what her 14 ministries would be after she promised to reduce the number of cabinet positions if re-elected.
She did not name them but said the move would save $27 million. Instead she said those decisions would be made after forming government.
“I firmly believe that this is the right course of action,” she said.
“Our plans have been moderate.”
1.35pm: Ms Palaszcuk was then asked about the Premier’s allegations regarding whether or not the ALP had accepted donations from bikies via contributions from unions.
“I made it very clear. If this premier has any evidence whatsoever, refer it to the police immediately,” she said.
“Labor has run a very clean campaign.”
1.32pm: Mr Newman was asked if he really thought the assets to be put up for lease would go back into the hands of taxpayers in 50 or 99 years time without them having to buy them back.
“People won’t be buying their assets back,” he said.
“There is a difference between a lease and a sale.”
He compared asset leasing to Alaska and Hong Kong.
“They will come back,” he said.
1.30pm: Ms Palaszczuk was asked the next question regarding why she did not have a firm plan in place to govern Queensland should she win government on Saturday.
She rejected the assertion and said she believed she had put forward a viable alternative.
“Fundamentally we have been out there talking to Queenslanders and listening,” she said.
“A good government listens.
“Tomorrow is the chance for everybody to cast judgment on this government.”
1.26pm: Mr Newman was asked the next question regarding what would happen if he lost Ashgrove and if his economic vision would be maintained by the LNP if he lost but the party won government.
“My firm belief is that Ashgrove will go with government,” he said.
“The battle in my electorate is the same as in all electorates across this state.”
He accused Ms Palaszczuk of squibbing his question to her by not naming a firm job creation target.
1.22pm: Ms Palaszczuk was then asked why she deserved to be Premier.
“I will listen to Queenslanders. There is nothing fundamentally more important than listening to what Queenslanders want to say,” she said.
“I give this commitment to Queensland. I will stand by you. I will listen to you. I will govern with a consensus style of government.”
1.19pm: Mr Newman was asked a question from the media gallery on his leadership style and whether or not he had governed with grace and humility as he had promised on election night in 2012.
“When you undertake reform it is often contentious,” he said.
“The controversies have been there and at times I have been passionate. Why ladies and gentlemen, because of you.
“Yes on occasions I have been fired up becuase I love this state and I have been working my guts out for it.”
1.17pm: Ms Palaszczuk then asked Mr Newman about his privatisation plan and estimates it could make at least $37 billion.
He insisted that figure was conservative and turned the question back on her.
“Why is Queensland Labor not saying how they will fund the future?” he asked.
1.13pm: Ms Palaszczuk answered by honing in on his public service cuts but she did not name a figure.
“Labor will create jobs. We’re going to invest $240 million to get young people back in work,” she said.
“We are going to be the party of job creation.”
1.12pm: Mr Newman asked Ms Palaszczuk the first question about jobs.
“Can you please tell Queenslanders how many jobs you will create over the next six years,” he asked.
1.10pm: Ms Palaszczuk also focussed on jobs, highlighting the current unemployment rate.
“This government has cut jobs and frontine services and you don’t help health and education services by denying them the funds they need,” she said.
“Remember the arrogance, remember the broken promises...
“Remember the divisions, remember the fights.”
1.09pm: Ms Palaszczuk began by describing the election as a David and Goliath battle and honing in on the LNP’s asset privatisation plan.
“Time is running out,” she said.
“There is one day left to stop the sale of our assets.
“Once our assets are gone, they are gone forever. Labor makes this commitment to Queenslanders, we will not sell your assets.
“We will use the profits that they make to pay down debt.”
1.05pm: Premier Campbell Newman was picked to speak first after Annastacia Palaszczuk won the coin toss.
He began by outlining his government’s successes in areas like health and education.
“We have made a lot of progress,” he said.
“Next year, 15/16, for the first time in a decade Queensland will not have to borrow anymore money. We will have a fiscal surplus.
“The trouble is we still will have towards $80 billion worth of debt.
“This is growing state. We must invest in the future.
“My team has a strong plan. We have a plan to lease assets so we can get the proceeds in to deal with debt, to build the infrastructure.
“That’s the vision I have.”
1pm: Opposition leader Annastacia Palasczcuk has won the coin toss, Premier Campbell Newman will speak first.
Originally published as Queensland Election 2015: The Leaders’ Debate, Premier Campbell Newman vs Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk
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