Queensland Election 2017: Neither Palaszczuk nor Nicholls have winning edge

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk and Tim Nicholls enter the election neck and neck in published opinion polls, but is either leader popular among voters?

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk and Tim Nicholls enter the 2017 Queensland Election neck and neck in published opinion polls with neither leader proving popular among voters.

The latest Galaxy Poll, published by The Courier-Mail in August, found Labor’s primary vote was 35 per cent while the LNP was on 36 per cent and One Nation 15 per cent.

According to Galaxy, Labor was ahead of the LNP 51 per cent to 49 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis.

However, party insiders expect preference flows from One Nation to the LNP will be stronger than opinion polls predict and could swing crucial seats in the Opposition’s favour on November 25.

One Nation’s vote fell from a high of 23 per cent in February however polls over recent months have shown Pauline Hanson’s party has begun clawing back support.

On the question of leadership performance, the number of voters dissatisfied was greater than the number satisfied for both Ms Palaszczuk and Mr Nicholls.

The poll found 39 per cent of Queenslanders were satisfied with Ms Palaszczuk’s efforts as premier compared to 47 per cent in April.

Queensland election pendulum of seats. Source: Antony Green, ABC

The number dissatisfied increased from 35 per cent to 44 per cent over the same period.

Mr Nicholls has remained marooned on 27 per cent satisfaction over the past six months while the number dissatisfied was 41 per cent in the latest poll.

Ms Palaszczuk still dominated on the question of preferred premier 42 per cent to Mr Nicholls’ 30 per cent however the gap between the pair has shrunk.

Originally published as Queensland Election 2017: Neither Palaszczuk nor Nicholls have winning edge