Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has called a snap election for January 31
QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman romped to victory in 2012, now he’s at risk of losing his own seat. So he’s doing something no one expected.
QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman has called a snap election for January 31 in a move that some are interpreting as an act of desperation.
There is speculation that Mr Newman’s decision to opt for an earlier than expected election is likely to catch his opponents off guard. Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk is among the Labor MPs still on annual leave.
But during a press conference today following the election date announcement, Mr Newman denied that the snap election was designed to ambush Labor.
He said Queenslanders did not want or need to endure months of “endless politicking”.
“This is a fantastic state to live and work and raise a family ... but there is much uncertainty around at the moment,” he said. “Uncertainty in Australia and uncertainty in the world, and it’s really important we keep Queensland on track to secure that bright future.”
He said that the economy was showing significant signs of recovery and it was vital that the state didn’t risk stagnation caused by election speculation.
When asked whether voters would be seeing Prime Minister Tony Abbott on the campaign trail, Mr Newman said the PM was “more than welcome” but “the election is not about Tony Abbott”.
He also answered questions about whether he would stand in another electorate if he lost his seat of Ashgrove. He said: “I won’t be winning Ashgrove if we don’t win the State ... and vice versa”.
Mr Newman was originally expected to announce an election date later this month, possibly after Australia Day. After visiting Government House this morning, he tweeted confirmation that the election date had been set for January 31.
This morning I visited the Acting Governor. Writs have been issued for 31 January 2015. The most important election in many years. #qldpol
— Campbell Newman (@theqldpremier) January 6, 2015His surprise move echoes the strategy employed in 2004 by former Labor premier Peter Beattie, who announced an election date on January 13, a week before he was expected to do so. He went on to win the election.
According to the Courier Mail, the ALP website last night listed just 79 candidates, including MPs. The party has yet to formally announce a replacement candidate in the vulnerable seat of Lytton and has not detailed the majority of its significant economic policies.
When Mr Newman was elected in 2012 he secured the biggest win in modern Australian politics, securing 78 out of 89 seats in the Queensland parliament.
But his popularity has plummeted since then and a Newspoll published in The Australian on the weekend, showed the ALP and the LNP locked at 50 per cent support on a two-party basis.
The Premier is also at risk of losing his own seat of Ashgrove. He holds the seat with a margin of 5.7 per cent, but the Newspoll shows a swing of slightly under 13 per cent.
The Queensland economy is in trouble with the state boasting the highest level of unemployment in the country. This is partly due to the slowdown in the mining industry, which is also impacting on other industries.
CONTROVERSIAL TERM
When he was elected Mr Newman promised to regain the state’s triple A credit rating but a horror budget in 2012 was not well received. Voters became disillusioned over generous pay rises proposed for MPs and the midnight sacking of a parliamentary misconduct committee.
His support also suffered after the government sacked public servants following the election despite saying earlier that they had “nothing to fear”.
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Mr Newman has made an enemy of Clive Palmer and the mining magnate has openly said he wants to bring down the government. Two of the government’s MPs have since left the LNP to join Mr Palmer’s Palmer United Party: Carl Judge and Alex Douglas.
Another MP Ray Hopper joined Katter’s Australian Party, while Chris Davis has resigned and disgraced MP Scott Driscoll was forced to resign after the misconduct committee found he had secretly influenced two organisations and failed to declare $500,000 in income.
Two by-elections to fill the seats went to Labor.
Meanwhile Mr Palmer has used his Palmer United Party, which successfully fielded candidates in the federal election to attack Mr Newman. Last year the PUP managed to secure a Senate inquiry into the Queensland Government, which will look at the government’s management of prisons to its approval of mining projects.
The legislation demanded the inquiry report its results in March this year, which was expected to be ahead of the state election.
On Twitter this morning, Mr Palmer questioned whether Mr Newman was “running scared” after reports of the snap election emerged.
The sneaky @theqldpremier is running scared calling an election in the holiday period. What's he got to hide? #qldpol @PalmerUtdParty
— Clive Palmer (@CliveFPalmer) January 5, 2015Now that the election has been called, Mr Newman is expected to seek a mandate for the government’s plan to privatise the state’s port and power assets.
The state’s anti-bikie laws will also be under scrutiny, with Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk promising to review the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act if Labor wins.
In confirming this morning that he would ask the acting Governor to issue writs for a state election, Mr Newman said there was no time to waste.
In a Facebook post he said: “Queensland’s economic recovery is too important to be jeopardised by ongoing election speculation.
“I’m heading to Government House this morning to ask the acting Governor to issue writs for a state election.
“There’s no time to waste securing Queensland’s economic future with our strong plan for job creation.”
In a Facebook post, Mr Newman said the economy was showing significant signs of recovery and “it’s vital that we don’t risk stagnation caused by election speculation”.
“This is the most important election in many years: it will decide if Queensland reaps the rewards of staying the course through unsettled times, or squanders that opportunity for a future again mired in debt, deceit and reckless economic management.”
Transport Minister Scott Emerson told The Australian that he believed as the election got closer, voters would focus more on the choice between the two major parties.
“I think that when we get to election day, they’ll have a very clear choice and that is between our government that is detailed and has a plan, a strong team, compared to Annastacia Palaszczuk, who’s got no plan except to bring back the people who’ve caused the mess, caused the debacles, caused the deficit in the first place,” he said.
When asked who would be leader if Mr Newman did not hold his seat, Mr Emerson said: “We’ve got a premier — he’ll be the Premier before the election, and the Premier after the election.”
Meanwhile, Ms Palaszczuk said she was ready to fight the LNP at the polls, with jobs and education her priority policies.
Ms Palaszczuk told AAP on Tuesday that Labor would be ready to capitalise on Mr Newman’s falling popularity.
“Over the last three years the Queensland people have seen a government that is arrogant, that has broken promises, that promised to lower the cost of living - that hasn’t happened - they promised to keep people in jobs - that hasn’t happened - and now they want to sell the assets, which they said wouldn’t happen before the last election,” she said.
“People can’t trust Campbell Newman and I think that is what is being reflected out there in the polls.
“People have simply had enough.”
Ms Palaszczuk shook off suggestions that the snap poll was designed to catch Labor on the hop.
She said she was ready to announce her jobs plan and “a clear vision in education” for the state.
“My main focus has been on jobs - it’s been on jobs for the last two-and-a-half years.
“We’ve got unemployment heading towards 7 per cent and youth unemployment in our regional areas up to 20 per cent.
“This government has cut jobs, they’ve cut services and they’ve cut TAFE.
“My priority is to ensure job are at the forefront of our election campaign because Queensland deserves so much better.”
Labor wasted no time, placing signs outside Government House this morning ahead of Mr Newman’s visit.
It's started! @QLDLabor signs just got placed outside Gov House for @theqldpremier 's arrival. #7newsQ pic.twitter.com/y8X6NaBYDA
— Luke Miers (@Lmiersy) January 5, 2015
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