Brisbane blitz revealed: Greens’ plan to target Queensland

The Greens will focus all their efforts on two ‘promising’ LNP-held Brisbane seats in the upcoming Federal Election and will today unveil their new candidates.

THE Greens are launching a three-day Brisbane blitz and will unveil two candidates today in an emboldened election strategy, as Queensland is already shaping up as the key battleground for the next poll.

Leaders of the Coalition, Labor and Greens are all in Queensland today, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Rockhampton, Opposition leader Anthony Albanese in Mackay and Greens leader Adam Bandt in Brisbane.

The LNP-held seats of Brisbane and Ryan will be a core part of the Greens national strategy to boost their presence in Parliament.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt will be in Brisbane this week for a campaign blitz and to announce two new candidates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The last election saw them increase their support to near level with Labor in those two seats.

It could see them fall over the line with preferences if their vote overtakes the ALP, but it would still require more than 5000 voters swing against the LNP in each electorate.

They are also pushing to get a second Senator elected, in what will be a three-cornered contest between them, Pauline Hanson and Amanda Stoker to win the final two Senate spots.

Greens leader Adam Bandt arrived in Brisbane last night, and today will launch Elizabeth Watson-Brown and Stephen Bates as well as a plan to build 210,000 new homes to tackle public housing waiting lists and improve housing affordability.

The Greens have increased their presence in Queensland in recent years, with Jonathan Sri in the Brisbane City Council and in last year’s state poll had two MPs elected in Michael Berkman and Amy MacMahon.

Mr Bandt arrived in Brisbane overnight and is expected to do campaigning before leaving on Wednesday.

The party is understood to see Ryan and Brisbane as “promising” three-cornered contests, with a plan to pivot the Greens focus beyond just the environment to include housing affordability and social services.

Mr Bandt his plan to build 210,000 new homes in Queensland would be paid for using the party’s previously announced “billionaires tax” and create 12,600 jobs.

The Greens have a new strategy to get a second Queensland-based Senator elected to join Senator Larissa Waters, pictured with Greens leader Adam Bandt. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

“The Greens are turning their sights on Queensland as a key part of our plan to kick the

Liberals out, put a tax on billionaires, and halt the growing social inequality that’s letting people in the Sunshine State down,” Mr Bandt said.

Ryan and Brisbane were the only two Queensland seats where there was a swing against the Coalition in the 2019 poll.

The LNP’s Trevor Evans holds Brisbane with a strong 47 per cent primary, with the Greens vote creeping up to 22.3 per cent and Labor’s primary falling to 24.5 per cent.

LNP MP Julian Simmonds holds Ryan with a 48 per cent primary vote, with the Greens on 20.3 per cent and Labor on 24.4 per cent.

Originally published as Brisbane blitz revealed: Greens’ plan to target Queensland