Queensland Premier makes big promises at re-election campaign launch

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has vowed to introduce voluntary assisted dying legislation if Labor is re-elected.

Voluntary assisted dying legislation and $171 million for a palliative care plan have been promised for Queensland if Labor returns to government.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcements at the party’s campaign launch on Sunday.

“I can commit that the government I lead will introduce legislation in February next year to provide for the legalisation of voluntary assisted dying,” she said.

“This will be a conscience vote for all members of my team, and I hope for all parliamentarians.”

The premier promised to deliver more than 6100 new teachers and 1100 new teacher aides.

“This is the single biggest investment in teachers in Queensland’s history,” she said.

Annastacia Palaszczuk visited Australia Zoo while on the election trail recently and was given several standing ovations at Labor’s campaign launch on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Ms Palaszczuk announced a new $20 million program to fund teacher internships, $100 million for students to access professional support such as trained psychologists, and a pilot program for GPs in 20 schools.

Another $40 million will also be allocated to deliver new hubs in advanced manufacturing in industries such as tourism, defence, aerospace and agriculture.

TAFE qualifications and apprenticeships in priority qualifications will be free for people under the age of 25.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is on the election campaign trail. Queenslanders go to the polls on October 31. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Ms Palaszczuk also boasted about her government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, while describing the opposition as chaotic, untrustworthy and “wrong every time it’s mattered”.

“Can anyone think of a single positive contribution the LNP have made in the last six months - let alone the last five years?” she said.

The premier said the opposition had “chosen conflict and criticism over co-operation”, adding it was most obvious and reckless with their stance on borders.

“If you lose control of the virus, then you’ve lost the chance to protect the economy,” she said.

“If you want a brutal lesson in what happens to the economy when governments lose control of the virus, you only have to look at Victoria.”

Queensland opposition leader Deb Frecklington with her husband Jason at the official launch of the LNP state election campaign in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Marshall

The LNP had its own campaign launch on Sunday.

The woman who would be premier, Deb Frecklington, targeted Labor’s economic record, noting more than 209,000 Queenslanders were unemployed.

“We are in the worst recession in almost a century,” she said.

“Our unemployment rate is the highest in the nation and it’s been that way for four years.

“The Queensland economy was in trouble long before COVID. Now it’s in crisis. That’s what this election is about.”

Ms Frecklington said Labor’s decision to cancel the state budget was “dishonest and dangerous”.

She vowed if the LNP won the October 31 election it would deliver a budget within their first 100 days and there would be no new taxes.

“The LNP’s no-new-tax guarantee will help our economy grow again and that future economic growth will allow the LNP to reach our target of five per cent unemployment,” she said.

Deb Frecklington says the Queensland election is about the state’s economic crisis. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Marshall

Other announcements included immediately approving the New Acland mine expansion and promising a $300 registration rebate before Christmas for more than three million drivers.

Ms Frecklington further pledged to build the four-lane Bruce Highway from Gympie to Cairns and spruiked the Liberals’ congestion-busting program.

“We will launch the biggest road project Queensland has ever seen,” she said.

Ms Frecklington vowed to work with the federal government to deliver the New Bradfield Scheme and said she would implement the recommendations of the Queensland Competition Authority to cut the price of water for thousands of farmers by almost 20 per cent.

At-cost electricity will also be provided to 16,000 Queensland manufacturers, with a typical price reduction of about 20 per cent.