Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk keeps COVID-19 poll secret

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has again refused to release the results of polling into the state’s COVID-19 response, despite over $528,000 spent on research.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has dodged a questions about her commissioned research showed whether Queenslanders supported the state’s border closures. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has again refused to release the results of polling into the state’s COVID-19 ­response, despite her department spending $528,000 on the focus group research.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet awarded Ipsos Public Affairs two contracts in May and June to conduct “sentiment testing” of Queenslanders.

Campaigning in Brisbane on Sunday Ms Palaszczuk, who says she prides herself on her ­integrity and the transparency of her government, was asked whether she would release the results of the polling. But she ­refused, suggesting other states and national cabinet should ­release their research first.

Ms Palaszczuk dodged a question about whether the ­research showed Queenslanders supported the state’s border ­closures. “I think you only have to go out and talk to people on the street and what I do each and every day, and you can see very clearly from people that they want me to keep them safe,” the Premier said.

Ms Palaszczuk and Health Minister and Deputy Premier Steven Miles were at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (McConnel electorate, Labor, 7.86 per cent) announcing a re-elected Labor government would hire 9475 more frontline health workers over the next four years, including 5800 nurses, 1500 doctors, 475 paramedics, and 1700 health professionals.

It dwarfs LNP leader Deb Frecklington’s commitment that would see an additional 2500 nurses employed over four years.

But Ms Palaszczuk would not say how much the promise would cost, or whether it would be funded through borrowings; only that it was part of the existing $19bn health budget.

Ms Frecklington, campaigning in suburban Brisbane (Mansfield, Labor, 1.6 per cent) promised a $300 registration ­rebate to every vehicle-owner, costing $1.15bn and funded by “growing the economy”.

“Let’s remember more, money into our economy means the economy is growing and that’s what we need right now in Queensland,” Ms Frecklington said.

But Labor attacked the policy as “poorly designed”, alleging it would give a high-income earner such as Clive Palmer — who has boasted of owning 150 cars — $45,000, and nothing to grandmothers with no cars.

Ms Frecklington also announced $125m towards the construction of Rheinmetall’s new military technology precinct at Redbank, in the safe Labor electorate of Bundamba, west of Brisbane. She said the centre would create 500 permanent jobs and include a $25m training academy and research centre.