Queensland election debate: Who won between Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deb Frecklington?

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) and opposition Leader Deb Frecklington engage in a leaders’ debate. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

This was a stronger performance from a more aggressive and sharper Deb Frecklington. The LNP leader hit the mark when she went after Annastacia Palaszczuk over the government’s dubious integrity record and the absence of a plan to paydown state debt due to hit $102bn with the add-on of COVID.

But Palaszczuk showed once again she is the difference between the two sides. When Frecklington ducked the question of where she stood on voluntary euthanasia – an issue unleashed on the campaign when the Premier announced a returned Labor government would bring in enabling legislation in February – a clearly emotional Palaszczuk talked about her grandmother’s recent death and how this had contributed to her change of heart.

Palaszczuk’s strength is her ability to connect with the electorate, and it is intrinsic to Labor’s overarching narrative on keeping the border closed and people safe from the virus. As was the case in the opening debate on Wednesday, Frecklington presented as over-rehearsed and struggled when Palaszczuk asked, lethally, what would have happened had Queensland opened the crossings on July 1 as the LNP originally advocated, only to shift ground after the second wave hit Victoria.

Palaszczuk won the debate, albeit narrowly, from an improved Frecklington. Things could well go the same way tomorrow when the voters have their say.