Queensland debate verdict: It’s time for a change, ‘evasive’ Crisafulli wins

Premier Steven Miles and opposition leader David Crisafulli in the Queensland election leaders debate. Picture: Liam Kidston

Elections are won on how voters view the record of the government in power.

In the debate, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli was effective and forensic in detailing the failures of the third-term Labor government on issues that are at the forefront in the minds of Queenslanders.

The rise of youth crime, and the weakening of laws under Labor; the doubling in so-called “ambulance ramping” and increases in hospital surgery waiting lists; and the failure to unshackle planning to allow more homes to be built were laid out by Mr Crisafulli.

But Mr Crisafulli’s small target strategy in not offering the same sort of detail for the Liberal National Party plans if they win government was effectively, and convincingly, exposed by Steven Miles.

The Labor premier’s pursuit of Mr Crisafulli in offering what he described as little more than “slogans” rather than substantive policy hit the mark.

Mr Miles raised the risk of cuts under a future LNP government in the absence of Mr Crisafulli’s still-to-be released costings.

Both leaders were less nervous than the first debate, and were nimble in picking holes in each other’s statements.

But even though Mr Crisafulli continues to look evasive on the specifics of his policy, I give the debate to him solely on his argument that it is time for change after almost a decade of Labor in power.