Queensland election: LNP says $300 ‘rego rebate’ scheme will inject $1bn into economy

Labor has slammed the LNP’s car rego rebate election pledge, as the Premier faces questions over Jackie Trad’s return.

Queensland LNP opposition leader Deb Frecklington visits with a family with four cars in the suburb of Mansfield. The family will receive $300 for each car as part of the LNP’s rego rebate pledge. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Labor has slammed the LNP’s car rego rebate announcement, saying it’ll deliver nothing to grandmas with no cars but gift $45,000 to mega-rich Clive Palmer.

The LNP will give $300 per car to every vehicle owner, if it wins the election, under a policy announced by Opposition leader Deb Frecklington today.

But Labor says it’s badly designed and will benefit the rich.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said someone like Clive Palmer, who has boasted about having more than 150 cars, would be given $45,000 under the policy.

“They say this commitment will cost $1.15bn but they won’t tell Queenslanders how they’ll pay for it, but I don’t think that really matters because they probably won’t do it,” Mr Miles said.

“It’s also really poorly designed…the LNP’s policy would give more money to do based on how many cars you own. The more cars you own, the more money you would get from Deb Frecklington. I just note, Clive Palmer says he owns more than 150 cars. This policy would give Clive Palmer $45,000 but give my grandma — who is on the pension and does not own a car — not a single cent.”

“It’s expensive, it’s uncosted and unfunded, they probably won’t do it, even if they did, it’s very very poorly designed.”

Ms Frecklington defended her policy, saying the equitable stimulus would boost the state’s lagging economy.

The Liberal National Party Leader visited a family home in the suburban Brisbane electorate of Mansfield (Labor, 1.6 per cent) on Sunday.

The LNP estimated the rebate scheme would apply to about 3.8 million vehicles, injecting $1.15bn into the state’s economy.

The money would arrive in the accounts of car owners by December, paid through the Federal Government’s Services Australia online portal.

Clive Palmer stands to bag $45,000 from the LNP’s car rego pledge, says Labor. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Ms Frecklington hoped vehicle owners would spend the money on holidays and Christmas presents to stimulate economic growth.

Asked why the distribution of taxpayer money would apply equally to high-income earners and low-income earners, instead of a higher rate to those with less money, Ms Frecklington said the cashback scheme was a refund for drivers who have not used their cars as frequently as usual during the coronavirus pandemic.

“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.

“Queenslanders deserve to get their money back into their bank accounts and they deserve to be able to spend it in our local economy.

“Not everyone who owns a car is a high income earner.

“It’s a $300 rebate back into their account. They pay their rego, they can get it back into their account.”

Ms Frecklington refused to reveal whether there would be a freeze on registration prices under an LNP government.

Meanwhile, Ms Frecklington repeated her calls to the government to be compassionate when granting border exemptions for people crossing into Queensland from coronavirus hotspots in NSW and Victoria.

She said that if she is elected on October 31, she would ask chief health officer Jeannette Young to ensure people’s circumstances were given proper consideration when evaluating whether they were entitled to quarantine at home, rather than in a hotel.

The Palaszczuk government has been criticised for her government’s application of exemptions, which have resulted in numerous cases of people being unable to visit sick or dying family members or to quarantine at home after interstate medical treatment, while others, including Jetstar boss Jayne Hrdlickahave been granted exemptions from the state’s strict quarantine rules.

“What we need to have in relation to the exemptions around the confusion and chaos that is on the borders is we need compassion, we need consistency in decision making and we need some common sense,” she said.

“I would be asking the chief health officer to have a good hard look at what is going on in that space.

“We can’t have a rule for high fliers and another rule for other Queenslanders, it just doesn’t cut the mustard.”

Premier quizzed on Trad’s return

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will not say whether her former deputy Jackie Trad will return to her frontbench if she wins her seat at the October 31 election, despite backing her current Treasurer and Deputy Premier to remain.

Campaigning in the inner-Brisbane electorate of McConnel (Labor 7.86 per cent) today, Ms Palaszczuk was asked whether Cameron Dick would stay as Treasurer after the electio

“I’m very confident and happy with the team I have. Steven Miles as the Deputy Premier, and Cameron Dick as the Treasurer,” she said.

But when asked whether Ms Trad – who quit Cabinet in May amid a corruption investigation that ultimately cleared her of criminality – would return, Ms Palaszczuk would not say.

“There’s an election on at the moment, and people have to work hard to win their seat,” she said.

“That’s up to the people of South Brisbane (whether Ms Trad will win).”

Asked whether she would campaign with Ms Trad in the marginal electorate, Ms Palaszczuk said she was “happy to campaign right across the state”.

“I’m happy to go wherever I’m needed.”

Ms Palaszczuk, flanked by Health Minister and Deputy Premier Mr Miles, announced a reelected Labor government would fund 9475 new health professionals over the next four years, including 5800 more midwives and nurses, 1500 more doctors, 475 more paramedics and 1700 more allied health workers.

Queensland recorded zero new cases of coronavirus overnight, with the number of active cases staying at just four.