Queensland election: Scott Morrison joins the LNP campaign

After two weeks of budget prep in COVID-free Canberra, Scott Morrison was quick to show Queenslanders how to scrap in their own state election.

Scott Morrison, right, rides in a new Australian Boxer CRV at the opening of the Rheinmetall Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Redbank, Queensland, on Sunday. Picture: Sarah Marshall

It took the arrival of Scott Morrison to bring some punch to the Queensland election campaign.

After two weeks of budget prep in COVID-free Canberra enabled him to avoid quarantining for his weekend visit, the Prime Minister was quick to show locals how to scrap in their own state.

With Queensland directness, Mr Morrison wasted few words when he told Steven Miles to “grow up” after the Deputy Premier accused him of “taking a week off” to campaign for the Liberal National Party ahead of the October 31 election.

Labor is nervous about a boost to the LNP’s chances from Mr Morrison, whose popularity north of the Tweed last year delivered him government at the federal election.

And after two days on the hustings with LNP leader Deb Frecklington — who suffers from the same lack of profile as Annastacia Palaszczuk had in opposition — it was paying off.

There was a notable lift in the energy levels of the LNP, and its campaign appeared to have more of the “cut through” in coverage needed to swing voters. But it was left to Mr Miles, and not Ms Palaszczuk, to take on Mr Morrison.

Ms Palaszczuk is Labor’s best asset, demonstrated by two election wins and successive polls showing she is still well-liked across the state by voters who are also ambivalent about her government. Labor strategists have been careful to keep her hands clean of the bare-knuckle exchanges that characterise Queensland politics, and which prematurely ended the premiership of political pugilist Campbell Newman.

So, it was Mr Miles — who, as Health Minister, has won plaudits over the state’s handling of the COVID pandemic — who called a press conference on Sunday to take a swipe at Mr Morrison.

“I want to make a comment about the Prime Minister of Australia choosing to take a week off from leading our country during this pandemic, during this crisis, to campaign for the LNP,” Mr Miles said, standing beside Ms Palaszczuk at a press conference at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

“I’ve said for some time that the Prime Minister is personally running the LNP’s campaign here in Queensland, at least it appears that way.

“But I’d like to emphasise that he is not a candidate in this election. If people vote for the LNP, they won’t get Scott Morrison, they will get Deb Frecklington. She is who will be the Premier. She will cut, she will cut services, cut health staff.” But the Prime Minister could hardly contain his scorn for Mr Miles when asked about his comments.

At a press conference with Frecklington, after opening a new Rheinmetall military manufacturing facility in Redbank, Brisbane, Mr Morrison was unapologetic about his campaigning in Queensland, where he is expected to stay for several more days. “I think this guy’s got to grow up, I really think he does,” he said of Mr Miles.

“The defence of our country is a serious business. Managing the Australian economy out of the worst recession, the COVID recession, is serious.

“I think those sort of careless and juvenile remarks reflect terribly on him.”

Mr Morrison said part of his job was to talk to Queenslanders about the federal budget.

“Being Prime Minister is the greatest responsibility anyone can have in public life and being here to talk to Queenslanders this week about how our budget and our economic plan is going to get Queenslanders back into work, that may have been something that has escaped him (Miles), but it hasn’t escaped me,” he said.

“I’ve noticed he’s made the odd remark about this and I’d encourage him to do his job and, frankly, grow up.”

On the Labor side, it appears Anthony Albanese may not play the same role as Mr Morrison. The two-week quarantine for visitors from NSW may prevent Mr Albanese — who spent Sunday in Adelaide — from joining Ms Palaszczuk on the campaign. It is, according to one Labor insider, a “welcome problem’’, with voters yet to be convinced by Mr Albanese.