Queensland election 2017 live: Leaders go head to head in debate

After the debate, 60 pc of the audience said they would likely vote Labor, 12 pc LNP and 10 pc One Nation.

This is where we’ll end our live coverage of day 19 of the Queensland state election campaign, ahead of the November 25 poll. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls and One Nation state leader Steve Dickson have faced off in the only debate of the campaign at the people’s forum, where they took questions from 100 undecided voters at the Broncos Leagues Club in Brisbane.

Charlie Peel 9.35pm: Debate wrap

The Adani Carmichael mine, government debt and whether the major parties would work with One Nation dominated the first debate of the 2017 Queensland election campaign.

Hosted by David Speers, the Sky News and Courier-Mail people’s forum covered territory mostly explored in the first three weeks of the campaign.

But on live television and under the glare of 100 undecided voters in the audience, there was no wriggle room for the politicians.

Labor Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk, Liberal National Party Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls and One Nation state leader Steve Dickson all struggled to answer questions about whether and how they would tackle spiralling debt.

Mr Nicholls’ lowest point was his inability to say outright whether he would take support from One Nation in forming government.

The Premier struggled to adequately explain the reasoning behind her decision to veto a federal loan to Adani to build a rail line to the Carmichael mine.

After the debate, 60 per cent of the audience said they would likely vote for Labor, 12 per cent supported the LNP, 10 per cent One Nation and 18 per cent were still undecided.

Annastacia Palaszczuk shakes hands with the Leader of the Opposition Tim Nicholls after the debate. Picture; AAP.

Charlie Peel: 9.10pm: ‘Continuity or chaos’

In closing remarks, Anastasia Palaszczuk said voters had a clear choice: a continuation of good, decent government, or the possibility of chaos under Tim Nicholls and Steve Dickson.

Mr Dickson said his party had a plan to drop power, create jobs and lower debt. He said there was distrust of politicians and suggested the leaders take a polygraph test to test their trustworthiness.

Mr Nicholls said his plan for 500,000 jobs over ten years, lower cost of living, reduce power costs by $700 a year and to build essential infrastructure were worth voting for.

Charlie Peel 9.05pm: ‘I’ve made mistakes’

A public servant, who was sacked when Mr Nicholls was treasurer in the Newman government, asked whether she could trust what Mr Nicholls said when he promised there would be no cuts to the public service.

Mr Nicholls conceded he had made mistakes in government that he would never make again.

“I’m sorry for that, we made mistakes,” he said.

He also spruiked his government’s “public service of excellence” policy.

Charlie Peel 9.00pm: Relaxing gun laws

“Given violence and gun deaths in America, why are two of the parties talking about relaxing gun laws,” one audience member asked.

Mr Dickson said gun shooting was a sport like any other and the party was not going to “take that right or privilege away”.

“What we are looking to do is make it easier for people who have licenses now, easier access to rifle ranges,” he said.

He said there was no difference between guns and trucks when it came to them being used as a weapon.

Mr Nicholls said he supported former Prime Minister John Howard’s gun laws and pushed for a digitising Queensland’s gun licensing system.

Ms Palaszczuk said she did not want to see any weakening of gun laws.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (right) watches Leader of the Opposition Tim Nicholls during the debate. Picture: AAP.

Charlie Peel 8.55pm: ‘I will not do deal with One Nation’

One voter, who said she was considering voting for One Nation, asked if the major parties would work with One Nation.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would rather go into opposition than form government with One Nation.

“I am going to stand on my principles and I will not do a deal with One Nation, full stop,” she said.

Mr Nicholls said he understood there was frustration with the major parties but urged voters to give him a chance.

He said he would not form a coalition with One Nation but would not rule out taking their support to from government.

“I will deal with the outcome of the election once it is known,” he said.

Mr Dickson said that in essence the premier did not want to deal with 20 per cent of the population who he expected to vote for One Nation.

He said he would consider working with both Labor and the LNP.

Charlie Peel 8.50pm: Addressing debt

Host David Speers raised the question of Queensland’s rising debt and asked how the leaders would address it.

Mr Nicholls said he would stabilise debt.

“We will maintain a balance over the economic cycle,” Mr Nicholls said.

Asked if the debt would go up to the projected $81 billion under the LNP, Mr Nicholls repeatedly dodged the question.

Ms Palaszczuk said she had kept her election promises in relation to debt.

She criticised Mr Nicholls for his role in the Newman Government, which cut public service numbers.

Mr Dickson said he would get better value for money on government projects.

Charlie Peel 8.45pm: Boosting the economy

The leaders were asked how they would boost the economy and exports.

One condition set by the questioner was that they don’t criticise previous governments in their answer.

Ms Palaszczuk said her government was boosting the economy by providing incentives to employers to hire new workers.

Mr Dickson said cheap electricity and water were key to boosting the economy.

He threw in his pet topic of medicinal cannabis, saying it could boost exports.

“Why can’t we turn Queensland into the export capital of the world for medicinal cannabis,” he said.

Mr Nicholls said improving the “less sexy stuff”, such as roads water supplies, roads, trains and ports were essential to boosting exports and the economy.

He spruiked his party’s commitment of funding for new dams as an example of how an LNP government would help.

Charlie Peel 8.35pm: Bus driver safety

The leaders are sked how they would improve bus safety issues and get Queensland’s public railway running efficiently.

One issue in particular involved the death of a Brisbane bus driver, who was killed when he was set alight while on duty.

Mr Dickson said law and order was “out of control in Queensland”, especially in the north.

“Law and order I don’t think has ever been in such a bad situation,” he said.

Ms Palaszczuk said she backed having more “enclosures” for drivers so that they felt safe, but would not to commit to funding them because it was a local government issue.

“That was an absolute tragedy and that was felt by the entire community,” she said.

Mr Nicholls steered to conversation to the “rail fail”, which was brought about by a shortage of train drivers and guards.

“It’s just not good enough,” he said.

“The government is being held to ransom by the drivers’ union.

“Under an LNP government we will put passengers first, ahead of the union.”

Charlie Peel 8.30pm: Balancing mining and the Barrier

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (centre), Leader of the Opposition Tim Nicholls (left) and One Nation's Steve Dickson duringthe debate. Picture: AAP.

The leaders were asked how they would balance mining projects with protecting the Great Barrier Reef.

The process around the Carmichael mine has been going since 2010 and had been rigorous through several levels of government.

Mr Nicholls said there needed to be a balance between jobs in regional Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef.

“It doesn’t need to be one or the other, provided we have the strongest controls around on the Carmichael project,” he said.

The Premier said no taxpayer money was going to the mine and she had vetoed the federal loan to Adani to build a railway line to the mine.

“I have vetoed the loan. I do not believe taxpayer money should be going to a billionaire and his mine,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Ms Palaszczuk also criticised Mr Nicholls and Mr Dickson for their support to build a new coal-fired power in north Queensland.

“There was an LNP smear coming towards me alleging a conflict of interest. To put that to bed I vetoed the loan,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Mr Nicholls said he knew nothing about it and pointed out that the Integrity Commissioner had recommended the Premier “remove herself from the process” not veto the loan.

Mr Nicholls said the royalty agreement between the government and Adani was a form of a subsidy.

He said a number of companies had expressed their interest to the government to build a coal-fired power station in north Queensland, which would “deliver lower prices” with fewer emissions.

Mr Dickson said the government should build the railway line itself.

He also said the government should build the coal-fired power station in north Queensland.

Host David Speers asked for a show of hands from the largely Brisbane-based audience as to how many supported the Adani mine.

Only a few hands were raised.

No hands were raised when asked for a show of support for a taxpayer loan to Adani.

Charlie Peel 8.15pm: Indigenous ‘treated poorly’

Another audience member asked about the rate of aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people incarcerated.

Mr Dickson said indigenous people had been treated poorly.

He suggested one answer could be to ensure police, teachers and medical officers in indigenous communities were properly skilled.

Mr Dickson said One Nation’s crocodile management policy, which involved farming, could help provide jobs for indigenous people.

Ms Palaszczuk said the levels of incarceration were too high and that they answer lay in increased employment.

“Today I was at a skills centre over at Acacia Ridge and it is about getting people into skills and employment,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said indigenous elders should be allowed into training facilities.

Mr Nicholls said a stable economy could help alleviate the issue.

He added that indigenous people getting caught in cycles of violence and crime in the cities, while disconnected from their communities, was a problem he had identified.

Asked by host David Speers if he would set a target for indigenous incarceration rates, Mr Nicholls said it was something he would look at but would not commit to a number on the spot.

Charlie Peel 8.10pm: Medicare costs ‘too high’

One audience member raised the issue of high costs of medical care under the National Disability Insurance Scheme and asked how the parties would help lessen the gap in medical costs.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was concerned by the high costs described by the questioner and would investigate it.

“That seems to be very unfair,” she said.

Mr Nicholls said his wife, who is a therapist at a special school, had relayed similar concerns to him.

He said one issue was getting funding from Canberra.

“My pledge to you is that I will stand up for Queensland and make sure we can get every cent of money we can,” he said.

Mr Dickson said whoever was elected after November 25 would immediately work to fix the problem raised.

“Your particular case, if we get the balance of power, there’s no way you will be paying $105 dollars when you pay $5 now,” he said

Charlie Peel 8.05pm: Leaders’ opening remarks

In her opening statement, Ms Palaszczuk said jobs, health and education would be “front and centre” of a future government led by her.

“I know the number one issue is jobs and employment,” she said.

Steve Dickson said both major parties had lost their way and the cost of living had “gone through the roof”.

“We’ve got to do better than what we’ve done in the past,” he said.

Mr Nicholls spoke of his early days in Queensland and childhood with his parents.

He reminisced on a past where there without too many taxes or too much red tape.

“Who is best placed to build the roads and the bridges and the dams that will create jobs and grow Queensland to create that future that I saw and I experienced with my family so many years ago,” he said.

8.00pm: Protesters gather

Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside the Broncos Leagues Club in Brisbane ahead of tonight’s people’s forum election debate.

Anti-Adani protesters, taxi industry lobbyists and union representatives warning against possible asset sales formed a wall outside the club where the debate, hosted by Sky News and The Courier-Mail is set to begin at 7pm (8pm AEDT).

Premier Annastasia Palaszczuk, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls and One Nation state leader Steve Dickson will be grilled by 100 undecided voters chosen by Galaxy.

Both Mr Nicholls and Ms Palaszczuk kept campaigning to a minimum yesterday and instead bunkering down with their advisors to prepare for the debate.

Earlier today the LNP leader said his strategy was to focus on the party’s policies to deliver cheaper power, lower taxes, and to “restore hope” for Queenslanders.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was confident and insisted she always loved a debate.

“I can remember being in Opposition when there were seven of us (Labor MPs) and I was up against 78 (MPs), I was up against the entire Newman ministry,” she said.

“I’m quite sure I can cope with two former ministers.”

Charlie Peel 2.30pm: Jobs figures released

The latest jobs figures before the Queensland election show the state’s unemployment rate has risen to 6 per cent.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data released this morning puts Queensland’s trend unemployment rate a tenth of a percentage point higher than the 5.9 per cent in October.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls, who has committed to creating 500,000 new jobs over a decade, seized on the new figure, pointing out that Queensland’s jobless rate was higher than any other mainland state.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who this morning declined to commit to a job-creation figure over three years in favour of targeting unemployment figures “with a 5 in front of it”, said the latest data was an improvement from when Mr Nicholls was treasurer.

“The ABS figures released this morning show that Queensland recorded the strongest jobs growth in both trend and seasonally adjusted terms in October,” she said.

“More than 130 jobs have been created each day on average since my government was elected in January 2015.

“Three years ago Tim Nicholls said the unemployment rate in Queensland was ‘steady as she goes’ at a decade high of 6.7 per cent.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has not outlined a job creation target.

“The choice at this election is between my Government who backs Queenslanders and Tim Nicholls and Steve Dickson who sacked Queenslanders.”

Treasurer Curtis Pitt said 7,900 net new jobs, 4800 of which were full time, were created in October — the strongest growth in jobs in the nation.

The national unemployment rate is 5.4 per cent.

Mr Nicholls said Queensland was the only state in Australia to see its unemployment rate go backwards in the past year.

“We’ve now got the second-worst unemployment rate (in seasonally adjusted terms) in the nation, the worst in mainland Australia, second only behind Tasmania, and again, this is the price Queenslanders are paying for a do-nothing Labor government that doesn’t have plans, it doesn’t have a target,” Mr Nicholls said.

“It’s a government that’s out of ideas and has spent the last two and a half years avoiding major decisions and the real impact for Queenslanders is jobs.”

However, when reminded that the current unemployment rate was much lower than when he was Treasurer, Mr Nicholls said that wasn’t the right measure.

“We’ve seen a widening in the gap,” he said. “While the national unemployment rate is now down to 5.4 per cent, Queensland’s seasonally adjusted rate has gone up to 6 per cent.”

“That is a telling indictment on the do-nothing Labor government.”

Additional reporting: Sarah Elks

Sarah Elks 12.50pm: Teachers to be tested

The Liberal National Party will require Queensland teachers to take a literacy and numeracy test before they can be registered as teachers in the state, under its education policy announced today.

But there would be a question mark over the future of two new Brisbane schools, promised by the Palaszczuk Labor government in their electorates of South Brisbane and McConnel. The LNP’s policy says it would employ 1000 new teacher mentors and 80 paid internships in special education, as well as require teachers to take the literacy and numeracy test developed by ACER.

While Labor has promised to build new schools to cope with demand in South Brisbane and McConnel – the electorates of Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Employment Minister Grace Grace – the LNP says it will return to an independent planning commission to decide where new schools would be built. “The LNP believes future schools should be built according to need, not for political gain like we have seen under Annastacia Palaszczuk with her decision to pork-barrel Jackie Trad and Grace Grace’s electorates,” Opposition leader Tim Nicholls said in a statement.

Sarah Elks 12.30pm: Jones ambushes Nicholls

Broadcaster Alan Jones has ambushed Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls over his refusal to oppose the expansion of the Acland coal mine in south-east Queensland. The Opposition leader was due to be interviewed on Sydney-based broadcaster Jones’ morning program today to announce a country racing funding boost. But Jones first confronted Mr Nicholls with local activist Aileen Harrison, who has been campaigning against New Hope’s expansion of the Acland mine on the Darling Downs, west of Brisbane.

“A Land Court decision which overwhelmingly told this mob to go packing, Aileen, what would you say to Tim Nicholls, he’s listening,” Jones said.

Ms Harrison said she was concerned the expansion would affect water in the local community which was home to prime agricultural land.

“How can we feed the people if we’ve got no water?” she asked Mr Nicholls.

Mr Nicholls said the LNP was waiting for the result of a judicial review of a Queensland Land Court decision that recommended the blocking of the Acland expansion.

“Well, Aileen yes, and Alan and I have had a discussion about this, and we’ve read the court case and certainly, in relation that we know there were some real questions about that,” Mr Nicholls said.

“We’re just waiting on the outcome of a judicial review into that final decision…and we’ll look at all of that evidence in relation to that mine.”

Jones then interjected.

“(Aileen) is a woman who is over 80 years of age…she should be in happy retirement. She puts her hand in her refrigerator and there’s dust and soot everywhere. Can’t hang clothes on the line, she had to leave her home at Jondaryan,” Jones said.

“She couldn’t live there!”

“And you blokes couldn’t give a stuff about Aileen. She couldn’t live there, Tim. She had to leave. She had to leave. And their health is at risk. And the Land Court finds in these people’s favour and you people are still hanging around.”

The Labor government is also delaying a decision on the Acland expansion until after the judicial review, which won’t be heard in the Queensland Supreme Court until March, well after next Saturday’s election. Jones has been critical of Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk on this issue as well.

He has only praised One Nation, which is vowing to block the mine expansion.

Jones then heaped praise on Mr Nicholls for the $70m country racing announcement, which included an extra $24m of prize money, $16.5m for increased prize money and local support, and another $15m for capital works for small clubs.

Charlie Peel 12pm: Premier reveals TAFE plan

Continuing a week of bread and butter Labor policy announcements, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has pledged $90 million in new funding for Queensland TAFEs.

Speaking from Acacia Ridge TAFE this morning, the Premier said the funding would, in part, rectify cuts made during the Newman Government.

The new funding will include $85 million over three years to fund campus redevelopment and refurbishment work at six Queensland training institutes.

Pimlico TAFE campus in Townsville will receive $26 million, Cairns $15 million, Mount Gravatt $15 million, Toowoomba $4 million, Redlands $10 million and Gold Coast $15 million.

“My government is passionate about making sure that Queenslanders have the training and skills they need to get a job,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Since our election in 2015, 122,500 jobs have been created across Queensland and the unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in four years.

“But there is always more to do and that’s why we are today announcing our plans to bolster TAFE campuses and provide Queenslanders with the training that will get them into work now and in the future.

“We want TAFE to be the premium provider of training in this state, and the initiatives I’m announcing today will ensure our facilities are modern, fit-for-purpose and flexible.”

Another $4 million in funding will go towards a new plumbing and fire safety training facility at Beenleigh.

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