Queensland election: LNP rules out One Nation coalition

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls ruled out a formal coalition with One Nation but would not say whether the LNP would accept its support.

Queensland LNP leader Tim Nicholls meets supporters in his Clayfield electorate yesterday. Picture: AAP

Regional Queensland is shaping as a key battleground of the November 25 state election, with the Liberal National Party launching a four-week blitz to win over disenchanted voters looking to punish the major parties by voting for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

Launching his campaign yesterday, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls ruled out a formal coalition with One Nation.

The former Newman government treasurer told party faithful he had learnt from past mistakes and infrastructure would form the backbone of the LNP pitch to ­voters to oust Annastacia Pala­szczuk’s Labor minority government. He also ruled out asset sales.

“We will build the roads, bridges and dams we need,” he repeated throughout his campaign-launch speech in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra in his Clayfield electorate.

Shaking the stigma of the one-term Newman LNP government, elected in 2012, will be a priority.

“You know what I stand for,” he told the blue-clad crowd in the suburban park. “Asset sales,” said a union heckler waving a placard left over from the 2015 election.

Asked about former premier Campbell Newman’s comments on Sky News that the LNP could not take government without One Nation’s support, Mr Nicholls deflected questions. “He’s wrong. Next question,” Mr Nicholls said, before adding that he would not enter a formal coalition with One Nation or offer any ministries for their support.

However, he fended off as “hypothetical’’ questions on whether the LNP would accept One Nation support to form minority government in the event of a hung parliament.

Instead, he warned voters against flirting with One Nation.

“The change you want is possible, but it comes from voting for the LNP candidate in your electorate,” he said. “A vote for One Nation is a vote for the do-nothing Palaszczuk government.”

pain zones graphic for election page

He predicted Labor would unleash a “personal and dishonest” scare campaign because they had “no record to run on”.

Asked if he had a “secret weapon” to combat Ms Palaszczuk’s plan to enlist the help of her father, popular Labor figure Henry Palaszczuk, Mr Nicholls said he had the support of his family. He said federal colleagues also were welcome to help his campaign.

Both the LNP and One Nation have promised to build a coal-fired power station in the north.

One Nation’s Queensland leader, Steve Dickson, yesterday predicted his party would hold the balance of power after the election, and would unseat Labor in the blue-collar electorates of Logan and Capalaba.

However, Mr Dickson, once a minister in the Newman government, faces his own battle in the Sunshine Coast seat of Buderim, which he had held for the LNP since 2009 before defecting to One Nation in January.

Yesterday he said the election would leave One Nation placed to wield influence on electricity prices, regional infrastructure and government procurement.

His first demand of the new government would be to scrap the $5.4 billion cross-river rail project in Brisbane and use the money for other needed infrastructure.

“We need a coal-fired power station now, we need dams now,” he said. “We need the duplication of the Sunshine Coast rail. We need $400 million spent on the Mount Lindesay Highway.”

Polls have shown 16 per cent support for One Nation throughout the state, although that figure is significantly higher in some regional seats. The party will run candidates in at least 60 seats.

Mr Dickson took a dig at Ms Palaszczuk for calling the election while Ms Hanson was overseas but said she would be back this week to help campaign.