Analysis: Callide fallout could shape Qld election campaign

How the government and Opposition handles the fallout to the Callide catastrophe will shape the October election, writes state political editor Hayden Johnson.

David Crisafulli and Steven Miles

Once again Queenslanders are left scratching their heads at the systemic failings of a third-term government.

Premier Steven Miles can’t afford too many bad days of distraction in the lead-up to the October 26 poll – but Tuesday was a clanger. 

The Brady report and the government’s abrogation of responsibility is a monumental distraction for Mr Miles just as he appeared to gain ground with attacks on David Crisafulli’s lukewarm slapdown of nuclear power.

He found a chink in the armour, only to find himself again defending the decisions made by his predecessor’s government.

The premier is unlikely to dismiss Energy Minister (and factional ally) Mick de Brenni.

Mr de Brenni has already sought to apportion blame for the Callide explosion on the “individuals” at the site and noted there had been a “complete change of leadership” at CS Energy, with its CEO and operations manager getting the boot.

Coincidentally, we’re sure, CS Energy suddenly found the legal mechanism to publish the draft Brady report on Tuesday after fighting against it for so long.

How the government and Opposition handles the fallout to this will shape the October election.

Ministers and MPs on Tuesday publicly, and privately, played down the issue by relying on technicalities in the report, which remains a draft.

It’s politically dangerous for Mr Miles not to take this seriously.

His $1000 energy rebates are welcomed by Queenslanders but there remains a brewing sense of cynicism the government, on the eve of an election, has paid to cover up significant price rises.

While the Brady report might not be a barbecue stopper, the LNP has found a knack for frustrating the government by condensing issues into multiple-word slogans; breach of bail being the best example.

If they can find a catchy one for this Callide “cover up”, it might lift the hammer above that final nail.

Originally published as Analysis: Callide fallout could shape Qld election campaign