Qld Election 2020: No new cases as leaders launch campaigns
Voluntary assisted dying legislation and $171 million for a palliative care plan have been promised for Queensland if Labor returns to government, while the LNP focus will be on jobs and economic recover, as both parties launch their official campaigns for the October 31st state election. LIVE UPDATES
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and opposition leader Deb Frecklington have both officially launched their parties’ official campaigns for the October 31st state election, on a day when Queensland once again has recorded no new COVID-19 cases.
There remain just four active cases across the state.
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In Beenleigh, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the choice for the next Premier was about the “future” of the state and about the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as Labor focused on the handling of the outbreak in the state.
While in Brisbane, the LNP’s choice of location for its launch appears to target controversial former deputy premier Jackie Trad as Ms Frecklington targeted job creation and dragging Queensland out of the economic recession.
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At Labor’s launch, at the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre in Beenleigh, Ms Palaszczuk said the party’s plan was to come out on the side of this storm stronger and fairer, by rebuilding the economy, training people and growing the regions, and reinvestment in schools and hospitals and services.
“This election is a choice between the stability of a Labor Government that has made the tough decision and the right calls in hard times,” she said.
“Or the chaos of an unproven, untrustworthy opposition who have been wrong every time it’s mattered.
“Your vote, your choice for Queensland.”
Ms Palaszczuk attacked the LNP, focusing on the Opposition’s “reckless” stance on borders.
The audience leapt into a “spontaneous” standing ovation when Ms Palaszczuk said: “Our government secured Queensland’s borders to protect the health of our community”.
“But Deb Frecklington and Scott Morrison demanded we reopen the borders on the 1st of July – almost the exact day Victoria’s second wave of infections began.”
Ms Palaszczuk and her government reopened the borders to all but Victoria from July 10.
“If the LNP’s open-borders, open-slather policy had been in place, every single regional town and coastal community could have been hit,” she said.
“…and if you want a brutal lesson in what happens to the economy when governments lose control of the virus, you only have to look at Victoria.”
Ms Palaszczuk’s speech also attacked LNP leader Ms Frecklington over her links with Campbell Newman, and Mr Newman’s government’s public service cuts.
Meanwhile, the LNP’s campaign launch has kicked off at the Emporium in Jackie Trad’s electorate of South Brisbane.
The size of the event is considerably smaller compared to previous elections because of COVID-19 restrictions, with not all MPs and candidates in attendance because of the restrictions.
Mansfield candidate Janet Wishart opened the event, spruiking the LNP’s commitment to jobs.
Deputy Leader Tim Mander said Ms Frecklington was the person to lead Queensland out of the economic recession.
“I am so proud to be her deputy,” he said before welcoming her to the stage.
Former premier Rob Borbidge and federal minister Peter Dutton are among those attending.
Former party president Gary Spence is also here.
Sir Leo Hielscher, the man credited with being one of the architects of the modern Queensland economy, is among guests at the LNP campaign launch.
Sir Frank Moore, considered to be the father of Queensland tourism, is also here.
Originally published as Qld Election 2020: No new cases as leaders launch campaigns