Jarrod Bleijie denies taking voters for granted after refusing crucial debate
The deputy opposition leader has continued to dodge questions over his snubbing of a crucial leaders’ debate where a cardboard cutout will take his place.
Candidates
Don't miss out on the headlines from Candidates. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Queensland deputy opposition leader has denied taking voters for granted as he continued to dodge questions over his snubbing of a crucial leaders’ debate where a cardboard cutout will take his place.
Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie denied he was taking voters for granted by refusing to partake in The Courier-Mail’s deputy leaders’ debate with Labor’s Cameron Dick, while speaking in Caloundra on Friday.
The debate is set to go ahead on October 24.
When asked how serious he was about becoming the deputy leader of Queensland under a Crisafulli government, given he had turned down an opportunity to speak to undecided voters, Mr Bleijie responded he was “very serious”.
“You know the first thing we’ll do when the government changes on the 26th of October, parliament will come back before the end of the year and be making our Queensland safer laws,” Mr Bleijie said.
He was questioned three times over the debate, answering in a similar manner each time during the press conference where he announced a $6.8m investment into the food and beverage manufacturing Turbine project, if the LNP was elected at the end of the month.
Mr Bleijie’s ongoing refusal to debate Mr Dick comes after he claimed earlier this week voters only “want to hear from the leaders” when it comes to election debates.
“Voters have the chance to vote for a leader, the premier and opposition leader have three debates during this election cycle and voters want to hear from the leaders, that’s the leaders, the premier and the opposition leader,” Mr Bleijie said.
The Courier-Mail responded to the snub by asking readers to vote on a cardboard cutout of the deputy opposition leader to stand in his stead.
More Coverage
Originally published as Jarrod Bleijie denies taking voters for granted after refusing crucial debate
Premier forgets candidate, LNP derailed on train line promise
The Labor leader forgot another candidate’s name on the Sunshine Coast, while across town the deputy opposition leader refused to reveal a key detail in his heavy rail promise.
Qld election: LNP pledges to tackle congestion in high-growth area
The LNP has promised to create a second road to Highfields if it wins government, but the project’s chief advocate Trevor Watts can’t guarantee it will start construction in the next term.
$250k to keep rehab roof over heads amid ongoing fight for funds
A critical drug and alcohol rehab at the centre of successive election campaign battles but still without crucial government funding will get a boost under the LNP, Hervey Bay’s candidate has promised.
Labor MP: No bullying here, just a very demanding workplace
A Labor MP accused of bullying her staffers and treating them erratically and menacingly has dismissed the allegations as a by-product of a “very demanding” workplace.
Cannabis cakes to kid crims: Inside Tantari’s first test against Lee, rivals
From candidate anecdotes about the “devil’s lettuce” and bold calls to take on “terrorising” teen criminals, here’s how the Hervey Bay MP’s first public comparison with his election opponents went down at a colourful meeting.
One Nation dumps nude model over attempted murder charge
One Nation has disendorsed a candidate who was accused of attempted murder where a man was shot in the stomach allegedly over a $1000 drug debt 13 years ago. The charge was later dropped.