David Crisafulli the matador had mumbling Steven Miles in spin

In a brutal display, a cunning David Crisafulli set the traps Steven Miles crawled right into during their first debate.

In a brutal display, a cunning David Crisafulli set the traps Steven Miles crawled right into.

This first debate was not so much a clash of the titans, but a pity party.

Mr Miles appeared disinterested and lacklustre.

His mumbling interjections on the obvious policy waffle being delivered by Mr Crisafulli needed to be sharper and more decisive.

Mr Crisafulli was alive – condescending to critics – and at his salesman best.

His trademark political art of not answering questions at daily press conferences was taken to a new level with refusals to detail how he’d respect Queenslanders’ cash.

The LNP leader’s only solution to keeping infrastructure projects on time and on budget is ministerial accountability.

■ ‘Condescending, arrogant’: Voters give their verdict on debate

His promise to sack any minister not meeting key performance indicators is noble, but will be met with practical problems when Mr Crisafulli remembers the lack of talent on the LNP backbench.

The takeaway moment from the debate and the most ambitious election promise of a generation, was Mr Crisafulli’s pledge not to run again in 2028 if he becomes premier on October 27 and then fails to drive down victim of crime numbers.

Nine’s debate rule of one-minute answers lasted all of four questions before Mr Crisafulli clued-on to the chance of lawlessness and started baiting the premier to give himself another chance to preach.

Mr Miles had some clever, pre-rehearsed smackdowns.

His rival’s long-winded statement about a plan for Queensland’s public service to gather and sing Kumbaya after October 27 was met with a boxer’s jab: “That’s a lot of words to not answer a question”.

Asked what his toughest challenge had been in his 10 months as Premier, Mr Miles said that after summer’s natural disasters he had to be in Cairns and the Gold Coast at the same time.

And despite being heavily criticised earlier in the year for using two taxpayer-funded jets to fly around the state, the Premier nominated “Top Gun” as his favourite movie.

Voting in Queensland state elections is mandatory, and pre-polling booths are open from October 14 till October 25 in most electorates.

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Originally published as David Crisafulli the matador had mumbling Steven Miles in spin