SOAPBOX: Why the new LNP leader missed the mark early

IT WAS the last line of new LNP leader Deb Frecklington's statement that worried me the most.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY: New LNP leader Deb Frecklington. Picture: Tony Martin

IT WAS the last line of new LNP leader Deb Frecklington's statement that worried me the most.

The generic 'resetting of the button' speech that played precursor was fine, I glazed over it.

The jargon about making lives better, that wore thin a long, long time ago.

The bit about listening... it was a stretch, but bearable.

But the last line sent my heart plummeting.

With that in mind, I want to say just one thing to Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor - it is game on.

Politics is not a game, there's far more at stake than that.

Having your party's emblem on the door of the Premier's office should not be the holy grail. Nor should serving the interests of whichever group has access to your ears, be it big business, trade unions or others.

Improving the lives of almost five million of your fellow Queenslanders should always be the highest calling. The only calling.

Here's what you should have said:

I'm prepared to sit down with you tomorrow, table our party's 20 best policies, as you do yours, negotiate and fine-tune each other's best ideas, and implement them ASAP.

I'm prepared to give you credit for yours and get credit for mine, as long as we are moving this state forward.

I recognise that Queenslanders have very little confidence in either of us to do the job ourselves, the results show that, so I pledge to work with you, set aside the games and resurrect this state.

Originally published as SOAPBOX: Why the new LNP leader missed the mark early