I'm in it to win it: Premier Palaszczuk

Annastacia Palaszczuk, who on Thursday made a major jobs pledge in Rockhampton, says she's not considering the possibility of losing the Queensland election.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (C) with young trainees

Annastacia Palaszczuk will commit an extra $180m to its Skilling Queenslanders for Work program. (AAP)

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has brushed off Labor leadership questions if she fails at the November 25 election, declaring she's "in it to win it".

Ms Palaszczuk dismissed talk of Health Minister Cameron Dick usurping her as leader while making an election promise to boost jobs in central Queensland.

Mr Dick, touted as a strong leadership option before Labor produced a boilover at the 2015 election, has not ruled out taking on the top job should the party lose power this month.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, the leader of the powerful Left faction, has also been touted as a successor to Ms Palaszczuk.

But the premier swept aside leadership concerns, strongly asserting she was only focused on success, and Labor ruling in their own right after three years of being a minority government.

"I'm in it to win it, and I'm fighting every day to create jobs that Queenslanders need for the future," she said.

"I'm asking Queenslanders to vote for my team and my government, and I'm asking for a majority."

The premier enjoyed a welcome boost on Thursday with the latest export figures showing the state had topped $70 million, proof Labor's economic policies were working.

Campaigning in Rockhampton, the premier said a Labor government would boost funding for its Skilling Queenslanders for Work program by $180 million over three years if it won the November 25 poll.

She said the extra money, which would take the government's commitment to the project to $420 million, would support more than 50,000 job seekers by 2021.

"I know this program works, because it's right across the state, and it's giving people the skills they need to get into work," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"I know that the previous record of Tim Nicholls and Campbell Newman of cutting this program, and I would fear this program would be in jeopardy under future LNP One Nation governments."

Ms Palaszczuk spent day five of the campaign in central Queensland, where she is trying to head off a push by One Nation and the LNP for the seat of Keppel.

Labor MP Brittany Lauga currently holds the seat and is on the campaign trail despite giving birth to a baby girl less than a fortnight ago.

One Nation is also chasing the seat of Rockhampton itself after Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne resigned from politics in October due to ill health.

His departure sparked a factional fight in preselection with Labor Unity candidate Barry O'Rourke picked over the premier's choice of Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow.

Mr O'Rourke said he had no hard feelings.

"The premier rang me and congratulated me and I'm only too happy to work with her," he said.


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Source: AAP



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