Jones launches bid to oust Newman

Labor's Kate Jones is opting to focus on a local planning issue as she campaigns to oust Premier Campbell Newman from her former seat of Ashgrove.

Labor candidate Kate Jones has kicked off her election campaign to dethrone Queensland Premier Campbell Newman by naming a development in a neighbouring electorate as her top priority.

She's named the 227-hectare Upper Kedron development the "number one priority" of her election campaign, which she officially launched on Saturday, although the recently approved site sits in the neighbouring Ferny Grove electorate.

Ms Jones says the development is unsustainable and would put another 7800 cars on local roads, affecting traffic flow into Ashgrove.

Deputy federal Labor leader Tanya Plibersek was on hand for the launch.

But when asked why state Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk wasn't present, Ms Jones said Ms Palaszczuk would "absolutely" support her in her bid to claim Ashgrove before January 31.

Ms Jones lost the electorate in 2012 when Mr Newman made an audacious bid to become the state's premier without first holding a seat in parliament.

The premier now holds Ashgrove by a margin of 5.7 per cent, but the latest polls suggest the former Labor minister could take it back.

Two recent surveys have put Ms Jones either ahead or on par with the premier in terms of primary support despite Mr Newman pledging $10.5 million in infrastructure upgrades in the electorate, during the campaign.


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Source: AAP


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