Campbell Newman didn't want a circus during the Queensland election campaign, but now he's the ringmaster.
The premier spent almost a week ignoring broadcaster Alan Jones' claims he lied to him and "prostituted" himself to big business, only on Friday to launch a defamation suit against the broadcaster.
Mr Newman campaigned at a commercial laundry in Brisbane's west to spruik the Liberal National Party's plan for small business, but his legal action meant the focus had shifted away from his party's policies.
"Are there any questions about what Queenslanders want to know first?" Mr Newman asked the press pack after the first question related to Mr Jones.
"I'm sorry if you don't want to talk about the important savings for jobs."
But from there the press conference was lost.
Mr Newman confirmed the LNP would fund the legal action, not taxpayers, but he wouldn't be drawn on exactly what he and his deputy Jeff Seeney, who is also suing, were upset about.
Treasurer Tim Nicholls, Health Minister Lawrence Springborg and MP Deb Frecklington are also understood to be suing Mr Jones and Fairfax Radio.
"Mr Jones will have to justify in court his defamatory statements," Mr Newman said.
Court documents show Mr Newman has taken umbrage against Jones' on-air claims that the premier personally lied to him when he said before the 2012 election he wouldn't expand the controversial Acland coal mine, west of Toowoomba.
The LNP announced the stage three expansion after coming to power.
The documents also claimed Mr Jones defamed the premier when he said he "prostituted himself because he approved the Acland Stage Three coal mine because New Hope Coal had donated more than $700,000 to his political party".
If those distractions weren't enough, multi-millionaire federal MP Clive Palmer threw his support behind Mr Jones, offering to bankroll the broadcaster's legal defence.
Comment was being sought from Mr Jones.
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said Mr Newman had merely returned to being himself.
"Operation boring is over, here we go, back to the fights, back to the fights, the dysfunction that we have seen, the chaos, over the last three years," she said.
The Labor leader outlined her own plans for energy on Friday, but it's likely Queenslanders will have to pick up some of the tab.
Labor plans want one million households install solar panels and for private investors to build a 40 megawatt solar power station.
Opposition environment spokeswoman Jackie Trad said Labor would let an independent umpire set household solar feed-in tariffs rather than electricity retailers.
Meanwhile, One Nation founder Pauline Hanson, who's standing for the state seat of Lockyer, called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to hold a referendum on whether burqas should be banned in Australia.
Queenslanders go to the polls on January 31.
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