Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls has called on the party to put aside petty squabbles and concentrate on what Queensland voters want ahead of the upcoming state election.
"Let's not be distracted; we must remain focused on the issues and concerns deep in the hearts and uppermost in the minds of our fellow Queenslanders," he told the final day of the LNP's state conference in Brisbane on Sunday.
The opposition leader has made it clear the election would be fought on state issues, and federal issues - including Turnbull government infighting - would not affect voters.
"But I'll say one thing about the national capital. My team and I don't, and we won't, take our riding instructions from Canberra."
Mr Nicholls said his party's policies would provide voters with a clear difference from Labor, as well as the Greens and One Nation.
And he again ruled out any formal coalition with Pauline Hanson's conservative party which is polling well in the state.
"We only have to look at Queensland in 1998 and 2001 and more recently to Western Australia, especially where One Nation is involved," he said.
"The history lesson is there; voting for a minor party will lead to another do-nothing Labor government."
Mr Nicholls took several pot shots at Labor in his 25-minute speech, criticising their record on power prices, cost of living and their focus on Cross River Rail, which he said was merely to gain votes for Deputy Premier Jackie Trad.
Queensland Labor frontbencher Yvette D'Ath said on Sunday they were happy to let their record stand against the LNP's for voters to compare.
"It is a Labor government who is committed to renewables and clean energy, which will see further downward pressure on power prices into the future," Ms D'Ath said.
"Tim Nicholls only interest is in building more coal-fired power stations, and we have just seen the LNP have a destructive debate about walking away from the Paris agreement and climate change."
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is expected to call an election late this year.
The convention narrowly voted down that motion, as well as a resolution to privatise the ABC, and another to financially penalise the public broadcaster for instances of "bias", with party members saying the measure would be "electoral suicide."
However, the convention passed a resolution to call for a ban of headscarves for children under 10, and a resolution from the Young LNP to prevent changing male stick figures on traffic-walk signs to female.
Share
