Opposition Leader Bill Shorten concedes Queensland Labor has a "steep mountain to climb" in the looming state election.
But he says voters want a leader who understands ordinary Queenslanders, and that's why Annastacia Palaszczuk is doing so well.
Mr Shorten hit the campaign trail with state Opposition Leader Ms Palaszczuk in Brisbane on Sunday.
He says the election will be a tough battle, with Labor handed just 10 per cent of Queensland parliament in the last vote.
"It's a very steep mountain that Annastacia Palaszczuk has to climb," Mr Shorten told reporters.
"But for goodness sakes, if you hand Campbell Newman the same whopping majority then you're going to get three and four more years of the terrible cuts, the high unemployment and the cuts to the quality of life for Queensland."
He also says Premier Campbell Newman is a mouthpiece for Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who is in "witness protection" during the campaign.
"Whenever you scratch the surface of Campbell Newman, you get Tony Abbott," he said.
"True leaders do not run when the going gets hard."
Ms Palaszczuk says she's focused on winning the election, and has also asked Mr Shorten to accompany her while campaigning in regional Queensland.
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