Qld snap poll puts LNP, ALP on backfoot

Neither Queensland's LNP government nor Labor have announced any new policies on the first day of the state election campaign.

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Qld Premier Campbell Newman (Dave Hunt-AAP)

Queensland's premier called a shotgun election to catch the opposition on the backfoot, but he seems to have shot himself in the foot in the process.

Neither the Liberal National government nor the Labor opposition were willing or able to offer any new policies or pledges to voters on day one of the campaign.

Instead, both seemed keen to outdo each other in telling voters what they have already heard.

Premier Campbell Newman started his day by announcing he would be talking up his government's achievements.

"I'm going to spend a bit of time talking about why we're having the election, what the government's done. From Sunday, then I'll be going around the state making policy announcements," he told a Gold Coast radio station.

Mr Newman did hint at pledges on police resources and the local light-rail system, but he spent most of his time in Broadbeach talking about his government's crackdown on criminal bikie gangs.

Some appreciative locals, including a family who were threatened by bikies, met him at a local cafe.

At a Maryborough pub in the afternoon, Mr Newman talked about the LNP's healthcare reforms, efforts to boost the economy and the much-touted state asset leasing plan.

But while the beer was flowing - the premier even went behind the bar to pull a couple - new policies were not.

The campaign of Annastacia Palaszczuk got off to an even slower start, with the opposition leader having to wait overnight in Cairns before the media arrived on Wednesday.

She talked up Labor's existing jobs policy, centred on the proposed $200 million Skilling Queensland program, but nothing was said about new proposals.

However, Ms Palaszczuk rejected suggestions her lack of policies was because she had been caught off guard by Mr Newman's snap election announcement on Tuesday.

"I'm sorry, what was Campbell Newman's new policy today?" Ms Palaszczuk said.

"I didn't hear any new policy announcements from Campbell Newman.

"I'm running my own race here and I'm here this week to remind people about the savage cuts to jobs and services right across the state."

Both leaders were keen to remind voters of what they already knew, but Queenslanders will have to wait until next week to see if the LNP or Labor will put anything new on the table.


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Source: AAP


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