Queensland Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington says she has great relationships with all state MPs including key crossbenchers ahead of a “knife-edge” election.
She again avoided questions about the prospect of minority government while announcing $35 million in funding for a roundabout at Carrara on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
Ms Frecklington is refusing to reveal her plans if voters deliver a hung parliament after Saturday’s poll.
However, she’s talking up her relationships with all MPs including key crossbenchers such as Sandy Bolton and Robbie Katter.
“I have a great working relationship with all parliamentarians,” Ms Frecklington told reporters.
“And I am someone who always says hello, always says big g’days, no matter who it is and where they are because we’re all Queenslanders and I just don’t believe in giving someone a snub because they might not have the same political beliefs as me, and that goes for the premier as well.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk denied internal Labor Party polling showed the election wasn’t going to be close.
She claims the election is Labor versus the LNP, Katter’s Australian Party, One Nation and the Palmer United Party.
She said the uncertainty made it neccesary for Ms Frecklington to release her campaign costings as soon as possible.
“That’s not true. I actually absolutely believe this is on knife-edge, and we just don’t know what’s going to happen around the state,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“So it is a very important choice that Queenslanders have to make, and voting has been open since last Monday – people are voting today.
“And people still don’t know how Deb Frecklington and LNP are funding, their $26 billion (in election promises).
“That’s not right. That’s not right to hide that from the people of Queensland, that’s not right.”
Ms Frecklington has pledged to make the public service more efficient by leading a “good government” and ruled out cutting the heath budget.
Labor has announced a plan to make medical procedures two per cent more efficient to save more than $1 billion in health funding over four years.
Ms Frecklington won’t reveal her own plans to make the public sector more efficient, but said it would be revealed in her costings on Thursday.
“We’ll have costings announcements tomorrow but what I’ll say is this, the Labor party need to explain to the hard working, doctors and nurses of Queensland Health, how much more they expect of them,” the LNP leader said.
“These are men and women on the front line.”
Ms Frecklington will face off with Ms Palaszczuk in a leaders debate later on Wednesday afternoon.
The pair have crossed paths at least twice so far on the campaign, in Townsville and Mackay, but they will finally share the stage.
The economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession is set to be the primary topic, along with the state’s border closure and crime.
The Sky News/The Courier-Mail People’s Forum will host undecided voters picked by News Corp Australia.
Australian Associated Press
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