Susan Harris Rimmer and Elise Stephenson write in The Conversation (9.10.20) about the start of Queensland’s state election campaign, highlighting key issues and the likely impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Queensland is stereotyped for its sunshine, beaches, lack of daylight saving, Bundy rum, meter maids and One Nation supporters. Many Australians have an ambivalent relationship with the state and don’t take its politics that seriously.
‘But after Queensland “lost” the federal election for Labor last year, there are good reasons to care about the state election on October 31.
‘With the campaign now officially underway, this isn’t just another state poll, either. We outline five reasons why voters – and those beyond Queensland – should be paying close attention.’
- Remember Quexit? 5 reasons you should not take your eyes off the Queensland election »
- Bored by the state election? Believe it or not, there was actually a lot to like »
- As Trad exits stage Left, Queensland’s economic prospects take a Right turn »
- Queensland’s election year shadowed by federal in-fighting, scandals and voter fatigue »
Week 1
Throughout the four weeks of the election campaign, links to election coverage will be added below.
- Queensland election campaign kicks off as Palaszczuk strikes a Newman tone in opening pitch »
- What you need to know about Queensland’s election campaign and how to cast your vote »
- Signs the Queensland state election will be close as both Labor and the LNP talk down minority government »
- Experts say Labor, LNP will come to the party to rule minority government »
- Premier comes out swinging: Expect chaos if Labor does not have a majority »
- Why the words ‘minority government’ are like political kryptonite »
- Comparing policies: The good, the bad and those with a very familiar ring »
- A buffoon, perhaps, but Clive can still put the boot in »
- Why the next two days are crucial to the election outcome »
- Location, location: First moves are all about the where, not the what »
- Palaszczuk pushes Labor’s pro-mining agenda with ‘nation building’ project »
- Labor and LNP promise millions to boost regional jobs ahead of Queensland election »
- Why Queensland’s LNP can’t afford any more policy stumbles in this abnormally short election campaign »
- Battle for the north means more jobs, less crime, to break the cycle of despair »
- Sniffing the wind: Tropical seats offer a whiff of victory or the stench of defeat »
- LNP falls in behind border closure line as southern barbs fly »
- Frecklington wants to be ‘loud and proud’ about manufacturing but struggles to be heard »
- Labor would borrow billions to pay for schools, training »
- Interstate Coalition politicians are attacking Palaszczuk over coronavirus border restrictions – why not the LNP? »
- ‘Queensland paradox’ pushes coal and climate to centre stage of election campaign »
Week 2
- Death by a thousand cuts: Should public servants be worried about an LNP win? »
- Record number of parties square up amid a ‘fracturing’ political landscape »
- Annastacia Palaszczuk adamant Queensland’s former deputy premier Jackie Trad will not return to the frontbench »
- Why is Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk distancing herself from her former deputy Jackie Trad? »
- LNP Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington campaign in crisis after being referred by own party to election watchdog »
- Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington insists revelations of ECQ referral are ‘absolutely not correct’ »
- Anti-corruption chief warns of blurred lines between politics and business »
- Will our crowded ballot papers lead to a bigger informal vote? »
- Old habits die hard – but a shift could be deciding factor at the ballot box »
- LNP leader Deb Frecklington loses valuable Queensland election campaign time on needless fundraising controversy »
- A handful of reasons why LNP scandal arrived at worst-possible time »
- You’re on your own, Deb: Morrison set to pull the plug on Queensland campaign »
- Reasons to be fearful as parties turn sights on ghosts of Christmas past »
- Fundraising questions have interrupted the Queensland LNP’s election campaign. What does the law say? »
- Why is the anti-abortion lobby backing the LNP, when the Opposition Leader doesn’t want to talk about it? »
- Queensland’s Premier has been criticised for maintaining coronavirus border closures, but is she the one making the decisions? »
- When did our election campaigns stop being about people? »
- Ugly numbers: Labor blow as Queensland records nation’s worst jobless rate »
- Thanks for coming: How Morrison’s presence has helped keep LNP campaign on track »
- ‘Not everyone wants to swing a shovel’: Queensland election jobs plans miss the mark »
- Scott Morrison cameo with Deb Frecklington has LNP banging surplus drum »
- Annastacia Palaszczuk, Deb Frecklington pledge no sales of public assets »
- Women lead Queensland election campaign, but remain firmly in the minority »
- History lesson in Queensland’s ‘crisis’ election »
- Report finds public sector job and spending cuts are the LNP’s only option to balance budget in four years as Queensland election looms »
- Big-target jobs strategy a gamble that could pay off »
- Meet North Queensland First, the party that wants to kill crocs and form a new state »
- Mailing it in: One in four Queenslanders apply to vote by post in election wild card »
- Queensland election: LNP tries to keep anti-abortion push out of sight »
- Two weeks into the Queensland election, Labor’s lack of campaigning in Brisbane is a sign of growing confidence »
Week 3
- Queensland leaders Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deb Frecklington formally launch their 2020 election campaigns »
- Labor and LNP election campaign launches show different views on coronavirus pandemic »
- The majority of Queenslanders will have already cast their vote before the October 31 election »
- More than 1m votes to be cast before LNP reveals how it plans to fund promises »
- Palaszczuk warns of LNP ‘chaos’ and pledges euthanasia vote if re-elected »
- Anna Annastacia: A tale of two Queensland elections »
- ‘A turning point’: LNP vows to irrigate drought-addled western Qld »
- Queensland election: Labor pledges to allow vote on voluntary assisted dying »
- A brave stance, or is LNP strategy playing into the hands of Labor? »
- How Clive’s campaign ads became a question of life, death and taxes »
- Labor, LNP pitch to businesses in Queensland »
- LNP yet to release costings as Queensland voters cast first ballots at early voting centres »
- Marginal seats in state’s north could help decide outcome of Queensland election »
- Qld election 2020: 15,000 ballots cast per hour in record first day of voting »
- Deb Frecklington refuses to take a stand on euthanasia »
- Premier’s push for the bush with councils pact, $880m for roads, infrastructure »
- $50m campaign to restore Queensland status as top destination in the nation »
- Election pledges come down to matters of life and death »
- As the first votes are cast, this election has already taken on an odd sense of inevitability »
- In the race to be first, Labor now argues over who should come last »
- Queensland election race heats up as voters size up the candidate and party choices »
- Could the Queensland election result come down to Townsville? »
- Teens found out late would be taken into police custody, LNP proposes »
- Labor promises ‘second Bruce Highway’ to move freight off main artery »
- As the Queensland campaign passes the halfway mark, the election is still Labor’s to lose »
- When playing to your strengths means exposing your weaknesses »
- Two months after slamming Labor, CFMEU has a change of heart »
- Queensland 2030 climate target would be scrapped if LNP win election as state’s emissions rise »
- LNP youth curfew plan in north Queensland risks violence against Indigenous children »
- Queensland’s LNP wants a curfew for kids, but evidence suggests this won’t reduce crime »
- ‘We have to change Queensland’: the environmental issues at stake in the election »
- Shifting sands: Queensland sees red in blue-ribbon seats as election draws near »
- $100,000 question: Who will pocket biggest pay rise when election is over? »
- Frecklington plays the family card: $80m for outside school hours care »
- Has the Queensland election campaign revealed where Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deb Frecklington stand on issues affecting women? »
- What does the LNP’s kids curfew say about the party’s Queensland election chances? »
- Curfew policy was around before many of these offenders were even born »
- Labor, LNP stay on the fence over border reopening date »
- Queensland election: has Palaszczuk helped defeat the politics of gender? »
- Who will make up Queensland’s potentially powerful crossbench? »
Week 4
- Premier launches final push for Townsville, while LNP promises weirs »
- Labor ahead in polls but Premier says victory is no ‘shoo-in’ »
- ‘A hung Parliament is a very real possibility’: Queensland campaign in home stretch »
- Queensland election: why the resources council’s jobs figures don’t pass ‘the laugh test’ »
- ‘Fight to the death’: Leaders descend on election battleground »
- Leaders still trying to win over Townsville, but the feeling isn’t mutual »
- Labor ‘out of puff’ as LNP pushes for taskforce to tackle ice scourge »
- Voting early and often, but it ain’t over until it’s over »
- Queensland election: seats to watch as parties play a game of electoral chess »
- Queensland is making election history with two women leaders, so why is the campaign focused on men? »
- Labor releases costings ahead of Queensland election day, revealing budget would remain in deficit for years »
- What do Labor’s costings tell us about the Queensland election campaign? »
- Costings caveat for health pledge as Labor defends borrowed billions »
- Frecklington seizes on Labor’s costings stumble, vows no health cuts »
- Battle for Townsville starting to sound like deja vu all over again »
- The power of incumbency in troubled times – stop me if you’ve heard this one before »
- Parity politics – will two female leaders mean better policy for women? »
- The Queenmakers: What will the Greens and Katter’s Australian Party demand if approached to form government in Queensland? »
- Leaders storm into Brisbane for debate, final four days of campaigning »
- Queensland election key issues – where do Labor and the LNP stand? »
- Donation to LNP via company linked to property developer sparks complaint to electoral watchdog over prohibited-donor laws »
- How is Clive Palmer maintaining his political influence at the Queensland election? »
- Clive Palmer pumps $4.6m into his spoiler political party ahead of Queensland election »
- Clive Palmer’s ‘death tax’ scare campaign isn’t new. But it’s still outrageous »
- Qld election 2020: COVID-19 saved Annastacia Palaszczuk, says Gold Coast LNP MP »
- With friends like these: Frecklington cops friendly fire over border policy »
- Greens eyeing inner-city seats, but is it with rose-coloured glasses? »
- The Queensland exports plunge that should be terrifying both parties »
- Why this Queensland election is different – states are back at the forefront of political attention »
- Queensland state election leadership debate: Deb Frecklington tested by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s more aggressive approach »
- Audience delivers verdict in first Qld debate as leaders clash on jobs, border »
- Queensland LNP leader wanted border open months ago, NSW Premier says »
- ECQ confident of speedy result as Townsville residents race to polls »
- Queensland election’s ‘parallel with Warringah’: why independent Claire Richardson could topple LNP incumbent »
- Reality check: Are we witnessing the death of truth at the booth? »
- Frecklington a fake: Labor ramps up attack on would-be premier »
- Sticking to the script, Premier turns for home with her nose in front »
- Royalties and rail on minor parties’ hung-parliament wish list »
- LNP would borrow, trim public service growth to fund $5.1 billion promises »
- LNP’s Queensland election commitment costings reveal billions in savings but Bruce Highway expansion, New Bradfield Scheme promises largely unfunded »
- Palmer’s fresh electoral crusade raises eyebrows but not alarms »
- Queensland election: party insiders say minority government is increasingly likely »
- Queensland political parties ‘pay to play’ on social media as QUT researchers find ‘significant spend’ across the board »
- With 24 hours until Queensland election day, has the LNP left it too late to release costings? »
- LNP delays two major election promises to reduce state debt by $2.3 billion »
- Has anyone seen Pauline? 10 things we learned from the Queensland election campaign »
- Doodles, blunders and protests in polling booths could temper the result »
- Young Queenslanders who prefer protest rallies to polling booths »
- The brutal, unpleasant truth about a campaign built on fear and false premise »
- Whichever way you slice it, the poll remains Labor’s to lose »