Palaszczuk braces for 'nasty' campaign, rules out minor party deals
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ruled out making a deal with independents or fringe parties to stitch together a minority government in the event of a hung Parliament.
The official election campaign will start on Tuesday when the government goes into caretaker mode before the October 31 state election.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during question time on the last sitting day of Parliament in 2020 before the October election.Credit:Matt Dennien
Labor will need to win 47 of 93 seats to be able to form government again in its own right and Ms Palaszczuk the race would be "tough".
"It is going to be very tough, I think it is going to be unfortunately very personal and very nasty," she said.
"We’re the underdogs, we’re behind in the polls.
"I’m asking Queenslanders for a majority government so I can continue the work that we have been doing, that I have been doing, in keeping Queenslanders safe.
"I cannot be any clearer. Minority governments don’t work. Every single vote is going to count."
Ms Palaszczuk ruled out making any deals with minor parties, such as the Greens, Katter's Australia Party and One Nation, after the poll.
She made a similar commitment before the 2015 state election but later struck a deal with independent MP Peter Wellington and was able to form a minority government.
"Peter Wellington was not a member of a party," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"He was an independent and he aligned himself with what my government was doing, but what we’ve seen during the last term is we’ve had a majority government and a majority government allows me to get on with the job."
But Ms Palaszczuk ruled out teaming up with a like-minded independent in the event of a hung Parliament.
"No deals," she said.
Lydia Lynch is Queensland political reporter for the Brisbane Times