The state election day is underway around Queensland, where people will cast their votes in 93 electorates.
The Sunshine Coast looms as a key battleground, with eight seats in play. Five of them are held by the LNP, two by Labor and one by an independent (scroll down for a full list of local candidates).
Labor is attempting to claim a fourth term in office.
Recent polling has indicated the election will be closer than previously anticipated, but both Labor and the Liberal National Party opposition have ruled out doing deals with the crossbench in the event of a minority government.
With almost half of Queenslanders having already cast their ballots, a Newspoll conducted for The Australian pointed to a tight battle for the remaining votes.
The LNP remained ahead on a two-party preferred basis, 52 to 47 per cent, while incumbent Premier Steven Miles rated a better premier at 45 per cent with LNP leader David Crisafulli on 42 per cent.
Mr Crisafulli was hauled over the coals by his rival on Friday for backflipping on his somewhat sensational pledge to quit the top job if crime numbers do not improve under his watch.
The opposition leader clarified that the numbers he had staked his future on would be based on population growth rather than raw data.
“We are not going to have a situation where victim numbers continue to rise over and above population growth,” he told reporters in Caloundra.
“You want less victims as a ratio of your population.”
The backflip did not impress Mr Miles who accused Mr Crisafulli of an 11th-hour change of heart to save his skin.
“He has said population growth is no excuse for an increase in victims,” he said. “Now he’s saying, ‘Oh, that wasn’t an excuse for the Labor government but it will be my excuse’.”
Mr Crisafulli also could not escape criticism over the abortion debate that has plagued his campaign for weeks.
He was confronted by a woman on his stance on a conscience vote before it quickly became apparent she was a staffer for Pumicestone Labor MP Ali King.
LNP volunteers quickly pounced, asking the woman to “take off your jacket” and “show your true colours”.
Labor polling reported by The Courier-Mail showed Katter’s Australian Party winning two of three seats in Townsville, which Mr Crisafulli had been relying on to secure a majority.
But Mr Crisafulli confirmed there will be no deal and did not rule out sending Queenslanders back to the polls if the LNP didn’t win a majority.
Similarly, Mr Miles ruled out the option of a coalition with the Greens or Katters as he seeks to win a term in his own right after taking over the reins from Annastacia Palaszczuk.
As Mr Miles chomped down on pies and Mr Crisafulli hit pre-poll booths, questions remained over the costings released by both parties with the LNP promising to make nearly $7 billion in savings by cutting external consultancy costs.
Treasurer Cameron Dick said it was impossible to make those savings when spending on consultants was $50 million a year.
“The only way you can get to $2 billion in savings a year is through cutting jobs,” he said.
Mr Dick said $2 billion a year in wages equated to 17,000 jobs.
But Mr Crisafulli maintained the plan for savings stacked up, claiming there has been a 12 per cent increase annually in consultancy costs, which the government denies.
Sunshine Coast electorates
In Buderim, LNP’s Brent Mickelberg is trying to win the seat for the third consecutive time. He faces four opponents including Labor’s former correctional officer Adrian Burke, Shaun Sandow (Legalise Cannabis Queensland), Ryan Beall (One Nation) and Deborah Mosely (The Greens).
In Caloundra, Labor’s Jason Hunt hopes to retain the seat after claiming an upset victory four years ago, when the party won there for the first time. The LNP has campaigned significantly with its candidate, mother-of-four Kendall Morton. Independent Mike Jessop is also among those in the running, along with Ben Storch (One Nation), Peta Higgs (The Greens), Pamela Mariko (Animal Justice Party) and Allsion McMaster (Legalise Cannabis Queensland).
In Glass House, LNP’s Andrew Powell is looking for a sixth straight win after taking the seat from Labor in 2009. Field service technician Humphrey Caspersz Jnr (Labor) and mechanic Andrew McLean (The Greens) are among the contenders, along with Adam Farr (One Nation), Timothy Hallcroft (Legalise Cannabis Queensland) and Bronwen Bolitho (Family First).
In Kawana, LNP deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie is also attempting to win for the sixth time in a row after claiming the seat in 2009. Among his challengers is Labor’s Jim Dawson and ex-poultry farmer Ian Simons (The Greens), along with Peter Hinton (One Nation).
In Maroochydore, LNP’s Fiona Simpson is looking for a 12th straight win after taking the seat in 1992. Ex-traffic controller and LNP candidate Naomi McQueen is among her competitors, along with Mark Wadeson (independent), Heinrich Koekemoer (The Greens) and Kyle Haler (One Nation).
In Nicklin, Labor’s Rob Skelton is attempting to retain the seat he won by a margin of just 0.14 per cent four years ago. He faces competition from the previous MP, LNP’s Marty Hunt. Independent Steve Dickson, a former MP and former state leader of One Nation who resigned from the party in 2019 after footage of his behaviour in a US strip club was aired, is among those in the running, along with Phillip Eschler (Family First), Sue Etheridge (The Greens), Melody Lindsay (Legalise Cannabis Queensland) and Rebecca McCosker (One Nation).
In Ninderry, LNP’s Dan Purdie is trying to win for the third time in a row. Labor’s Jo Justo is among the challengers, along with Michael Stewart (One Nation), Timothy Nixon (Legalise Cannabis Queensland) and Tom Carden (The Greens).
In Noosa, independent Sandy Bolton is vying for a third straight term. Amid her opponents is former Noosa mayor Clare Stewart who is with the LNP. Others include Mark Denham (Labor), Rhonda Prescott (The Greens), Felicity Roser (Family First) and Darrel Hinson (One Nation).
Find out more about the local candidates via a three-part Q&A series.
Find your nearest polling booth here.
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