Liberal National party gears up for possible early election in Queensland
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Version 0 of 1. Queensland’s Liberal National party has made two significant election promises more than two years out from the due date for the next state poll. The state’s opposition leader, Lawrence Springborg, told the LNP’s Queensland convention on Sunday that, if elected, the party would tie car registration increases to inflation in its first term of government. Related: Tony Abbott reaffirms promise not to change superannuation system Springborg also promised the party would trial social benefit bonds to tackle emerging social issues like homelessness and preventative healthcare. The plan would involve the government teaming up with the not-for-profit and private sectors to help them secure funding and deliver problems to tackle identified problems. The next state poll is not due until early 2018. But Springborg said the LNP might not need to wait that long, given Labor is only holding minority power with 43 seats in the state’s 89-seat parliament, compared to the LNP’s 42. “It’s always on a knife-edge and I think Queenslanders want to know... that the LNP has not only a plan but real solid commitments that will make a difference for Queenslanders, regardless of what may happen with this minority government in a hung parliament,” Springborg said. LNP members also voted to support four-year parliamentary terms in Queensland, instead of the current three-year terms. Springborg said the party was drafting a proposal and was hoping for bipartisan support to hold a referendum on the issue. Related: Queensland LNP members push for power to directly elect state leader The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said she was happy to consider the issue. “I’ve got an open mind to this ... and we need to have a mature discussion about it,” she said. Palaszczuk’s first budget on Tuesday will include more than $210m to improve the state’s nursing workforce, she said on Sunday. Palaszczuk announced $101.6m over four years would be invested in expanding the workforce, while $110.7m over four years would go towards 4000 new nursing graduate places – all with the view of legislating nurse to patient ratios. The Queensland health minister, Cameron Dick, said: “These ratios of 1:4, 1:4 and 1:7 respectively for morning, afternoon and night shifts will ensure that when a patient presses the bedside buzzer, they will promptly get the caring attention they need.” |