Nicholls challenges Premier on poll date
OPPOSITION Leader Tim Nicholls has repeated his call for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to name a date for the state election, as early election speculation continues off the back of a horror parliamentary week for the minority Labor Government.
As Ms Palaszczuk spent yesterday morning taking selfies with and high- fiving Bridge to Brisbane participants at the starting line in Kangaroo Point, Mr Nicholls issued a statement urging her to name an election date.
“The Premier should stop playing games, end the uncertainty and name an election date,” Mr Nicholls said.
Ms Palaszczuk his suggestion.
“Tim Nicholls wants an early election because he thinks Queenslanders have forgotten who he is, what he did with Campbell Newman and what he stands for: cutting services, sacking workers and selling assets,” she said.
The LNP is understood to have candidates locked in for about 80 of the 92 state seats, with the party’s final sitting MP to be re- endorsed – Gaven MP Sid Cramp – to front a preselection meeting to be held tomorrow night.
An LNP spokesman said the party had a “handful” of seats left to fill.
Labor has preselected candidates for 72 seats. Nomina- dismissed tions closed on Friday for seats including Theodore, Aspley and the new Sunshine Coast seat of Ninderry, with those candidates expected to be endorsed as early as this week.
It has yet to choose candidates in a further 16 electorates including Lockyer, where One Nation candidate Jim Savage is understood to be favourite to win.
One Nation announced last week that it had 53 candidates locked in while the Queensland Greens have publicly announced 41 candidates.
The next state election is not due until early next year, with Ms Palaszczuk repeatedly insisting it was her intention to call it when it is due.
It is understood Ms Palaszczuk and several ministers were planning to take leave during the school holiday period.
But there is speculation the poll could be held much sooner, in either October or November.