GLOVES OFF

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has drawn on the star power of underdog turned world welterweight champion Jeff Horn to officially launch her re- election campaign.

Rather than making a final round of big- spending promises to win over undecided voters, the Premier used the launch to instead make a pitch to her base and those thinking of backing One Nation.

While her rival Tim Nicholls had on hand the political power of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and his deputy Deb Frecklington, Ms Palaszczuk relied on just two speakers apart from herself – Labor’s Gaven candidate Meaghan Scanlon and Horn.

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was instead in Sydney to launch former NSW premier Kristina Keneally’s campaign for the federal seat of Bennelong.

“She backs me in my title defence and I back her in hers,” Horn, who volunteered to make the introduction yesterday, told the room. He insisted she was the Premier to create a state he wanted his unborn child to grow up in.

“We want our child to grow up in a state … where we pull together, not apart.”

Ms Palaszczuk insisted she understood the frustrations of disillusioned voters but slammed One Nation for its stance on everything from gun laws to domestic violence to the GST and vaccinations – two major missteps made by Senator Pauline Hanson in the leadup to the WA elections in March.

“I know there are Queenslanders who are doing it tough. They feel insecure about their future and they feel insecure about their children’s futures.

“We can improve job security for all Queenslanders.”

Ms Palaszczuk repeatedly took aim at Mr Nicholls, continuing Labor’s campaign to link his electoral chances to those of One Nation.

“At the last election, Tim Nicholls tried to sell our assets. This election he’s selling out to Pauline Hanson and One Nation,” she said.

“Queenslanders stopped him last time and I know Queenslanders are ready to stop him again.”

The launch was attended by more than 300 people, including MPs and ministers past and present, and was held in a small room within the Gold Coast Convention Centre.

Ms Palaszczuk made five new policy announcements at the launch, pledging $ 107 million to improve teacher quality, $ 97 million for her Advance Queensland program, incentives of up to $ 20,000 for employers who hire mature- aged job- seekers, a six- month extension of the $ 20,000 first homeowner grant for new dwellings and $ 20 million to attract more international and domestic blockbusters to be filmed in Queensland.

Ms Palaszczuk repeatedly referenced the “savage cuts” of the former Newman government and their impact on regions where Labor faces losing seats, such as those in Townsville.

She spoke of the impact of Cyclone Debbie on areas like Whitsunday – a seat Labor is attempting to wrest back from the LNP.

Ms Palaszczuk will campaign in North Queensland again from today.