The countdown to the Queensland election is on, with the opposition set to officially launch its campaign.
While the Liberal National Party is yet to unveil its economic plan ahead of Sunday’s launch, it has plenty to celebrate.
Polling indicates the LNP will end Labor’s nine-year reign when voters cast their ballots on Saturday, with leader David Crisafulli in prime position to become the state’s next premier.
He has consistently led in the polls since former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tearfully resigned in December and successor Steven Miles took office.
If he wins, Mr Crisafulli will become the LNP’s first premier since Campbell Newman’s 2012-15 stint after campaigning hard on health, housing, the cost of living and crime.
But he has come under fire for failing to reveal his costings, with Labor claiming the LNP leader has made $17 billion in unfunded election commitments.
Mr Crisafulli is yet to outline his party’s economic plan and total costs after being repeatedly asked during the past three weeks.
Queenslanders have begun voting without knowing LNP costings since pre-polling opened on October 14.
“The LNP’s campaign is based on a series of lies,” Mr Miles said.
“The biggest lie is when it comes to their costings – they are lying to Queenslanders.
“They are saying that you can spend $17.1 billion more, cut taxes and cut debt, but they won’t tell you what they will cut to pay for it.”
Mr Miles said the LNP was deliberately delaying releasing its economic plan.
“If they were honest, they would release their costings now,” he said.
“They’re trying to hide them to the last minute because their entire campaign is based on a lie.”
A media blackout on advertising kicks in on Thursday, forbidding broadcasters from showing any election advertisements ahead of polling day.
Opposition treasury spokesperson David Janetzki was recently pressed on costings and when the LNP would release its economic plan.
“Every opposition since time began have generally released, have always in fact, released their costings after their final announcement,” he told ABC Radio.
Treasurer Cameron Dick described Mr Janetzki’s radio performance as a “train wreck”.
“That is disrespectful to train wrecks because a train needs … forward movement before it can run off the rails,” he said.
