Articles etc.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Leaders snub Coast

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Liberal National Party called to account on dumped accountability policy commitment ahead of Queensland election

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> No Campbell Newman? Lawrence Springborg next most popular pick for LNP leadership: Galaxy Poll

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 12th March 2012 page 5

Transport gets silent treatment

[somebody]

Scott Emerson to be on 612 at 7:15am this morning with an ALP MP.

[Golliwog]

Scott Emerson to be on 612 at 7:15am this morning with an ALP MP.

Anything happen?

[somebody]

No, ended up being about the Arts.  Sorry for the false alarm.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Campbell Newman's hit list for first 100 days in office revealed

[ozbob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=euXD65fLaaI

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> LNP unveils long-awaited costings

[ozbob]

Poll call Brisbanetimes

10.50am: In King Street, Caboolture's main drag, they are complaining about public transport costs, Tony Moore reports from the Bligh campaign trail.

And that's a telling story a few hundred metres from a major regional train station.

Caboolture is in the middle of the electorate of Pumicestone, held by Labor's Carryn Sullivan with a 5% margin.

Mitchell Flores is a crane "dogman" who is working on a building site at Bowen Hills. Five days a week he travels from Caboolture to Bowen Hills. His complaint is simple: He would rather catch the train, but it is $25 a week more expensive to do that than drive his car.

"It is just too dear," he says.

"It's good to have, but it's just too expensive at the moment."

Mitchell Flores has heard little of the election campaign and knows not much of pledges by both the ALP and the LNP to offer extra free journeys after a certain number of weekly trips, or by the LNP to cut fares by 7.5%.

"It's just too expensive, it really is," he said.

Mr Flores pays $14.30 on the train each day, or around $71 a week.

He would get a discount on Go Card, but politics is perception, and this voter's perception is it costs $50 a week in his car and $75 on the train.

"We've put on an extra trains in the mornings Mitchell," the MP said.

"But it is just hard when everybody wants to come up and live in this beautiful place."

The Premier listened long and hard. She probably thought about a detailed explanation of public transport subsidization and mode shift.

But instead she said simply:

"Let me have a look at it."

But on the day before a state election it is not an encouraging thing for Labor to be facing a basic cost increase question in a seat they hold with a 55 margin.

Particularly when your opponent is making much noise about cost of living increases

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/state-election-2012/poll-call-march-23-20120323-1vnl1.html

[colinw]

Typical politician. Answer the question they want to, not the actual one.  This distills to:

Voter: the train costs too much so I drive.
Polly #1: we've put on an extra train service.
Polly #2: noncommittal waffle about "looking into it".

Voter wanders off with question unanswered and votes for someone else.

[#Metro]

It is not possible to just put services on everywhere all the time. Things take time.
And we already knew the ALP did not have a Core Frequent Network policy in place, and WILFULY chose to ignore it at their own peril.

They even hid the frequency upgrades on the Darra line and refused to market it or anything. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!

The LNP took the CFN policy and ran with it - 15 minutes on Ferny Grove, and a promise to roll it out elsewhere on the network if the trial
succeeds (which it will!).

Not rocket science.

[SurfRail]

I really think that this has been the worst election campaign - local, State or Federal - that I have ever seen, from any of the parties.  Hands up those who agree!  

[ozbob]

[colinw]

+1

ALP seems to have comprehensively shot themselves in the foot.
LNP seems to be pitching itself as "we're not the other bastards".

None of us are any the wiser as to what the incoming Government will actually stand for.

I have never seen a campaign as devoid of meaningful policy debate or announcements.

Hands up if you know what an LNP Government will actually deliver.

[somebody]

I really think that this has been the worst election campaign - local, State or Federal - that I have ever seen, from any of the parties.  Hands up those who agree!  

It's the worst ever from Labour, but I wouldn't say that from the LNP.

LNP's last campaign was significantly worse.

[colinw]

A light hearted look at life on the campaign trail ...

Brisbane Times -> Next Stop: Insanity

...

In fact, Mr Newman would not be on the bus with us in the first place. He usually takes a car while the media take the bus and meet him at his mystery locations.

...

[Jonno]

A light hearted look at life on the campaign trail ...

Brisbane Times -> Next Stop: Insanity

...

In fact, Mr Newman would not be on the bus with us in the first place. He usually takes a car while the media take the bus and meet him at his mystery locations.

...

of course there is no way he would be seen on the "Looser Criusier"!!!!!  Smart people take cars. Unfortunates and Tree Hugggers take the bus!!

[Golliwog]

A light hearted look at life on the campaign trail ...

Brisbane Times -> Next Stop: Insanity

...

In fact, Mr Newman would not be on the bus with us in the first place. He usually takes a car while the media take the bus and meet him at his mystery locations.

...

I saw that. It's really becoming noticable that the LNP don't want to leave Campbell alone with the media for long periods. I don't think he's as over his angry 'little dictator' moments as the LNP want everyone to believe, prolonged questioning by the media I think would have had some interesting results. Though I read with dismay todays editorial in the CM saying they were on Campbell's side. So much for unbiased media...

[somebody]

Annastacia Palaszczuk favourite to lead Labor after Queensland election, according to Sportsbet

   From: AAP
   March 23, 2012 1:59PM

LABOR minister Annastacia Palaszczuk is the favourite to lead the party after Saturday's Queensland election.

Online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au has the transport and multicultural affairs minister as a $2.25 favourite.

Premier Anna Bligh is next at $3, followed by Environment Minister Vicki Darling ($6), Finance, Natural Resources and Arts Minister Rachel Nolan ($8) and Education Minister Cameron Dick ($12).

   For election results on the go, or as a second-screen on election night, visit our mobile-friendly election site @ couriermail.com.au/mpoll

Sportsbet has the LNP as a sure thing at $1.01, while Labor has drifted out to $17.

Centrebet also has the LNP at $1.01, with Labor at even longer odds at $21.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/annastacia-palaszczuk-favourite-to-lead-labor-after-queensland-election-according-to-sportsbet/story-fnbt5t29-1226308329370

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Anna Bligh set to quit politics - reports

Anna Bligh set to quit politics - reports

   From: The Courier-Mail
   March 25, 2012 11:21AM

ANNA Bligh is set to announce her resignation from the Queensland parliament.

Ms Bligh is expected to announce today she will force a byelection in her South Brisbane seat.

Political analysts have suggested Labor will parachute either Andrew Fraser or Cameron Dick into the seat after their lost their seats of Mount Coot-tha and Greenslopes in the LNP landslide.

No surprise ...   whomever is 'parachuted' will struggle to get elected I expect.

--> http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/

[#Metro]

No, that's such a bad idea! her margin was only 200 votes! She might lose South Brisbane too if they put in a high profile LNP candidate!

I think either an external leader or Annastacia should do go for it.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Campbell's checklist for state of change

[ozbob]

Media rolled ... lol

Couriermail --> Clive Palmer does not regret CIA conspiracy claims about Greens

Brisbanetimes --> Palmer does not regret CIA claims

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Palaszczuk 'has the numbers'

[Golliwog]

Media rolled ... lol

Couriermail --> Clive Palmer does not regret CIA conspiracy claims about Greens

Brisbanetimes --> Palmer does not regret CIA claims

I really don't understand why people listen to him, and I hope after this round of shenanigans, he gets much less coverage in the media.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Newman experiment unlikely to be repeated

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Palaszczuk to lead Labor

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> New Labor leader steels herself for battle ahead

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Premier Campbell Newman appoints former MP Michael Caltabiano as director general of department of Transport and Main Roads

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Newman appoints familiar faces

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> MP Fiona Simpson to be appointed Queensland Parliament's first female Speaker

[Cam]

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2012/04/02/jail-threat-to-teen-after-violent-attack/

Will the LNP be any tougher on crime?

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Campbell Newman's ministers sworn in at Government House ceremony

[somebody]

Will the LNP be any tougher on crime?

I don't think it's up to them.  Unless they introduce minimum sentences.  Judicial accountability may be a better option <ducks>.

[ozbob]

Twitter

12m Koren Helbig ‏ @korenhelbig

South Brisbane by-election will be held on April 28, the same day as the council election, Newman announces

[Golliwog]

Couriermail --> State budget to be delayed, says Newman

THE Queensland budget will be delayed by three months to allow for a major restructure of the government.

The budget will be delivered on September 11, instead of in June, Premier Campbell Newman says.

He says his government needs more time to undertake a major restructure of the state government.

"It will give the directors-general time with their ministers to establish those new departmental structures and then get the budgets right under those new structures,'' he told reporters in Brisbane on Monday.

"We want to make sure we can do this in a considered way.''

Mr Newman said his ministers were under pressure to save money.

An economic statement would be released in the interim, he said.

"Another reason for moving the date back is so we can get the commission of audit's views on those finances as well,'' he said.

A commission led by former federal treasurer Peter Costello is doing an independent audit of the state's finances.

[Golliwog]

Brisbanetime --> Queensland budget postponed to September

[Golliwog]

Up there in terms of shortest period of minister-ship?

Brisbanetimes --> Police minister resigns

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has lost his first minister less than a month after being elected, with David Gibson quitting as police minister amid claims he was caught driving unlicensed.

Mr Newman said tonight he had accepted the resignation of Mr Gibson as Police and Community Safety Minister, effective immediately.

"Late today Mr Gibson informed me that in November last year, due to an unpaid speeding fine his driver's licence was suspended for three months," Mr Newman said in a statement.
Advertisement: Story continues below

"During that time, it is alleged Mr Gibson on one occasion drove a motor vehicle and will now face a possible charge of unlicensed driving.

"Mr Gibson maintains he was unaware of the correspondence informing him of his licence suspension.

"However, Mr Gibson knows of the high standard I expect from my ministers, and so he has tendered his resignation, which I have accepted."

Mr Newman said he would appoint a new Police Minister tomorrow.