The Queensland Authorities’s choice to reopen the state’s border to the ACT will probably be an enormous fillip for the LNP with Prime Minister Scott Morrison now in a position to go on the hustings on the state election, says a senior political commentator.
Labor on Friday modified its long-held place of solely reviewing border closures on the finish of every month when Deputy Premier Steven Miles introduced the state would welcome guests from the ACT from subsequent Friday.
Nonetheless, they will solely arrive by airplane and will need to have remained solely throughout the ACT for 14 consecutive days beforehand.
Griffith College’s political commentator Dr Paul Williams mentioned if federal politicians had not been on the hustings it might have severely damage LNP chief Deb Frecklington’s probabilities of toppling Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on the October 31 election.
He mentioned the PM had rapport with nation voters, as did Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. He mentioned opposition chief Deb Frecklington had failed to chop by way of in regional areas.
Mr Morrison confirmed his appreciation for Queenslanders after his shock election victory in Could final yr when he trumpeted: “How good’s Queensland?” at his victory speech to the chants of “Queensland! Queensland! Queensland!” from supporters.
“Morrison clearly has pulling energy throughout the nation due to his elevated esteem from case administration of the pandemic, particularly in regional Queensland the place he’s nonetheless very talked-about,” Mr Williams informed NCA NewsWire.
“If Morrison, Frydenberg and a few different excessive performers couldn’t marketing campaign in regional Queensland it might be problematic for Deb Frecklington.
“There can be a battle for traction even in regional Queensland the place the occasion does not battle, however she does.”
He mentioned Labor’s federal opposition chief Anthony Albanese wouldn’t have “the identical pull” on the hustings for Ms Palaszczuk.
Ms Palaszczuk informed reporters that Mr Morrison “can come if he desires, it doesn’t fear me’ to marketing campaign on behalf of the LNP.
Had the borders stay shut and no federal politicians have been on the hustings then that will have labored extra in Labor’s favour, Mr Williams mentioned.
Regardless that federal politicians are permitted to journey to Queensland from the ACT, offered they’ve spent 14 consecutive days within the nation’s ‘capital’, it might not essentially add so much color to the election marketing campaign.
Mr Williams believes the state election will probably be as vanilla because the March Brisbane Metropolis Council election when pre-poll and postal voting was massively excessive.
Nearly 4 occasions the variety of voters had visited pre-poll stations within the first two days they have been opened in comparison with the primary two days of the 2016 native authorities elections.
Electoral Fee Queensland (ECQ) has already opened functions for postal voting.
“It‘s going to be a really boring marketing campaign, to not dissimilar to the BCC marketing campaign,” Mr Williams mentioned.
“The ECQ is saying as much as 60 per cent however I most likely would not go that prime, possibly 50 per cent pre-poll and postals mixed.
“Early voters are usually engaged voters who’re most likely rusted on voters, and particularly those that have an axe to grind in opposition to the Palaszczuk authorities.”
Initially revealed as How Qld border switch could backfire
