Queensland election: Federal Coalition MPs deny Tony Abbott's unpopularity will hurt Campbell Newman's re-election bid

Updated

Federal Coalition MPs from Queensland have denied the Federal Government's unpopularity will be a drag on their state LNP counterparts in the run-up to this month's state election.

The recent poor polling of the Abbott government was considered one factor in the Coalition's loss in the Victorian state election in November.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman's fortunes have changed since he led the party to a landslide victory in 2012, with polls indicating the LNP is now neck-and-neck with Labor.

However, federal Coalition MPs have cautioned against reading national implications into the state poll.

"I don't think you can, to be honest; I believe that Queenslanders vote on Queensland issues and I don't think it translates either way," Ryan MP Jane Prentice said.

"I really believe that Queenslanders will vote on the issues that affect them in Queensland. I don't see them saying, 'Oh this is happening federally therefore it must translate to Queensland'."

Ms Prentice said she hoped voters would acknowledge Mr Newman's efforts to address the unemployment rate.

"I just look at some of the infrastructure projects he's got online, some of the tourism projects, some of the mining projects — these are the areas which will create jobs for Queenslanders," she said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Moncrieff MP Steve Ciobo said the relationship between Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the Newman government could prove to be a positive for the LNP.

2015 election at a glance: Election will be held on January 31, almost two months early.

LNP government under Campbell Newman is seeking a second term.

It won 78 of 89 seats in March 2012 but has since had three MPs defect to minor parties, and two quit parliament.

Opposition under Annastacia Palaszczuk seeking to rebuild from only seven seats won in 2012 but has since picked up two more in by-elections.

LNP seeking a mandate to raise more than $33 billion by privatising assets to reduce debt and build new infrastructure.

Law and order will be a major issue in light of the LNP's contentious anti-gang laws.

The government is expected to campaign on its achievements in health, such as reducing waiting lists.

Katter's Australian Party has three seats but has languished in recent opinion polls.

The Palmer United Party had two MPs, but both have quit the party.

Pauline Hanson also running again.

"If Campbell Newman is re-elected — and I hope that he is because he's done an outstanding job of getting Queensland back on track — it'll be a real shot in the arm and an approval of some of the tough but fair decisions that Campbell Newman has had to take," he said.

"We see the close working relationship between Campbell Newman and Tony Abbott, so I think that's actually what it's going to be an endorsement of, and not implications any other way."

Mr Newman has warned Queenslanders they will be voting for "chaos", if they elect a minority Labor government supported by independents and minor parties.

Mr Ciobo said the Federal Parliament showed that was a real risk.

"We'll see the same kind of disquiet that happens in the Senate descend on Queensland if we were to see any sort of resounding vote for the Labor Party and the minor parties," Mr Ciobo said.

"In uncertain economic times I think people are especially sensitive to making sure they've got strong, stable government."

Election could see traditional Labor voters return to the fold



The ALP is keen to emphasise similarities between Mr Newman and Mr Abbott for political advantage, with former federal treasurer and Lilley MP Wayne Swan describing them as "two peas in a pod".

"There's probably no two conservative politicians in the country who are more alike, and their approach is similar," Mr Swan told AM.

"Mindless austerity, talking the economy down, sacking workers, driving industries out of the state — that's the record of the LNP, and up here in Queensland what that has meant is higher unemployment than we've had in many years."

Mr Swan said drawing a comparison to the former federal Labor government was bizarre.

"It's based on the fact that there's an electoral system in the Senate which doesn't exist in the lower house in Queensland," he said.

"Queensland has not had a strong history of electing bunches of independents to the lower house, far from it, and I don't think that's going to be any different."

Federal Labor MP for Blair Shayne Neumann said while he expected the election campaign to focus on state issues, he anticipated traditional Labor voters who had abandoned the party would return.

"Most people vote on state issues, but I think there's a real implication federally. I think people in traditional Labor heartland areas around Ipswich, Brisbane, Logan, etc. will see the implications with unemployment rising, see the cuts in funding and services and jobs both federally and state, and realise that's what LNP governments do," he said.

Topics: states-and-territories, state-parliament, parliament, government-and-politics, federal---state-issues, abbott-tony, qld, australia

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