Queensland election 2015: Campbell Newman promises LNP will bring down water bills

Updated

One million south-east Queensland households will have their water bills lowered and young people will get a leg-up under a re-elected Liberal National Party (LNP) government.

Mr Newman launched his party's campaign for the January 31 state election in Brisbane today, announcing cost of living savings to be funded by asset leases.

A new policy announced today would wipe $52 off the water bills of one million south-east Queensland families next year and $47 the year after.

The LNP members most at risk MP Seat Margin Aaron Dillaway Bulimba 0.1 Anne Maddern Maryborough 0.3 Mike Latter Waterford 1.0 Neil Symes Lytton 1.6 Ian Kaye Greenslopes 2.5 Kerry Millard Sandgate 2.9 Jason Woodforth Nudgee 3.1 David Kempton Cook 3.4 Steve Davies Capalaba 3.7 Ian Berry Ipswich 4.2 Michael Pucci Logan 4.8 John Hathaway Townsville 4.8 Robert Cavallucci Brisbane Central 4.9 Saxon Rice Mount Coot-tha 5.4 Darren Grimwade Morayfield 5.6 Premier Campbell Newman Ashgrove 5.7



That came on top of a previous decision to fully subsidise the solar bonus scheme, which Mr Newman said could save the average household $577 over five years.

"This is real cost of living relief and is only possible with our Strong Choices plan (asset leases)," Mr Newman said.

Mr Newman also said today that the LNP would also invest $90 million into the research and entrepreneurship sector over the next three years.

A throng of young supporters sat behind Mr Newman for the launch to drive home his pitch to youth.

Hundreds of university scholarships for teaching degrees and free licences for well-behaved drivers would be offered to save them $118.

The party also pledged to build up to 22 new schools.

Mr Newman said that Queensland was at risk of a hung parliament, which had proven and economic disaster federally.

He urged Queenslander to vote one for the LNP instead of numbering every square for Labor, independents and minor parties.

"If we go off track now, the progress we are starting to see will be at risk," he said.

"The last thing Queensland needs is its own hung parliament, because it too will hang our future."

Mr Newman and his wife, Lisa, took their time while heading towards the stage, pausing for congratulatory hugs and handshakes with the party faithful.

Noticeably missing were Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who had been at Mr Newman's 2012 launch.

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss attended the event, however.

Mr Truss repeated Mr Abbott's statement that the Prime Minister would only visit Queensland for announcements that were joint initiatives with the federal government.

Mr Abbott is expected to return from holiday this week.

"I'm sure then he will look at his agenda and what's important on the national scene and also what's happening in Queensland," Mr Truss said.

LNP's promises not secure: Labor

Opposition leader Annastacia Palasczuk said a number of LNP policies could be at risk if it does not make enough money from privatising state-owned assets.

She said the LNP's promises were based on leasing government assets, and might not be followed through.

"We do not know, he's said himself, if we'll get value for money," she said.

"So what promises are going ahead and what's not?

"We simply do know."

Topics: elections, alp, liberal-national-party, qld

First posted