Abbott set for low-key role in Queensland election campaign

Date
    January 6, 2015
    The Age

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has declared this month's state election is "not about Tony Abbott", as Liberal National Party insiders said the last thing the party would want is for the Prime Minister to play a prominent role in the campaign.

Mr Newman called a snap election on Tuesday for January 31, earlier than had been expected. The Liberal National Party holds 73 seats in the Queensland Parliament, compared to nine for Labor, but recent polls have put the parties neck-and-neck.

Mr Abbott made few campaign appearances before the November Victorian state election, where the Napthine government's defeat was widely attributed, at least in part, to the federal government's unpopularity.   :)


"He is more than welcome to come up here," Mr Newman said when asked about Mr Abbott's role in the Queensland campaign. "I would see him being here if we have a particular announcement about some sort of federal support - it could be to an infrastructure project or some policy to benefit Queenslanders. But I make the point: this campaign is about state issues and the performance of the strong LNP team. It is not about Tony Abbott."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who described Mr Abbott as "box office poison", is expected to travel to Queensland this weekend and continue campaigning there next week.

A spokesman for Mr Abbott said the Prime Minister would consider his role in the campaign when he returned from a trip to the Middle East later this week.

One federal Queensland MP said: "The last thing the LNP would want to do is get Abbott involved in campaign.   ;D 

"If the campaign is looking good his advisers will say, 'Get up there and claim some credit'. He will put in some appearances but he will not be a major part of campaign."

Wyatt Roy, the federal member for Longman, said: "Unlike Labor, Campbell has a clear plan for Queensland and I'm sure that will be the focus of the campaign.

"More than anywhere else, except in Western Australia, state issues dominate in Queensland."

Warren Entsch, the member for Leichhardt, said: "The Prime Minister has a positive relationship with the premier, but I'm sure Campbell Newman will be running on his own strengths."

Queensland LNP Senator Ian MacDonald said: "I think this election will be fought on state issues."

All the MPs nominated jobs, the economy and cost of living as key election issues.

Mr Newman said he called the election early to give business certainty, not because Labor had been gaining ground in the polls.

The LNP is going to the election with a plan to sell long-term leases for state-owned ports, power generators and an electricity retailer. Mr Newman has said the plan will raise $37 billion, with $8.6 billion to be spent on infrastructure and $3.4 billion on cost of living relief.

As well as axing 14,000 public service jobs, Mr Newman has overseen the approval of big new mining projects, such as in the Galilee Basin.   :(

While the state's economy is growing, the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows Queensland has the equal-highest unemployment rate in the nation at 6.9 per cent.

Mr Newman has not ruled out parachuting into a safe seat if he loses his marginal seat of Ashgrove to former Labor minister Kate Jones.

Mr Shorten said: "Tony Abbott is box office poison in Queensland, just like he was box office poison during the Victorian and South Australian election campaigns.   ;D

"Campbell Newman wrote the playbook for Tony Abbott with his brutal cuts to hospitals, commission of cuts and jobs-for-the-boys board appointments."

Newman knows he's on the nose, he also knows that Tony is more on the nose, that's why the Qld election "is not about Abbott"....he doesn't want it sabotaged.

Sounds a bit like asserting State's Rights right there.... thing is - the senate is doing that right now.... that's partly why we have a Senate.. to curtail movements towards secession.. and that ain't just whistlin' dixie...


... as the Superbudget A2014 entered the terminal stage of its final plunge, the overspeed warning is heard over and over again on the CVR.... then complete silence as the Abbottliner Economy Class tore itself to pieces before plunging into the ground, killing all on board except for the politicians and their mates in their recession proof capsules.......

Interesting that Newman thinks that Abbott is even worse than himself.

Most people would have to toss a coin to choose.

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

Quote:

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 now 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 hopes voters will 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. "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 will return. "Most people vote on state issues, but I think there's a real implication federally, and 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.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 7:11am:

Newman knows he's on the nose, he also knows that Tony is more on the nose, that's why the Qld election "is not about Abbott"....he doesn't want it sabotaged.

Yeh how come there is no sign of Abort in this election campaign ? Maybe they'll send in Julie Bishop just like they did with Victoria. Didn't help though :D LOL

Sir lastnail wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 10:46am:

Yeh how come there is no sign of Abort in this election campaign ?

The campaign is only in its first day and Abbott is currently overseas.

Shorten won't get an invite to QLD. No one wants to be seen with that clueless hack.

Will Abbott make an appearance in QLD?

Or is he too busy spending taxpayers money on visiting his daughter in Europe?




http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/i/z/2/q/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.12im2l.png/1420549278040.jpg

Wise move, Queensland.


http://api.ning.com/files/40Fwj-z8r6W95H91Hgou9JocEXINnoBSwfzwoorAcbc-WphkbVDaO5n2HWVadOC-VuX9kzyDDVN8ADuj02vr0a*iOLXQiEFn/no_monkey_zone2.jpg

Will the Abbott factor play a role in Newman losing his own seat?

The bookies reckon he will lose his seat:

Queensland election: ALP's Kate Jones says Premier Campbell Newman's seat will go down to the wire

Julius Abbott wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 2:52pm:

Will the Abbott factor play a role in Newman losing his own seat? The bookies reckon he will lose his seat: Queensland election: ALP's Kate Jones says Premier Campbell Newman's seat will go down to the wire

She would be very foolish to say anything other than that.  She is also taking a very low schmedia profile, and is working very personally hard door knocking that electorate.  She is liked in Ashgrove.  Newman stinks there and everywhere, including at LNP tea parties held by the Liberal Lovelies.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 7:11am:

Newman knows he's on the nose, he also knows that Tony is more on the nose, that's why the Qld election "is not about Abbott"....he doesn't want it sabotaged.

what gets me...

is that people are so stupid, that they throw out a good state government for a crap one on federal issues..

I mean.. how bloody stupid could you be?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 11:35am:

Shorten won't get an invite to QLD. No one wants to be seen with that clueless hack.

yeah but I bet he turns up last minute if Labor were to win...

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 3:05pm:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 7:11am: Newman knows he's on the nose, he also knows that Tony is more on the nose, that's why the Qld election "is not about Abbott"....he doesn't want it sabotaged. what gets me... is that people are so stupid, that they throw out a good state government for a crap one on federal issues.. I mean.. how bloody stupid could you be?

Newmann is toast with or without Federal issues, or Abbott.  There are plenty of State issues which will see him booted well out of Ashgrove and his Government taken to the wire.

Bam wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 11:09am:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 10:46am: Yeh how come there is no sign of Abort in this election campaign ? The campaign is only in its first day and Abbott is currently overseas.

nails seems to be having a bad week..

he seems to be clueless in every topic he's touched of late...  ::)

Aussie wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 3:09pm:

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:05pm: Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 7:11am: Newman knows he's on the nose, he also knows that Tony is more on the nose, that's why the Qld election "is not about Abbott"....he doesn't want it sabotaged. what gets me... is that people are so stupid, that they throw out a good state government for a crap one on federal issues.. I mean.. how bloody stupid could you be? Newmann is toast with or without Federal issues, or Abbott.  There are plenty of State issues which will see him booted well out of Ashgrove and his Government taken to the wire.

the issues are...

that Labor ran up massive debt and once again... the Liberals have to be the "BAD" guys in tightening up the budget belt...

why do the Labor/Green coalition supporter think that its ok to pass on massive debt to future generations??

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 3:12pm:

Aussie wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:09pm: President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:05pm: Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 7:11am: Newman knows he's on the nose, he also knows that Tony is more on the nose, that's why the Qld election "is not about Abbott"....he doesn't want it sabotaged. what gets me... is that people are so stupid, that they throw out a good state government for a crap one on federal issues.. I mean.. how bloody stupid could you be? Newmann is toast with or without Federal issues, or Abbott.  There are plenty of State issues which will see him booted well out of Ashgrove and his Government taken to the wire. the issues are... that Labor ran up massive debt and once again... the Liberals have to be the "BAD" guys in tightening up the budget belt... why do the Labor/Green coalition supporter think that its ok to pass on massive debt to future generations??

The major issue according to an APN Poll is Government arrogance.  Check any ANP rag in Queensland and you see that.

22% say Government arrogance.
17% say economy and jobs (meaning they are unhappy with the state of the economy and jobs).
16% say cost of living.

All going against Newmann and his poo heap of a Government.

Aussie wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 3:14pm:

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:12pm: Aussie wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:09pm: President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:05pm: Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 7:11am: Newman knows he's on the nose, he also knows that Tony is more on the nose, that's why the Qld election "is not about Abbott"....he doesn't want it sabotaged. what gets me... is that people are so stupid, that they throw out a good state government for a crap one on federal issues.. I mean.. how bloody stupid could you be? Newmann is toast with or without Federal issues, or Abbott.  There are plenty of State issues which will see him booted well out of Ashgrove and his Government taken to the wire. the issues are... that Labor ran up massive debt and once again... the Liberals have to be the "BAD" guys in tightening up the budget belt... why do the Labor/Green coalition supporter think that its ok to pass on massive debt to future generations?? The major issue according to an APN Poll is Government arrogance.  Check any ANP rag in Queensland and you see that.

that's how the media got Jeff Kennett years ago...

they kept playing that the government was "arrogant" on a daily basis and the sheeples swallowed it hook line and sinker...

he led a great government that pulled Victoria out of a massive recession..

next.. we got a dickhead labor government, again, that peed away billions of tax payers dollars on stupid worthless projects and bumbling...

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 3:19pm:

Aussie wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:14pm: President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:12pm: Aussie wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:09pm: President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:05pm: Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 7:11am: Newman knows he's on the nose, he also knows that Tony is more on the nose, that's why the Qld election "is not about Abbott"....he doesn't want it sabotaged. what gets me... is that people are so stupid, that they throw out a good state government for a crap one on federal issues.. I mean.. how bloody stupid could you be? Newmann is toast with or without Federal issues, or Abbott.  There are plenty of State issues which will see him booted well out of Ashgrove and his Government taken to the wire. the issues are... that Labor ran up massive debt and once again... the Liberals have to be the "BAD" guys in tightening up the budget belt... why do the Labor/Green coalition supporter think that its ok to pass on massive debt to future generations?? The major issue according to an APN Poll is Government arrogance.  Check any ANP rag in Queensland and you see that. that's how the media got Jeff Kennett years ago... they kept playing that the government was "arrogant" on a daily basis and the sheeples swallowed it hook line and sinker...

It's easy to sell the message that Kennett is arrogant if he does something really stupid like gagging his own ministers during an election campaign. It was all about ... HIM. Not his team, not the party.

Bam wrote on Jan 7^th, 2015 at 5:10pm:

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:19pm: Aussie wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:14pm: President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:12pm: Aussie wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:09pm: President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 3:05pm: Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jan 7th, 2015 at 7:11am: Newman knows he's on the nose, he also knows that Tony is more on the nose, that's why the Qld election "is not about Abbott"....he doesn't want it sabotaged. what gets me... is that people are so stupid, that they throw out a good state government for a crap one on federal issues.. I mean.. how bloody stupid could you be? Newmann is toast with or without Federal issues, or Abbott.  There are plenty of State issues which will see him booted well out of Ashgrove and his Government taken to the wire. the issues are... that Labor ran up massive debt and once again... the Liberals have to be the "BAD" guys in tightening up the budget belt... why do the Labor/Green coalition supporter think that its ok to pass on massive debt to future generations?? The major issue according to an APN Poll is Government arrogance.  Check any ANP rag in Queensland and you see that. that's how the media got Jeff Kennett years ago... they kept playing that the government was "arrogant" on a daily basis and the sheeples swallowed it hook line and sinker... It's easy to sell the message that Kennett is arrogant if he does something really stupid like gagging his own ministers during an election campaign. It was all about ... HIM. Not his team, not the party.

Yes there was the gagging of ministers during the election campaign. There was also Kennett literally shovelling dirt into the faces of journalists - not to mention the closure of schools and services, etc.


Quote:

He shovelled sand in the faces of hapless journalists at a media conference www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/editorial/two-decades-on-jeff-kennetts-legacy-lingers-20121002-26xob.html

Quote:

Some 45,000 jobs were cut from the state's bureaucracy, hospital funding was slashed, and more than 300 government schools were closed - many in suburbs which today desperately crave facilities - and a range of entitlements were stripped from state-based industrial awards. Mr Kennett later conceded his strategy was to hit the labour movement with so many issues simultaneously that it would fragment and struggle to ''coalesce'' on any single issue. www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/editorial/two-decades-on-jeff-kennetts-legacy-lingers-20121002-26xob.html

Quote:

Mr Kennett now admits that, in his fervour to effect change, he failed to fully grasp the social implications. www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/editorial/two-decades-on-jeff-kennetts-legacy-lingers-20121002-26xob.html

Quote:

Hudson Conway was awarded the state's sole casino licence in highly controversial circumstances www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/editorial/two-decades-on-jeff-kennetts-legacy-lingers-20121002-26xob.html

I actually enrolled to vote in the 1999 election in order to vote the arrogant Kennett out - this was after being an ardent Liberal Party supporter my whole life up to that point (yes you can be a supporter of a political party, and not be registered to vote)