LNP leader and Labor premier face off in second leaders debate ahead of Queensland election day on 26 October
Get our breaking news email,free app or daily news podcastAndrew MessengerWed 16 Oct 2024 02.57 EDTLast modified on Wed 16 Oct 2024 03.28 EDTShareLiberal National party leader David Crisafulli has said he will repeal Queensland’s developer donation ban and change the state’s “corrupt” full preferential voting system if elected premier this month, as he faced off with Steven Miles in the second leaders debate.
In response to a reporter’s question about whether the conservative party would repeal the state’s legislated ban on political donations from property developers and industry bodies which have property developers as most of their members, Crisafulli said: “You bet … because it’s fundamentally and philosophically an electoral, financial gerrymander.”
Queensland premier will hold plebiscite on nuclear power if he wins state electionRead moreThe opposition leader accused Labor of creating a “special rule for developers and a different one for unions”.
Labor banned all donations from property developers to candidates at both local and state elections in 2018. The LNP opposed the legislation at the time and since.
Despite the ban, donations linked to developers are still being made. Guardian Australia revealed at the start of the campaign that companies with ties to property developers had given half a million dollars to the major parties, with experts warning the laws were “failing”.
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Crisafulli said he would also aim to change the full preferential voting system, which he labelled “corrupt”, back to optional preferential voting.
Under the current system, it is compulsory for voters to number all boxes on the ballot paper in order of their preference or their vote is not counted.
“Preferences should not be a thing in Queensland elections, and it won’t be if government changes,” he said.
Both Miles and Crisafulli were asked if they wanted to see record house prices in Brisbane decline, with the city facing an unprecedented housing crisis.
Earlier this year, the state capital beat Canberra to become the country’s second most expensive city behind Sydney, with a median house value of $937,479.
Miles simply said “yes they are”.
“Yes, because wages don’t match the cost of doing it, and there’s only one way to fix it, and it’s supply,” Crisafulli said.
He said there had been 29% fewer “lots” approved in the last decade and that “we need more supply in all forms”.
Wednesday’s was the second of three debates.
In the first, Crisafulli promised to step down as premier if elected and unable to reduce the number of victims of crime in Queensland below 289,657 by the end of his first term.
Miles aimed his attack at his opponent’s integrity, including on the issues of abortion rights and nuclear power.
Abortion wasn’t on the Queensland election agenda. So why is it now a threat to the LNP campaign?Read more“He can’t give an honest answer about what he believes when it comes to women’s reproductive rights, despite being asked 131 times now,” he said.
“He can’t give an honest answer on how many small pumped hydros will be needed to replace the big one he intends to cancel, nor answer a simple question about what he believes on nuclear power.”
Crisafulli was asked to expand the resignation promise to cover a “personal guarantee” that there would not be changes to the state’s abortion legislation under his government, but did not.
“I want every person in this room to know that we are not changing that law,” Crisafulli said, joking that he had now been asked 132 times about the issue.
The LNP leader has yet to rule out allowing a conscience vote on a mooted private member’s bill to be introduced by the Katters’ Australian party or say which way he would vote.
Early voting is under way in the Queensland election, with polling day on 26 October.
