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Posted: 2024-10-25 10:47:21

In his final pitch to voters on the eve of the Queensland election, Premier Steven Miles says he wants to win a term in his "own right".

Mr Miles said he had "made the most of every day" as Labor leader following the resignation of former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last year.

A Newspoll published in Friday's Australian newspaper indicated the LNP's lead had narrowed significantly since the start of the election campaign.

Asked if he would be in a better position if Ms Palaszczuk had stepped aside sooner to allow voters more time to get to know him, Mr Miles replied: "It's not really possible to kind of go back in time and reassess what might have happened.

"What I know is I've made the most of every day I've had the chance," he told ABC News presenter Ellen Fanning.

"What I'm asking for tomorrow is a mandate to keep doing the kinds of things I've been doing these last 10 months."

Pressed on some of his election pledges, and whether they were "the sorts of promises that you make when you don't expect to govern", the Labor leader conceded there would be some "complications".

Fanning: You promised 1.4 billion for school lunches. Principals are worried about how to deliver it. You even suggested Meals on Wheels might come to the rescue … Are these the sorts of promises that you make when you don't expect to govern, you don't expect to have to deliver?

Miles: Not at all. That's the kind of scepticism I got when I announced 50-cent fares, and they've been enormously successful … Sure, there'll be complications. There'll be some schools where it's harder than others. Some schools will have to outsource it. Some will deliver it like we do on Mornington Island. But I think that's something we're capable of.

Asked if he still hoped to become Queensland premier in the future if Labor loses, Mr Miles said: "That's something to worry about on Sunday."

"I haven't had much time to turn my mind to that. 

"I've been very focused on winning every vote."

Meanwhile, LNP leader David Crisafulli has shifted the goalposts on his vow to resign if he wins but fails to lower victim of crime numbers in his first term of office.

Hours after he placed a caveat on the election commitment by tying it to population growth, Fanning asked Mr Crisafulli whether he would still be held accountable to the pledge.

"No, absolutely I stand by that commitment," he said.

Fanning: What I'm asking you very clearly on election eve is, what is your pledge? If the number of people victimised from youth crime, domestic and family violence, if the raw numbers go up in this state while you are premier, will you resign?

Crisafulli: I've said very clearly … when you factor in the fact that the population over that [nine-year] period has grown by less than 20 per cent and yet we've had assaults up by 198 per cent, we've had stolen cars up 101 per cent, that shows you why there are more victims of crime."

Questioned about Friday's polling — showing a much narrower LNP victory, on a two-party-preferred result of 52.5 per cent to the LNP and 47.5 per cent to Labor — Mr Crisafulli said "elections are always tough".

"Queenslanders need to know we are offering a fresh start for them," he said.

"If Queenslanders want that fresh start, they've got to vote for change."

Questioned again on the vexed topic of abortion, Mr Crisafulli insisted that current laws would not change under his government, but again avoided answering the question of whether LNP MPs would be granted a conscience vote on the matter.

The matter became a major talking point during the campaign after Katter's Australian Party leader Robbie Katter vowed to introduce a private members bill into the next parliament to roll back abortion decriminalisation.

"You mentioned about whether or not there might be another [abortion] bill — well the Katters, who said they were going to do that, have withdrawn that," Mr Crisafulli said.

"And yet the scare campaign from the Labor party has continued.

"There will be no change to abortion laws in Queensland.

"All of my team have backed in that position and in the end that's what Queenslanders need to know."

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