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The LNP denies it has referred leader Deb Frecklington to the electoral watchdog over a series of fundraisers, while experts warn the major parties are facing a "fractured" electorate.
Scott Morrison has been in Queensland for four days now, ostensibly to help out the LNP's state election campaign.
He's attending a fundraiser today in Brisbane with Deb Frecklington, but the pair spent the day apart yesterday and much of the coverage while the PM has been in town has been on federal issues.
What do you think? Has the PM helped or hurt Deb Frecklington's campaign with his appearance on the hustings this week?
The LNP suffered a horror day on the campaign trail today, with a report by the ABC published this morning suggesting the party had referred its leader Deb Frecklington to the electoral watchdog over fundraising meetings.
The LNP strongly denied it had referred Ms Frecklington personally, saying the party ”regularly communicated with the ECQ to ensure that we comply with the Act."
Ms Frecklington was left to fend off questions on the issue, which overshadowed her campaign announcement for the day - the removal of a tax on caravan owners.
In one of the most egregious examples of bad timing on an election campaign ever, Ms Frecklington was also the co-host of a $1500-a-head fundraising lunch with Prime Minister Scott Morrison today.
"I stand by my integrity.”
-Deb Frecklington, in response to a media report that she had been referred to the electoral watchdog over fundraising meetings, something the LNP strongly denies.
"If he wants to come, I'm more than happy but I don't need someone to hold my hand for a week."
-Annastacia Palaszczuk on whether she would appreciate a campaign visit from her colleague, federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese.
The LNP and Greens have found some rare middle ground, with both arguing Queensland residents should have more say in planning decisions made in their neighbourhoods.
READ MORE: Greens pledge reform with 'citizen juries' to shape neighbourhoods
In the lead-up to the October state election, the Greens released a detailed planning policy platform that includes pledges to make height limits binding and trial "citizen juries" to develop neighbourhood plans.
The LNP has also said the planning system is "broken", with opposition planning spokesman Andrew Powell saying communities were "losing out" as Labor "passes regulations that take control of planning and development decisions away from locals".
Queensland’s corruption watchdog boss has warned elected members and candidates to be “alert” to the actions of some in the private sector to influence them, with property developer donations banned for the first time at a state election.
In an open letter released on Tuesday, Crime and Corruption Commission chairperson Alan MacSporran, QC, pointed to the watchdog’s high-profile Operation Belcarra investigation and recommended property developer ban, warning the lead-up to an election could be a “high-risk” period for those holding or seeking office.
“It is important that elected officials and candidates are aware of their obligations when it comes to disclosing donations and the prohibited donor scheme,” Mr MacSporran said.
“Elected officials and candidates should be alert to the strategies and tactics that may be used by some in the private sector to buy or exert influence.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk caught the Tilt Train from Bundaberg to Gladstone on Tuesday afternoon after campaigning in Maryborough.
While the Premier travelled by rail and was due to arrive in Gladstone by late afternoon, most of the following press pack instead made the short 30-minute flight from Hervey Bay to Gladstone.
To say Gladstone is a safe Labor seat is an understatement, with Labor MP Glenn Butcher securing 70 per cent of the vote at the 2017 election, after preferences.
The Premier’s team and accompanying media will stay overnight in Gladstone ahead of campaigning tomorrow.
The LNP campaign will jet to Mackay this afternoon to kick off day nine of the campaign from central Queensland.
Labor has held the seat since it was formed in 1950 and only suffered a small swing against it at the 2017 election when Adani was front of mind.
At the last poll Labor scored 42.9 per cent of the primary vote followed by the LNP on 24.7 per cent and One Nation on 22.6 per cent.
The city is home to the largest bulk sugar port in the world and is the coal capital of Queensland.
The LNP’s Chris Bonanno and One Nation’s Christine Keys will attempt to unseat incumbent Julieanne Gilbert.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he knows nothing about a media report claiming the LNP referred Ms Frecklington to the Electoral Commission of Queensland over concerns about a series of fundraisers she attended.
The ABC made the report on Tuesday, prompting a firm rejection from the LNP.
"The ABC's allegation that the LNP has referred Deb Frecklington to the ECQ is false. It has not," a party spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The LNP regularly communicated with the ECQ to ensure that we comply with the Act."
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has brushed off suggestions federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese should join here on the campaign trail.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been in Queensland for the last few days, ostensibly to help LNP leader Deb Frecklington’s campaign, although Mr Morrison has done a number of separate media events as well.
Asked on Tuesday why Mr Albanese hadn’t made an appearance on the hustings yet, Ms Palaszczuk said she wasn’t relying on her federal colleague’s support.
“If Anthony Albanese wants to come, I'm more than happy to have him here,” Ms Palkaszczuk said.
“If he wants to come, I'm more than happy but I don't need someone to hold my hand for a week.”
During the campaign, Brisbane Times is running our Ask a Reporter feature, where we'll endeavour to answer all your questions about the campaign, big or small. All the answers can be found here.
Glenn D Amezdroz asks: Amy MacMahon has a large billboard near the Gabba displaying a slogan that the Greens don't access funding from large corporations. Can this be fact-checked, please? Where do the Greens get their funding?
Brisbane Times PM editor Cameron Atfield answers: According to Electoral Commission of Queensland disclosures, the biggest single contributor to the Queensland Greens over the past four years has been reclusive mathematician (and professional punter) Duncan Turpie, who has forked out at least $200,000.
The second-biggest contributor to the Queensland Greens is.... the Australian Greens. They have sent more than $200,000 north in the past four years. So did the national body accept any corporate dollars? Not directly, according to Australian Electoral Commission disclosures, with most money coming from various state branches.
The state government has matched the $15 million pledge by its federal counterpart to give Ballymore Stadium in inner-Brisbane a $30 million facelift.
The money will create a new Queensland Rugby Union high-performance centre and see the Australian women’s rugby union team – the Wallaroos – move and call Ballymore their home alongside the Queensland Reds.
“It is our intention to put some money into upgrading Ballymore, it is something that has been raised and we are keen to do that,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in Maryborough on Tuesday.
The centre will become the centrepiece of a redevelopment of Ballymore as an elite sports precinct, with the renovation to start in April 2021 and finish in 2022.