Roy Morgan Research
October 27, 2020

Detailed Queensland elector concerns about a re-elected ALP Government or a potential LNP Government

Topic: Press Release, State Poll
Finding No: 8551
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Roy Morgan conducted extensive qualitative and quantitative research with Queenslanders about their concerns over either a re-elected ALP Government led by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk or a potential LNP Government led by Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington in the run-up to this week’s Queensland election.

Interviewing for this survey was conducted with a representative cross-section of 1,187 Queensland electors from October 12-15, 2020 via SMS polling.

The key findings of this research are highlighted here with an extensive list of verbatim responses from Queenslanders below.

Queensland elector concerns about a re-elected ALP Government

LNP supporters are concerned about the poor economic management, spending, lack of integrity and corruption of a re-elected ALP Government

LNP supporters are concerned about a re-elected ALP Government’s poor economic management and reckless spending, about the lack of integrity and corruption of the ALP and its union allies (exemplified by former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad) as well as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk herself.

Other LNP supporters are simply concerned about everything to do with the ALP Government as well as their policies on the border and how that’s impacting the Queensland economy.

ALP supporters are most concerned a re-elected ALP Government will face hurdles to governing from a potential hung parliament as well as Federal Government interference

Most ALP supporters express no concerns about a re-elected ALP Government, but those concerns that do come through relate to political issues a re-elected Government could face if it is forced into a minority government via a hung parliament or continued squabbling with the Federal Government into the future.

Supporters of the Greens are worried about the ALP’s support for coal mining while One Nation and Katter Party supporters mention dishonesty, wasteful spending and the ‘far left’

Supporters of the Greens are most concerned about a re-elected ALP Government’s environmental policies and particularly regarding their support for coal mining and lack of action on climate change.

In contrast, supporters of other minor parties such as One Nation and Katter’s Australian party refer to the economic damage and dishonesty of the far left, control by unions and wasteful spending of money.

Queensland elector concerns about a potential LNP Government

ALP supporters are concerned about the quality of leadership of a potential LNP Government as well as their plans to cut services and cut public service jobs

There were several consistent themes that emerged from when ALP supporters voiced their concerns about a potential LNP Government in Queensland with public service job cuts cited by many as well as broader cuts to services such as health, infrastructure and generally.

ALP supporters also questioned the leadership skills of LNP Leader Deb Frecklington as well as alleged corruption in a potential LNP Government and many worried about the LNP’s environmental policies.

LNP supporters biggest concern about an LNP Government is Frecklington’s leadership

Unsurprisingly, most LNP supporters said they had no concerns about a potential LNP Government, but the concerns that did come through from supporters were those questioning the leadership abilities of Deb Frecklington as well as the related issue of the LNP not being ready to govern and being inexperienced.

Supporters of the Greens express concern about the LNP’s environmental policies while One Nation and Katter Party supporters are worried about their leadership

Supporters of minor parties such as the Greens brought up the LNP’s support of coal mining and their environmental policies as a concern while supporters of One Nation and Katter’s Australian Party brought up Deb Frecklington’s leadership – or lack of it.

Michele Levine, CEO Roy Morgan, says the ALP Government in Queensland is benefiting from the emergency Federal support provided to cushion the blow from COVID-19 and is favoured to retain Government at this week’s election:

“The support provided by the Federal Government in the form of JobKeeper and increased JobSeeker payments, as well as the ban on rental evictions and the deferral of mortgage payments for those in financial hardship, has provided a great deal of support for the Queensland economy this year that gives the ALP Government the edge as it seeks re-election.

“These measures mean the full economic impact of COVID-19 has yet to be truly felt in Queensland and offer something of a ‘false economy’ that will run out in mid-2021 – well after this year’s election.

“However, there are still key concerns that are raised about a re-elected ALP Government. LNP supporters are concerned about the economic management of the ALP and the potential for excessive and wasteful spending. LNP supporters also raised the spectre of corruption following the demotion of former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad under pressure due to an investigation by the Crime & Corruption Commission (CCC).

“In contrast ALP supporters are most concerned about the potential for Federal Government interference to frustrate the ability of the State ALP Government to govern and enact it’s policies.

“The biggest concerns ALP supporters have about a potential LNP Government is the expected cuts to the public service which will also mean the loss of jobs. Several respondents mentioned concern for their own job if an LNP Government were elected.

“The other issue raised about an LNP Government is the lack of experience on the opposition benches and questions about LNP Leader Deb Frecklington’s leadership skills. Frecklington’s leadership abilities were not only raised by ALP supporters but were also the main issue put forward by LNP voters who plan on voting for her regardless.

“For a detailed analysis of this week’s Queensland Election and what is driving the electorate in the sunshine state I encourage readers to listen to this interview I had with the ABC’s ‘Matters of State’ that explores the state of the race and the latest Roy Morgan Queensland polling results.” 

Interviewing for this survey was conducted with a representative cross-section of 1,187 Queensland electors from October 12-15, 2020 via SMS polling. Electors were asked: ‘What, if anything, concerns you about a re-elected ALP Government?’ or ‘What, if anything, concerns you about a potential LNP Government?’

Click here to listen to the full interview between Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine and ABC’s Matters of State from 3:40: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/matters-of-state/what-voters-fear-most-about-lnp-or-labor-after-qld-election/12808194

ALP supporters are concerned about the quality of leadership of a potential LNP Government as well as their plans to cut services and cut public service jobs

There were several consistent themes that emerged from when ALP supporters voiced their concerns about a potential LNP Government in Queensland with public service job cuts cited by many as well as broader cuts to services such as health, infrastructure and generally.

ALP supporters also questioned the leadership skills of LNP Leader Deb Frecklington as well as alleged corruption in a potential LNP Government and many worried about the LNP’s environmental policies.

Public Service job cuts, wage cuts

‘Public service job cuts’
‘Loss of jobs. Last time LNP was in power Campbell Newman said he was going to sack all school cleaners. All 5,000 of us – we’re essential workers!’
‘As a public servant every time the LNP are in power jobs are at risk’
‘Wages being cut and jobs being lost’
‘I work for state government so LNP often take away our conditions and offer less salary’
‘Job cuts’
‘Cuts to jobs, ingrained racism and misogyny’
‘Front line staff cuts, government staff cuts’
‘Sacking public servants’
‘They will cut jobs and vote for lower wages’
‘They will sack workers all over again’


Cutting services – health, infrastructure, cost cutting generally

‘Cuts to public sector and reduced infrastructure spending’
‘Cuts to health and education’
‘Budget cuts and conservative social policy’
‘Cuts in public sector services especially healthcare’
‘Cutting funds to the community sector’
‘Winding back services and reduced spending on infrastructure’
‘Infrastructure spending will cease or drop dramatically’
‘Further cuts in essential services’
‘The cuts it will make to the public service and other public institutions, and that they will rush to pull down too quickly all the protections we have had during COVID’
‘Cutting the public service and reducing services to the public’


Everything – the Leader! Poor leadership, negativity. No policy, no leader.

‘Deb Frecklington appears to be stupid’
‘The leader and corruption’
‘Deb Frecklington is not a strong leader. She is annoying to listen to and only spouts the opinions of others’
‘I think Deb Frecklington is a bully who will slash funding to essential services’
‘Who even is Deb Freckles?’
‘The leader!’
‘Deb was responsible for many of the cuts during the Campbell Newman era and I’m fearful of those days returning’
‘They don’t have a strong leader’
‘The leader’
‘Lack of direction and too much negativity’
‘They have no leadership’
‘Deb Frecklington. Can’t stand her’
‘Deb Frecklington and the LNP plans’
‘Campbell Newman all over again’
‘Anything would be better than Deb Frecklington’
‘Deb Frecklington is a poor leader’
‘Dishonesty and poor management and leadership’
‘I don’t trust the LNP leader’
‘Their lack of realistic policies’


Corruption

‘Rife corruption’
‘Corruption. Deforestation. Climate change and the Great Barrier Reef’
‘The LNP are generally corrupt and Morrison’s endorsement is more reason to be turned off the LNP’
‘Corruption, racism, cronyism’
‘General ineptitude. Corruption. Out of touch and lack credibility.’
‘Corrupt behaviour’
‘Corruption and inability to govern’
‘Increased corruption’
‘Everything. Service cuts, increased racism. Corruption’
‘Coal mining. Climate change. Corruption’
‘Corruption and climate change denial’
‘They favour big business and big earners’
‘LNP are only there for rich people’


Environmental policies

‘Lack of environmental policy’
‘No action on climate change’
‘Lack of climate policy or concerns about climate’
‘Investing in coal and oil’
‘A total disregard for environmental concerns. No future plans for alternative energy industry’
‘Their attitude to climate change’
‘Climate change, jobs and environmental policies’
‘Lack of good environmental policies and close association with Clive Palmer and Pauline Hanson’
‘Climate change denial’


LNP supporters biggest concern about an LNP Government is Frecklington’s leadership

Unsurprisingly, most LNP supporters said they had no concerns about a potential LNP Government, but the concerns that did come through from supporters were those questioning the leadership abilities of Deb Frecklington as well as the related issue of the LNP not being ready to govern and being inexperienced.

‘Nothing’ or ‘Nothing at all’  – most LNP supporters
‘The leader’
‘Leadership skills’
‘Leadership turmoil’
‘Deb Frecklington’
‘The LNP leader’
‘Lack of leadership’
‘Deb Frecklington has to be strong and really step up to the plate to overcome the damage done by Labor financially, socially, appalling abortion bill, loss of freedoms, dictatorial handling of COVID.’
‘Poor leadership’
‘Not loyal to leader Deb Frecklington’
‘Inexperienced ministers’
‘Lack of experience but they would still be better than this ALP mob’
‘Inexperience and bugger all policy’
‘That they will turn as bad as the Labor/Green alliance’
‘Anything would be better than the current Labor Party. The family dog could do a better job’


Supporters of the Greens express concern about the LNP’s environmental policies while One Nation and Katter Party supporters are worried about their leadership

Supporters of minor parties such as the Greens brought up the LNP’s support of coal mining and their environmental policies as a concern while supporters of One Nation and Katter’s Australian Party brought up Deb Frecklington’s leadership – or lack of it.

Coal mining – environmental policies

‘Affiliation with big mining companies’
‘Environmental mismanagement; destruction of the public service and education system’
‘Influence of big corporations and mining’
‘Their coal mining policies’
‘Coal mining and climate change policies’
‘Their refusal to appropriately address climate change’
‘Only that environmental policies aren’t on their agenda’
‘Mining royalties’
‘Climate change denial’


No leadership, a weak leader, Deb Frecklington

‘No stability or leadership’
‘Weak leader. Silly election offers’
‘Not up to governing’
‘The leader, Deb Frecklington does not come across as wanting to work for the people of Queensland’
‘Deb Frecklington is way too critical of the current government’
‘The credibility of the leader’
‘Not sure Deb Frecklington is the right person to be the Premier of Queensland’
‘The lack of leadership’
‘Corrupt and in it to line their own pockets’


LNP supporters are concerned about the poor economic management, spending, lack of integrity and corruption of a re-elected ALP Government

LNP supporters are concerned about a re-elected ALP Government’s poor economic management and reckless spending, about the lack of integrity and corruption of the ALP and its union allies (exemplified by former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad) as well as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk herself.

Other LNP supporters are simply concerned about everything to do with the ALP Government as well as their policies on the border and how that’s impacting the Queensland economy.

The ALP itself and the union influence

‘The ALP’s total ineptitude on all issues’
‘The union influence’
‘Labor’s leftist leanings’
‘Union power’
‘The fact the state has been stagnant under the ALP’
‘ALP has never in the history of Queensland been able to get the economy really moving. All they ever did was shift the goal posts around, create false records and spend money on their own future’
‘I don’t like the ALP member for my area’
‘ALP will do nothing for the next few years just like it has done nothing in the past’
‘Union control and arrogance’
‘I heard a union official saying they will appoint the cabinet, not the Premier. What arrogance from unelected people’
‘They are hopeless with finances and are controlled by the unions’


Queensland borders remaining closed

‘The borders’
‘The borders won’t open’
‘They won’t open the borders’
‘Their border control’
‘The closed borders’
‘The border closure’
‘Borders not re-opening and our economy’


Poor economic management/ Spending/ The accumulation of debt

‘Wasting money’
‘Spending and higher debt’
‘Reckless spending’
‘Financial mismanagement and the bloated size of the public service’
‘The growth of the public service’
‘Over-spending. Too many public servants’
‘Taxes and state finances’
‘Putting up taxes’
‘Not enough spending in the country’
‘The amount of debt we’re in’


Lack of integrity/Corruption

‘Corruption and debt’
‘Broken promises. Corruption and nepotism’
‘Debt and corruption’
‘Their lack of integrity’
‘Don’t want to be run by a corrupt government’
‘Corruption and heavy influence of the unions’
‘Corruption in cabinet ministers like Jackie Trad’
‘Corruption within the party – i.e. Trad and cross-river rail’
‘Dishonesty. Kick-backs. Insider information. MPs not resigning when found to be doing the wrong thing like Jackie Trad.’
‘It’s a do-nothing government. Also, it’s corrupt’


The Premier – Annastacia

‘I do not trust Annastacia to be able to fix all the problems she has created in Queensland’
‘The arrogance of the Premier’
‘The Premier’
‘The lying Premier’
‘The Premier is a hypocrite pandering to the rich and famous and cares not for ordinary people’
‘Palaszczuk herself. Selling out Queensland to foreign influence and ownership’
‘The Premier and all that Labor stands for’
‘That Annastacia will still be in charge here’
‘I don’t trust the Premier’
‘How the Premier and the Chief Medical Officer treated the very ill’
‘Gross financial mismanagement and a megalomaniac Premier who is dumb. The Government only cares about Far North Queensland in an election year’
‘The Premier and all that Labor stands for’


ALP supporters are most concerned a re-elected ALP Government will face hurdles to governing from a potential hung parliament as well as Federal Government interference

Most ALP supporters express no concerns about a re-elected ALP Government, but those concerns that do come through relate to political issues a re-elected Government could face if it is forced into a minority government via a hung parliament or continued squabbling with the Federal Government into the future.

‘Nothing!’  – mentioned by most ALP supporters
‘Nothing – I’m concerned if they don’t get re-elected’
‘A hung Parliament’
‘I hope they will have a stable majority’
‘That they have a clear majority’
‘Getting a majority’
‘Stability, after a couple of terms in office governments have a tendency to self-destruct’
‘Not having an ALP Federal Government’
‘They will get screwed by the Federal Coalition’
‘That the Federal Government seems to favour their own party and deprive the Labor states of support to allow for good governance’
‘A poor relationship with the sitting Federal Government’
‘That they will be bullied by the Prime Minister’
‘Lesser of two evils – but by a small margin’


Supporters of the Greens are worried about the ALP’s support for coal mining while One Nation and Katter Party supporters mention dishonesty, wasteful spending and the ‘far left’

Supporters of the Greens are most concerned about a re-elected ALP Government’s environmental policies and particularly regarding their support for coal mining and lack of action on climate change.

In contrast, supporters of other minor parties such as One Nation and Katter’s Australian party refer to the economic damage and dishonesty of the far left, control by unions and wasteful spending of money.

Support for coal mining/ Environmental policies/ Climate change

‘Adani, new coal mines, lack of conservation policies’
‘Inaction on climate change’
‘Their policies to act on climate change aren’t ambitious enough, although still vastly preferable to the LNP coalition’
‘Their continued backing of the coal industry’
‘Mines’
‘Not enough action on the environment or climate change’
‘They’re minerals councils shills’
‘Adani’
‘Their policy of approving new coal mines and extending existing coal mines’
‘The environment being destroyed by coal mining – especially Adani’
‘They need to focus more decisively on climate change and renewables’
‘Approving coal mines’


Dishonesty/ The far left/ Wasting money spending/ Too much debt/ Border closure

‘They have sold assets and continue to run us into debt – even before COVID’
‘They are controlled by the far left’
‘Financial ruin’
‘More debt and another term of corruption, lies and money wasting’
‘Everything. No budget details and massive debt’
‘Spending more money while we are already broke as a state’
‘They have wasted so much money on failed projects that I’m disappointed’
‘Massive undisclosed debt hidden behind a deferred budget’
‘Out of control budget and public service controlled by a socialist/greens agenda’
‘Continuing poor economic management and excuses for not delivering on promises’
‘Economic incompetence and inconsistency on the border’
‘Border closures extending’
‘Not impressed with any politician in power except for Jacinda’

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Margin of Error

The margin of error to be allowed for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is based. Margin of error gives indications of the likely range within which estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage points above or below the actual estimate. Allowance for design effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.

Sample Size Percentage Estimate
40% – 60% 25% or 75% 10% or 90% 5% or 95%
1,000 ±3.0 ±2.7 ±1.9 ±1.3
5,000 ±1.4 ±1.2 ±0.8 ±0.6
7,500 ±1.1 ±1.0 ±0.7 ±0.5
10,000 ±1.0 ±0.9 ±0.6 ±0.4
20,000 ±0.7 ±0.6 ±0.4 ±0.3
50,000 ±0.4 ±0.4 ±0.3 ±0.2

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