FROM THE TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN Labor polling predicts Crisafulli defeat over Defence pay deal ANTHONY TEMPLETON Townsville Bulletin December 05, 2014 11:15AM NORTH Queensland’s most powerful state politician, David Crisafulli, is at risk of losing his seat at the upcoming state election amid a voter backlash over the Federal Government’s controversial defence pay deal. Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his government’s unpopular policies, including the below-inflation pay deal for the Defence Force, threaten to unseat Mr Crisafulli, who trails his virtually unknown opponent Coralee O’Rourke. Labor polling obtained by the Bulletin shows Mr Crisafulli, who holds the seat of Mundingburra by 10.2 per cent, would lose if an election was held today. It shows a double-digit swing against Mr Crisafulli (pictured) on the back of Premier Campbell Newman’s unpopularity and the Federal Government’s controversial Defence pay offer. The Bulletin understands Labor polling shows Mr Crisafulli has trailed his opponent for most of the year by as much as 46 per cent to 54 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, in recent months. Queensland Labor campaign director Anthony Chisholm said Mundingburra was winnable for the party, despite Mr Crisafulli’s substantial margin. “The feedback we’re picking up on the ground is that many Townsville residents are fed up with the arrogance of Campbell Newman, Tony Abbott and the LNP,” he said. “The issue of Tony Abbott’s disgraceful pay cut for our troops is just one of many examples of how out of touch the LNP are with North Queenslanders.” Mr Crisafulli is Minister for Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience and is touted as one of the LNP’s rising stars. “I have always said it’s going to be a tough election to win,” Mr Crisafulli said. “Every day when I get up I think about how can I get more jobs in the North. I’m going to keep fighting to get more police, teachers and doctors to Townsville because that’s my job.” Mr Crisafulli said he strongly opposed the Abbott Government’s below-inflation pay deal for Defence personnel. “We don’t support what’s on the table for the ADF,” he said. Herbert MP Ewen Jones, also a member of the LNP, said he didn’t believe federal issues would affect the state election.“Defence pay is a federal issue and I don’t think it will factor in the state election at all,” he said.“How the hell could David Crisafulli be responsible for the ADF pay deal?” Mr Jones said he had fixed the most contentious issues of the pay deal by reinstating leave and allowances, despite being unable to increase the 1.5 per cent offer. However, Ms O’Rourke said Defence pay remained the big issue.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 01:55:04 +0000