Queensland July to December 2018

Abstract

The period saw a less than auspicious fiscal outlook combine with a few positive economic announcements to again produce mixed fortunes for Queensland. Retreating from its once warm embrace of the Adani coal mine — and battling unemployment, fire and flood across the state — the Palaszczuk government scored some “own goals” over failures in Queensland Rail, elective surgery wait times, and a name change to a Brisbane children’s hospital. Despite this, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor finished the year with strong public opinion poll leads over the LNP. By contrast, Opposition leader Deb Frecklington struggled for traction as public warfare broke out between the Liberal‐National Party’s parliamentary and organisational wings over abortion reform.