Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Qld: 100 reasons to put LNP last

Unions say there are more than 100 reasons for Queenslanders to put the LNP last at this year’s state election.

Queensland Council of Unions President John Battams said the LNP should pay for leaving Queenslanders behind when it came into government in 2012.

“We have compiled 100 significant reasons why Queenslanders should kick out the LNP.”

“In a little less than three years, the LNP has driven up the unemployment rate to decade-high levels, embarked on asset sales it once opposed, slashed frontline positions in essential services, and eroded the public’s trust in government.

“The LNP has ticked every box in the manual of bad government. Now it’s up to Queenslanders to number every square when they vote and remember to put the LNP last,” Mr Battams said.

Queensland’s optional preferential voting system allows voters to number as many squares as they choose.

However, voters that do not number every square run the risk of their vote not impacting on the election outcome and being “exhausted”.

Electoral Commission of Queensland figures show that “exhausted” votes make a real difference in election outcomes.

Analysis of returns from the 2012 state election shows that outcomes in 26 electorates could have been different if all voters had numbered every square.

“More than a quarter of a million votes did not influence the last state election because people didn’t completely number their ballot paper,” Mr Battams said.

“Just to remind voters about this, we are giving them 100 reasons to take the extra time to number every square and put the LNP last,” he said.

“While many LNP blunders are detailed, there are also positive reasons to vote out the Newman government, such as restoring fair workers’ compensation and protecting employment rights.”

The QCU’s “100 reasons to put the LNP last” will be used as the basis of a social media campaign in the New Year.


No comments: