Bligh Vs Langbroek on asset sales

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDMar 23 2010

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh in a new opinion poll seems to have lost the trust votes of more than 50% voters. They appear to be dissatisfied with her performance but she seems to be still a preferred leader over LNP opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek, with 40 per cent choosing Ms Bligh - a slight increase for the Labor leader.

The Galaxy poll conducted for The Courier Mail and the Nine Network found 54 per cent of people didn't think the premier could be trusted. Only 40 per cent believed she could be trusted, and six per cent were uncommitted. A further survey of 400 people found 57 per cent were not satisfied with Ms Bligh's performance, with dissatisfaction strongest at 62 per cent for people aged over 50.

Support for Mr Langbroek was down 10 points, with 32 per cent preferring him as premier, while 28 per cent were undecided.

She is now trying to win back the confidence of voters with her announcement of Labor's plan to sell off $15 billion worth of state assets after last year's election.

LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek on Tuesday criticised Ms Bligh's refusal to seek public feedback on her planned asset sales and proposed a public debate on the subject. However Ms Bligh said that the privatization issue has been already debated and further debate from her would be in a public forum when raised.

She said "The leader of the opposition continues to astonish us all ... now they have turned to the federal parliament to seek their ideas for today's parliament."

Ms Bligh said the federal health debate occurred in the context of an election year.

"I am very happy to debate the leader of the opposition - whoever it may be, when we get to a state election year - on any issue," she said.

"We have debated the issue of privatisation in this parliament, which is what this parliament is for ... and I will continue to debate it at any public forum where it is raised."

Mr Langbroek felt it was unnecessary to wait for two years for a debate because assets would be sold before the next election.

"Of course by the time of the next election, more than $15 billion of public assets will have been sold, including parts of Queensland Rail and including the motorways and the ports and the forestry plantation," he said.

Ms Bligh said the debate would be pointless as the LNP did not have a policy on the asset sales.