In an unexpected declaration during the debate, the opposition leader pledged to resign as premier if he was elected and didn’t bring down crime numbers in his first term.
“If there aren’t fewer victims, you won’t be seeing me,” Crisafulli said in a standout moment during the debate that put cost of living, youth crime, and health front and centre.
Miles landed some blows on his well-polished opponent, but the expert panel of 9News Queensland state political editor Tim Arvier, 4BC Afternoons presenter Sofie Formica and Brisbane Times editor Sean Parnell ruled the overall debate victory went to Crisafulli.
Miles opened the 9News special by promising that his party was best to address the cost-of-living crisis facing Queensland.
“This election is all about who Queenslanders trust to tackle the cost of living and to deliver a plan for our state’s future,” he said.
“On cost of living, I took those progressive coal royalties and used them to give $1000 on everybody’s electricity bill, made public transport almost free, cut 20 per cent off rego, and gave every Queensland child $200 so they could play community sport.
“But I also have plans for our state’s future: on healthcare, to get the doctors and nurses and hospital beds that we need, on community safety, to make sure our state is safe, on delivering cheaper energy for the future, and for building homes for Queenslanders.
“On all of these issues, Queenslanders know where I stand and know that I will fight for them.”
Crisafulli said the election was about change for Queenslanders.
“In 23 days you can choose change,” he said in his opening address.
“The question you have to ask yourself is after 10 years of Labor, are things better or worse when it comes to youth crime, health, housing, cost of living, and who has got the right plan for Queensland’s future?
“I lead a united team and we have set solutions and targets to deliver the change that Queenslanders need.”
Crisafulli said he expects “a scare campaign” from Labor in the final weeks before election day, but “I am choosing hope. Hope over fear.
“And I’m asking you to choose hope over fear.
“We are a great state with a great future.
“Together, we can build a Queensland we are all proud of.”
Campbell Newman declares Miles ‘smashed it’
Arvier said the debate felt like a win for Crisafulli but not all of his sources agreed — including former LNP premier Campbell Newman, who gave the victory to Miles.
Crisafulli is seeking to be the first LNP leader elected since Newman was premier a decade ago.
Arvier said “the bigger picture” was a win for Crisafulli but Miles had landed some blows on the bookies’ favourite.
“Crisafulli’s big moment was committing to resigning if youth crime doesn’t come down. If he becomes premier, that will hang over him,” Arvier said.
“Steven Miles had a lot more work to do here in terms of trying to win back support that Labor has lost.
“I think he made some good arguments, but I think overall, David Crisafulli played it a lot safer tonight.
“Watching both their performances, I think that David Crisafulli comes out the winner … I don’t think that performance by Steven Miles makes up a lot of ground.”
Formica said Queenslanders were looking for something different and based on that she gave the debate win to Crisafulli.
“In terms of performance and comfort, I actually think that even though David Crisafulli tends to have the slogans in his back pocket, and is very well prepared in terms of how to answer questions, he’s been doing a lot of work in this space,” she said.
“There is still detail that is missing … but certainly here, he was more energetic in the way he delivered his vision.
“I’m still not convinced that either of them can really shape what happens beyond four years. I think that’s the next question for Queensland.”
Formica said the fact Miles “sat for a long time next to” former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was damaging to him.
“If he felt that there were things that needed to be changed in a very long period, he was already able to affect the direction of Queensland and he had a chance, and he didn’t use it well.”
Parnell gave the win to Miles, who he said honed in on demonstrating that being in government is difficult, while Crisafulli used the debate to reveal more of himself as a candidate.
“Both leaders were trying to achieve something completely different,” Parnell said.
“I do think even though the premier appeared frustrated at times, and even though Crisafulli at times appeared too prepared, long term I think tonight’s debate has landed some blows on David Crisafulli,” he said.
“Those areas where [Crisafulli] doesn’t have a plan, where he had to commit tonight [on crime figures] on the spot, to act in a particular way if he wins … I think long term, David Crisafulli lost.”