The Premier's attack on Queensland Labor's alleged links with bikie gangs echo the tactics used unsuccessfully against Campbell Newman before the previous election, a QUT political scientist says.
Professor Clive Bean said the Premier's claims bikies are funnelling funds to the Labor party through the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union was a strategy "reminiscent" of the tactics previously used against Campbell Newman.
"Campbell Newman was given a pretty rough ride before the last election," Professor Bean said.
"He had a number of personal allegations thrown at him by Labor relating to his personal interests and integrity. The Crime and Misconduct Commission decided not to conduct an investigation into any of the claims.
"So it's interesting he is making these sorts of allegations against Labor, which seems to me to be drawing a pretty long bow.
"The issue for Labor is in this sort of situation it doesn't do the person throwing the bombs a lot of harm to throw them. But it is difficult for the one on the receiving end to defend something that is not very explicit or doesn't have a lot of detail.
"And too loud a denial can raise its own suspicions about whether there might be some truth in the allegation."
With the campaign nearing its climax, Professor Bean said it would be interesting to see if candidates stuck to their political plans.
"For example we saw Campbell Newman taking the tactic of only talking about jobs and the economy.
"It's not an entirely unusual strategy and, while it can create a very frustrating environment for the media, in the end it doesn't give them much of a target.
"In a way it is quite a similar strategy to what Kate Jones has adopted by largely staying out of the media spotlight.
"I had expected she might come out with a late media blitz but it is looking less and less likely. She's given few interviews and is conducting a very different campaign to last time.
"It's a highly unusual strategy for someone in her position but it is clearly a very conscious decision. She obviously feels she is well enough known in the electorate that she can conduct a grassroots campaign and focus on door-knocking and directly engaging with voters.
"It will be interesting to see if this is enough."
Media contact:
Rob Kidd, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841, rj.kidd@qut.edu.au
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