Queensland's LNP is no opposition, let alone alternative government

Labor is now way down in the polls and the LNP is way ahead so it can be argued that the LNP strategy as most recently reflected in its no comment Budget approach is working.

Perhaps – but there are dangers in both policy and political terms.

What might go wrong?

First, if the LNP continues with its low target approach and does not indicate its priorities then it will have no mandate for any of its own initiatives, Nor will have any mandate to correct the excessive pre-election spending spree of the Miles Government. Such increased spending is what most governments do prior to an election. Seeking to reduce such overspending and waste and to make room for its own policy initiatives is what most new incoming governments have to do. Failure to act means accepting the outgoing government's priorities, and having no fiscal room to implement its own agenda. The alternative is to increases taxes to pay for its agenda and promises.

So, the LNP's recent Budget strategy largely precludes it from taking corrective action – or does it? Is it, once safely in office, going to junk its endorsement of the Labor Government Budget and start a round of needed cuts. Politically – this is danger, danger! Or perhaps it has no spending priorities and no agenda?

Second, by agreeing to so much of the Labor Government's agenda as reflected in the 2024-5 Budget, including where the LNP has previously indicated disagreement, then there is a risk of upsetting its own voting base – its core supporters. No wonder the major parties are suffering a decline in their primary vote and traditional supporters shift to minor parties.

Third, the LNP stress on 'stability' (see Crisafulli quote) supporting the Miles Government Budget is confusing 'stability' with inertness, ineptitude, policy laziness and political cowardice – of having no policy agenda and being a do nothing government like the one term Liberal government in Victoria (2010-2014).

The last word on what an Opposition should do should, as always, rest with Robert Menzies, the founder of the Liberal Party and who won seven elections (1949. 1951, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1963) in a row and who spent eight years in the political wilderness (1941-49), six as leader of the federal opposition. Menzies certainly warned against opposing 'for opposition's sake' and to 'choose the ground on which it is to attack'. Nevertheless, he stressed that the "chief objective of an Opposition should be to make voters feel the Opposition, in both personnel and ideas, is as different as possible" to the incumbent government. Menzies in Opposition opposed the then dominant Curtin and Chifley Labor governments concerning their referenda proposals, bank and airline nationalisations, continuing war regulations and restrictions, expanding public service, increasing centralisation and over zealous support of public housing.

So where is the LNP's 'different policy agenda'? What have they learnt after nine years in opposition to develop and articulate an alternative policy agenda and political narrative to give voters not just a real choice, but more importantly to ensure the there is a Liberal agenda, based on Liberal principles, being implemented and leaves a long lasting and positive mark on Queensland?