queensland election in five weeks from now

ABC Online...
The Queensland election campaign is officially underway today, with Premier Anna Bligh setting the election date.

Governor Penny Wensley has now dissolved Queensland's 53rd Parliament and an election will be held on March 24.

The 35-day election campaign is expected to focus on the south-east corner in particular.

Ms Bligh's campaign begins in the Brisbane seat of Ashgrove where incumbent Kate Jones is up against Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman.

Ms Bligh addressed the media and says she is not going to walk away from a fight, even though polling puts Labor behind the LNP.

"What you'll see from me and my team is a real people campaign. I want to be out there day in and day out talking to Queenslanders," she said.

"There is so much at risk here. Now is the time to stick with the plan not risk it.

"What we have in Campbell Newman in his team is the same old Libs and the same old Nats. We don't have any answers if Campbell Newman doesn't win the seat of Ashgrove. It could be an absolute recipe for chaos."

She says Queensland is standing strong because of Labor's policies.

"Now is not the time to throw that away. Now is the time to stick with me. Stick with our program and not take a risk with the Liberal National Party which is divided and unstable," she said.

'Crisis to crisis'
But Queensland's Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman says the State Government has its own problems to worry about.

"We've lurched from crisis to crisis. We've wasted the proceeds of one of the biggest resources boom for many many decades. We've seen scandal after scandal. We've seen Ministers go to jail. We've seen all sorts of problems in the administration of good government in Queensland. And that now has to change," he said.

He says he and his candidates know they will have to work hard.

"There's a lot of Queensland to cover, and there's a lot to be said," he said.

"I'm going to use every single one of the next five weeks that the Premier's given me.

"Thank you Premier. I'm going to enjoy the next five weeks. I'm really excited about this campaign. We've been waiting a long time."

The LNP needs 14 seats and a uniform swing of about 4.5 per cent to push Labor out of office for the first time since 1998.

Another poll has been released showing Queensland's Liberal National Party has a commanding lead over Labor.

The Galaxy poll, published in today's Sunday Mail newspaper, shows the LNP is leading Labor 60 per cent to 40 on a two-party preferred basis.

Ms Bligh's approval rating has stayed steady on 43 per cent, while Mr Newman slipped 1 per cent since last month to be on 47 per cent for opposition leader satisfaction.

ABC election analyst Antony Green says electorates on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane will be crucial for the Opposition, including the seat of Ashgrove which Mr Newman is seeking.

"You'd expect if they win the election they'll do better than the state average in Brisbane and that would probably bring Ashgrove into the LNP fold," he said.

Labor will also have to defend regional seats in cities like Townsville and Cairns.

Mr Green says the new Katter's Australian Party will have an impact in some regional areas.

"The state-wide polls don't show Katter's party having a big impact, but I think it's highly likely that he will win at least a small handful of seats," he said.

Dave R.