September 28, 2008

Premier Anna Bligh will promote her government’s environmental credentials in an effort to woo Green voters at next year’s state election.

A Newspoll published last week showed support for Ms Bligh’s Labor government had fallen sharply since the state’s conservative parties merged last month.

The poll showed Labor trailing the new Liberal National Party (LNP) 38 points to 41 on primary votes but the ALP retained a two-point lead over the LNP on a two-party preferred basis, thanks in part to preferences from The Greens.

However, Greens spokeswoman Dr Libby Connors this week cautioned Labor not to count on her party’s support.

Dr Connors said voters were disillusioned with Labor and called for a change of direction from Ms Bligh, starting with the abandonment of the controversial Traveston Dam project.

But Ms Bligh, in her first press conference since the poll, defended Labor’s environmental record and said the party would work to reassure The Greens.

“I think our environmental record stacks up very, very strongly and I’ll be very pleased to be talking to the Greens in the lead-up to the next election,” she told reporters in Brisbane today.

“It is important that those people who care about the environment understand Labor’s strong record of protecting the environment, our strong record on tough decisions like tree clearing and some of the work we are doing to right now to protect precious areas like Moreton Bay.”

However, Ms Bligh conceded Labor would need to work hard to secure its fifth consecutive term in government.

“I understand that the electorate is sending a very clear message to my government that they want us to work harder,” she said.

She said the merger of the coalition parties would make the election more difficult.

“What we have seen is a much stronger coalition between the National and Liberal parties with the merger into a new party.

“Without a doubt that makes the competition tougher but I think it’s important in a democracy that there is a contest.”

AAP