Annastacia Palaszczuk makes rare appearance as Queensland government’s popularity tested in by-election

Annastacia Palaszczuk has given the woman she hopes will replace her “the same advice my father gave me” when she cast her by-election vote.

The former prime minister made a rare public appearance at the polls with Labor candidate Margie Nightingale on Saturday afternoon and said the day was about “new beginnings”.

“I’m going to give her the same advice that my father gave me, which is, whoever comes into your home, always comes there for a reason and to treat everyone with respect and to make sure that you really listen because they have come to to you for help,” she told the ABC.

“So if Margie does that, she’ll be a very, very good local member.”

Ms Palaszczuk retired from politics on her own terms late last year, after months of speculation about her leadership.

Saturday’s by-election will mark the first time in more than 30 years that Inala will not be held by someone with the surname Palaszczuk.

The seat had been owned by her father, Henry, since its founding in 1992. She took over the legacy when she entered the political arena in 2006.

Ms Nightingale, a former teacher, said she would focus on “progress” if she won.

“I will look to do that and I understand what this community needs and I’m willing to listen and I’m really ready to do the hard work,” the hopeful told the ABC.

Ms Palaszczuk was not the only high-profile visitor on the campaign trail.

Ms Nightingale was also joined at the hustings by Treasurer Cameron Dick and Prime Minister Steven Miles.

The pair smiled as they posed for photos with Noodles, the dog, outside Inala State School.

The battle for Inala, where Labor has a 28.2 per cent margin, is just one of two by-elections being held in Queensland on Saturday.

Both Inala and Ipswich West – following the resignation of Labor leader Jim Madden to run for the council – are deep in the traditional Labor heartland.

Ipswich West is in Labor hands by a margin of 14.2 percent.

Both results are eagerly awaited as a first indicator of the position of the electorate in the run-up to the general election in October.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a swing in the two by-elections would not necessarily mark the beginning of the end for Miles.

‘We will wait and see when the elections take place in October. “I expect today’s elections to see a change in government,” Mr Albanese said.

“Normally that happens at a by-election, but I think people will be taking a very close look at the LNP in Queensland before October.”

Before the polls opened, a Newspoll published by The Australian showed that the LNP opposition was 54 to 46 percent ahead of Labor after preferences.

If this is repeated at the general election in October, it would result in a loss of 18 Labor seats – four more than the LNP needs to win a majority.

Mr Miles has previously said it would be “very, very challenging” if Labor were re-elected for a fourth term.

Local government elections

Millions of Queenslanders will be lining up across the state to vote in the municipal elections.

The state is home to Australia’s two largest local councils, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Buoyed by their success in the 2022 federal election, the Greens will play for Brisbane City.

LNP mayor Adrian Schrinner is expected to retain Brisbane’s top job despite challenges from Labor’s Tracey Price and high-profile Greens councilor Jonathan Sriranganathan.

On the Gold Coast, Tom Tate is expected to return as mayor, a position he has held since 2012.

Incumbent councilor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden is seeking re-election despite facing a murder charge.

At least 1,010,000 Queenslanders had already cast their ballots ahead of Saturday’s local government election, with about 235,000 of the 440,000 postal votes returned on Wednesday.

The Queensland Electoral Commission said 3.65 million people had registered to vote, representing 97.6 per cent of the state’s voting population.

About 45 per cent of Queenslanders had voted early at about 170 early voting centers across the state.

The polling booths opened at 8 a.m. and counting begins at 6 p.m., when the polls close.