Queensland Government enters caretaker mode ahead of October 26 state election

Queensland parliament has entered caretaker mode as voters prepare to head to the polls in just over two weeks.

The caretaker period began on Tuesday as Labor and the Liberal National Party vie for votes in order to lead the state in the next term of government.

Premier Steven Miles will be fighting for every vote to stay in power, 10 months after he was given the top job when former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk resigned.

“I’m seeking a first term as Queensland’s premier, I want four years in my own right to deliver on the kinds of policies, the vision, that I have for our state,” Mr Miles said on Monday.

“I’ve had an opportunity to audition for the job to show Queenslanders what I would be like, and what I’m asking for on the 26th of October is a mandate in my own right.”

Queensland Labor has already committed to $4.77bn worth of election spending, including $548m for seven satellite hospitals across the state.

After committing to turning the six-month trial of the 50 cent fares into a permanent fare, Labor has budgeted $1bn for the rollout.

Meanwhile, Opposition and LNP leader David Crisafulli got the election ball rolling a day early, launching his official campaign in the marginal seat of Cairns on Monday.

His tough stance in his “adult crime, adult time” plan continued when he committed $50m for early intervention programs and another $50m to find intervention ideas from all over the globe.

“We have spoken a lot of the need for consequences for actions,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“But … we want to drive down youth crime before it begins.

“We want to have less victims in this state, and we are determined to make sure that those people who are providing early intervention can do so to deliver hope to young people.”

The LNP also committed to spending $207m in education funding, including adding an extra 550 teacher aides.