Qld: Poll speculation hosed down

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2000
Qld: Poll speculation hosed down

BRISBANE, Aug 31 AAP - Speculation of a pre-Christmas state election was today hosed
down by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.

The state opposition had earlier called on Mr Beattie to rule out an early election
until after the three investigations into the state's vote-rigging scandal were finalised.

Liberal leader David Watson said Queensland taxpayers should feel confident that the
state's electoral rolls were clean before being asked to vote.

"Queensland voters are entitled to know whether the Labor Party is a little bit corrupt
or corrupt to the core before they cast their vote," Dr Watson told journalists.

"If an election was held right now, no-one could have confidence in the result."

Poll speculation became frenzied across the state this week after Mr Beattie said he
would have a moral obligation to call an early election if investigations into allegations
of electoral fraud found any evidence of wrongdoing by an MP.

Queensland's vote-rigging scandal is being investigated by an independent counsel appointed
by the Criminal Justice Commission, a high-powered federal parliamentary committee and
a state parliamentary committee.

The investigations into electoral fraud followed the jailing of former ALP state candidate
Karen Ehrmann in Townsville on 47 charges of electoral fraud.

Today, Mr Beattie laughed off the poll rumours.

"I have no plans for an early election," a chuckling Mr Beattie told journalists.

"I've enjoyed raising the temperature and giving people a bit of heartburn, but there
is no intention to have an early election."

Mr Beattie has repeatedly said he favours a July 2001 poll.

Following the 1998 state election, Mr Beattie made a commitment to run full term and
resist calling an election before May 2001.

AAP bja/jhm/hu

KEYWORD: STACKING NIGHTLEAD

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