This morning the Queensland Liberal-National Party’s latest television advertisement hit the airwaves, jostling for our attention with Amber Higlett’s early news show on Channel Nine. The ad can also be viewed here.
The ad features Laurence Springborg declaring his pride in presiding over the formation of “the LNP” as the first step towards “change in Queensland”. Said change will include things to do with schools, employment, housing and hospitals, and also making Queensland a place “where roads are planned for future growth”.
Two interesting things strike me about the advertisement.
One is that the full party name is never uttered. We hear the acronym “LNP” spoken by Sprongborg and in the authorisation at the conclusion. We see the LNP logo in the ad and the LNP initials in the authorisation. But we neither hear nor see the words “Liberal” or “National”. This raises the question of how to account for this omission. One hypothesis is that the aim is to avoid reminding so-called “Beattie Liberals” in metropolitan south-east Queensland that a vote for the LNP is a vote for the Nationals. Perhaps, however, it’s to avoid reminding “Hanson Nationals” in rural and regional Queensland that a vote for the LNP is a vote for the Liberals. Perhaps it’s both.
The other striking omission is any reference to anything to do with the environment, including policies on climate change and water security. Instead, the LNP will make Queensland a place “where roads are planned for future growth” – meaning more cars and more pollution, with no thought given to how much, if any, “future growth” in Queensland is prudent, feasible or sustainable. This projects an image of a party in which the “development as usual” (or, in Queensland, “development as it used to be usual”, greenhouse denialist hard Right is, literally and figuratively, in the driver’s seat.
I feel confident that the LNP will take us boldly into the 1980s and its growth at any cost boom. The ‘Borg for Canberra!
You mean there is an environment here in Queensland?
The other striking omission is any reference to anything to do with the environment, including policies on climate change and water security.
That’s a troubling omission. The big issue in the LNP comment threads is “Recycling = Poo in the water!” I’ve seen the same at the Courier Mail. So what’s the Borg gonna do about it? Is there an official LNP policy of water recycling – apart from “Make loud but ineffectual denunciation from the opposition benches”?
Instead, the LNP will make Queensland a place “where roads are planned for future growth” – meaning more cars and more pollution, with no thought given to how much, if any, “future growth” in Queensland is prudent, feasible or sustainable.
Look at the timing of the announcement – just after the flooding of the ICB! That’s a double whammy – it implies that new roads aren’t going to help traffic, and it makes people think that there may be something to this climate change business. People know new roads aren’t silver bullets for traffic problems, especially expensive tunnels underneath sea level like the Clem 7.
Down and Out, do you mean that you think the timing of the LNP announcement is comedically poor? If so, I think I agree.
Why would you expect the Nats to mention the environment. Isn’t it beholden on Labor to remind voters how the Nat’s policies on land clearing will affect the environment and global warming. Surely Labor should be able to claim they are the party of sustainable development and pick up some of the urban vote that thinks the cries of “TIMBER” are much more deleterious to the environment than actually doing something about personal consumption.
Those new roads should make for excellent wide cycleways!
@down and out – not if all the new roads are built as OVERPASSES and not tunnels. Over your house.
@dj – but contra my earlier comment, not if they are covered in 4ft of water. on the other hand, your local BCF might be able to supply you with a tinnie, or better, an inflatable, for all your water canallin’ needs.
Don’t mention Jann Stuckey, the Liberal National Party member for Currumbin either as she would be sure to be offended.
“Mr LUCAS:
The question is who gave the story to the Gold Coast Bulletin about event No. 1 and who took the photographs of event No. 2 and gave them to the Cairns Post? We know that the member for Currumbin is not in the shots. Did she take the photographs and did she make them available?
Mrs STUCKEY:
I rise to a point of order. I find any reference to me offensive and I ask that it be withdrawn.
Mr SPEAKER:
There is no point of order.”
From hansard Queensland Parliament Question Time Thurs 13/11/08
Sounds like a good reason to vote Green, if you are sick of the ALP
“hear the acronym “LNP” spoken by Sprongborg”
A mistake or Lee Atwater style tactics of purposely stuffing up the opponents name? Nasty.
Paul, if you go to the LNP site as per your link they do have a button that leads you to their policies where you will read:
You are also invited to click on http://www.springborg.com/ “to see the policy directions being set out for the future of Queensland by your State LNP team.”
There you’ll find a smiling pic of The Borg. What more could you want?
It was said on the radio today that they wouldn’t ask us to drink water with poo and hospital waste in it, that they wouldn’t proceed with Traveston but would build another desal plant on Bribie Is. They also said they are fully ready for an election any time, so they must have policies somewhere.