Palaszczuk makes GST gaffe as Newman likely to lose seat

As Queenslanders prepare to head to the polls on Saturday, Labor has released its long-awaited costings while premier Campbell Newman looks likely to lose his own seat.

In Townsville as a figure to rally around, other figures were soon bothering Queensland opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Ms Palaszczuk was stumped by a question on radio about the percentage at which GST was taxed, choosing to pass.

The Labor leader, trying to convince voters of her party's economic credentials, later brushed off the gaffe.

"The GST is 10 percent," she said at a later press conference.

"I did three radio interviews and didn't have my coffee." 

Ms Palaszczuk did not chance the big figures of the Labor campaign, leaving the policy costings to shadow treasurer Curtis Pitt.

Labor says its election promises will cost an extra $1.582 billion over the next four years, funded by savings of $1.74 billion.

The projected savings include:

• Removing $139 million dollars in extra pay for high performing teachers

• $645 million by cutting consultancies, contractors and advertising

• $178 million by slashing capital grants

• $336.9 million on a whole of government efficiency program

Mr Pitt said the efficiency program would not involve any redundancies.

Labor is spending about 10 percent what the LNP will.

Meanwhile, Mr Newman seems destined to lose his own seat of Ashgrove on Saturday.

The premier is no longer a walk up start to win the seat over Labor's Kate Jones, a former minister in the Bligh government.

Polls have him down from 43.7 percent to 42.3 percent, while bookies who had him at $2 to win now have him at $2.80.

The odds are now more likely the LNP is going on to victory and Campbell Newman is going home.

Corruption buster Tony Fitzgerald is not helping Mr Newman's cause, likening the bikie fight to "a starting point for fascism", comments the premier rejected.

Increasingly, Mr Newman is appearing with fellow Liberal members in public - almost as if he is preparing for the chance the captain is going down and it is time to save the ship.