Issues for Qld in the federal election

KEY ELECTION ISSUES - QUEENSLAND

TOWNSVILLE STADIUM

North Queensland Cowboys co-captain Jonathan Thurston took the microphone after kicking his winning golden point field goal at last year's NRL grand final and declared: "The last thing I want to say is that North Queensland deserves a new stadium". The stadium was already on politicians' radars, but the unofficial king of NQ's call made them sit up and take notice. Both Queensland's Labor government and the federal Labor opposition have each pledged $100 million for the project. Malcolm Turnbull has talked up the stadium, but hasn't committed any actual funding. However, the prime minister is acutely aware of the campaign, particularly given he was on the same stage when Thurston made his victory speech.

CROSS RIVER RAIL

Arguably Queensland's biggest political football, calls for Cross River Rail funding are as closely linked with election campaigns as sausage sizzles are with polling booths. It's no coincidence the state government announced the third version of the $5.2 billion project to build a second rail crossing over the Brisbane river recently when Bill Shorten was campaigning in the Sunshine State. Mr Shorten pledged to fund the infrastructure project and put pressure on the federal government to match the commitment. But the Turnbull government has said it would wait until the project's business case was finalised, which is expected to happen by mid-June.

QUEENSLAND NICKEL/MINING DOWNTURN

Clive Palmer insists his embattled nickel refinery would be able to weather sluggish commodity prices if he had some support from the state and Commonwealth. But as it stands, both governments are reluctant to prop up the company of a man who administrators say used it as a "piggy bank" for his business empire. Nevertheless, the Turnbull government has had to foot the bill to pay for workers' entitlements. Mr Palmer thinks other politicians are targeting him and Queensland Nickel because his party can hold the balance of power in the Senate. As far-fetched as that may be, the saga highlights problems Queensland's resources-dependent economy is facing from a global downturn in commodity prices. Without a dedicated federal plan to address the situation, Queensland - in particular the state's north - will suffer.

PATROL BOATS

Malcolm Turnbull has drawn the ire of his own backbench over a decision to construct patrol boats destined for the Pacific Ocean in Western Australia, rather than in Cairns. The federal government has awarded the $500 million contract to WA-based Austal over a Cairns-based consortium. Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch, whose electorate includes Cairns, and north Queensland-based senator Ian MacDonald have hit out at the decision. There's speculation the bad publicity generated by the government's move will mean the prime minister will need to come armed with his wallet if he wants to win over Queensland voters.