Queensland Premier calls snap election, pitches strength versus 'chaos'

The gloves are off in the battle for Queensland, with the state election called for the end of January.

Campbell Newman has given Queenslanders a stark choice for this month’s election: vote for a strong LNP team, or opt for "chaos" with Labor.

The Queensland premier visited Government House today to have the writs issued for the 26-day campaign.

He defended the short campaign, saying the economy could not withstand the uncertainty of a longer campaign.

“Queenslanders don’t want months of endless politicking and uncertainty as people jostle up to an election date,” he said.

“We can’t afford to lose one day because that’s bad for the economy and bad for jobs.”

Mr Newman cut short his annual leave and cancelled a trade mission to India to announce the date and begin the campaign.

He'll hit the road tomorrow morning.

Campbell Newman says it's about who we want as Premier, the one measure where polls say he's in the lead.

Labor says it is not just a battle over what the government's done but how it has gone about doing it.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk, who was also on holidays, said Mr Newman didn't succeed if he was trying to catch her off guard.

She said Labor plans to capitalise on the Premier's plummeting popularity.

"Over the last three years the Queensland people have seen a government that is arrogant, that has broken promises, that promised to lower the cost of living - that hasn't happened - they promised to keep people in jobs - that hasn't happened - and now they want to sell the assets, which they said wouldn't happen before the last election," she said.

"People can't trust Campbell Newman and I think that is what is being reflected out there in the polls.

"People have simply had enough."

Mr Newman said Labor "could fall across the line".

"The Labor party has had three years to develop their own plan, but even today, they’re still not able to release their vision and plan for Queensland," he said.

"You can vote for a strong, united LNP team with a strong focus for this state focusing on jobs and the economy, or you can bring back Labor with the support of independents, you can have chaos and see the gains of the last few years lost."

The Opposition Leader said she is ready to announce her jobs plan and "a clear vision in education" for the state.

"My main focus has been on jobs - it's been on jobs for the last two-and-a-half years," she said.

"We've got unemployment heading towards seven per cent and youth unemployment in our regional areas up to 20 per cent.

"This government has cut jobs, they've cut services and they've cut TAFE.

"My priority is to ensure jobs are at the forefront of our election campaign because Queensland deserves so much better."

Of the 89 Queensland seats, the LNP holds 73, Labor has nine, Katter's Australia Party has three with four Independents.

Labor would need to gain 38 seats and the support of the independents to win.

The Palmer United Party's Queensland election campaign will be fought on protecting asset sales and the livelihood of rural residents, state leader John Bjelke-Petersen says.

Mr Bjelke-Petersen, the son of former Queensland premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, said the party is ready to go into battle on electricity privatisation.

The latest Newspoll at the weekend showed support for Labor and the LNP tied in Queensland, with Mr Newman improving his standing as preferred premier from 41 to 44 percent.