Palaszczuk and McGrath trade barbs in debate on leadership

Queensland Premier Anna Palaszczuk and Opposition Leader David McGrath engaged in a heated debate on leadership during a Sky News People's Forum on Wednesday night.

The debate, which was moderated by Sky News host Paul Murray, covered a range of topics, including the state of the Queensland economy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the upcoming state election.

Palaszczuk and McGrath traded barbs on a number of issues, with Palaszczuk accusing McGrath of being out of touch with the concerns of ordinary Queenslanders and McGrath accusing Palaszczuk of being a "dictator" who has presided over a "jobs crisis" in the state.

The debate became particularly heated when the topic of the COVID-19 pandemic was raised. Palaszczuk defended her government's handling of the pandemic, arguing that Queensland had one of the lowest death rates in the country and that her government had saved lives by taking tough measures to contain the virus.

McGrath, however, accused Palaszczuk of "overreacting" to the pandemic and of "crushing" the state's economy with her lockdowns. He also criticized Palaszczuk's decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for certain workers, arguing that it was an infringement on individual freedom.

Palaszczuk hit back by accusing McGrath of being "anti-vaccine" and of putting the lives of Queenslanders at risk with his rhetoric. She also defended her government's economic record, arguing that Queensland had one of the strongest economies in the country.

The debate ended with Palaszczuk and McGrath agreeing to disagree on a number of issues. However, both leaders agreed that the upcoming state election would be a "close-fought contest.

The Sky News People's Forum was the first of a series of debates that will be held in the lead-up to the Queensland state election on October 31.