As the state election campaign enters its final week, the two main parties have again headed to North Queensland. Their focus has been on health, with the LNP promising free vision heading and speech development checks for every child in kindergarten.
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00:00Rocking out roadside in Townsville, David Chrisofulli channeling Bon Jovi, perhaps praying
00:08for a smooth ride to the finish line.
00:10Both major party leaders were in the north, both campaigning on the theme of health.
00:16Labor promising a new Royal Flying Doctors service dental truck for the Cape York region.
00:21This is going to be a game changer for bringing services closer to home.
00:25While the LNP leader was reshaping his plans for early childhood checks.
00:29How's that?
00:30I think David's used a rolling pin before.
00:33Yes, normally to make pasta, but this is just as good.
00:37He's made a $27.5 million promise to offer every child in kindergarten free vision, hearing
00:43and speech tests from 2025-26.
00:46What this program does is give kids the opportunity and give families the ability to get the kind
00:54of care they need early in a child's development.
00:57And give them the best chance of staying engaged in school.
01:01The LNP says follow-up checks would be offered to children in years 1, 3 and 5 if any health
01:06or developmental needs are identified at kindergarten.
01:09It's absolutely necessary that we get those things sorted early and any problems addressed.
01:15But Labor's accusing the LNP of imitating its ideas.
01:19This is another example of David Chrisofulli not having one new idea and simply handing
01:24in Labor's homework.
01:26Labor says vision checks are already universal for prep students, children also have access
01:31to speech pathologists and hearing checks are targeted at those from vulnerable families.
01:36The LNP wants to go further.
01:38Every kid.
01:39At a pre-polling centre in Cairns, Bree James addressed the media after the LNP candidate's
01:44recent faux pas where she referred to a vandalised poster resembling a Hitler moustache.
01:50My sign was defaced, I put up a joke about it, it was really poor taste and I'm really
01:54sorry about it and I really hope everyone will forgive me for it.
01:57Tomorrow both leaders will remain in the regions before heading back to Brisbane for one final
02:02debate.