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Beattie, Springborg face off in debate

Health, water and leadership questions have dominated the traditional Queensland election leaders' debate.

Premier Peter Beattie and Coalition leader Lawrence Springborg came face to face for the first time in the campaign in Brisbane this afternoon.

The Beattie Government's third term in office has been riddled with problems in the health system, electricity blackouts, water shortages and ministerial embarrassments.

But Mr. Beattie has told the debate his Government has been prepared to accept mistakes and move on.

"We've had the health action plan, we didn't cover it up, we dealt with it head on," he said.

"We've also got the water grid which is going to as much as is humanly possible deal with the worst drought in Queensland's history.

"So yes there's been mistakes, we've moved to deal with those, but we've also had long-term planning for the future of this state.

The first half of the Coalition's campaign was often overshadowed by the gaffes of Liberal leader Bruce Flegg.

When asked whether he regretted the Liberals replacing Bob Quinn with Dr Flegg, Mr. Springborg said they were both outstanding gentlemen.

"The leadership of a political party really doesn't matter, it is what that political party, it is what it aspires to achieve for the people that it represents, which is more important than any one individual," he said.

The Premier says the Nationals and Liberals will be too busy fighting amongst themselves to govern Queensland if the Coalition wins tomorrow's election.

Mr. Beattie has asked Mr. Springborg which portfolio he will take if the Coalition wins government, if the Liberals win more seats than the Nationals.

Mr. Springborg has dismissed the question.

"The Coalition agreement in Queensland is not about one individual," Mr. Springborg said.

"The Coalition government in Queensland is about a group of people coming together with passion and commitment to deliver the core services in this stage and a vision for the future of Queensland."

Meanwhile Mr. Springborg has seized on south-east Queensland's water shortages.

He asked the Premier to name one infrastructure project his government has completed in the last eight years to shore up water supplies.

Mr. Beattie says he opened the Paradise Dam near Bundaberg and many other projects.

"Go to the Gold Coast convention centre, they had years of Coalition members down there in the biggest tourism centre in Queensland," Mr. Beattie said.

"Now we'll go through - we've built a range of facilities - Suncorp Stadium, which is one of the best football stadiums in the world."

Plenty of water there Mr. Beattie.