I have no idea whether anyone else has commented on this here or at other discussion forums on the net but I thought I'd raise it and see if I'm alone in thinking it. Peter Beattie for all his administrative faults is a very shrewd charactor. He knows that in times of uncertainty and fear it is stability that the public craves most. Some have argued that it was the Terrorism scare that one John Howard another term in office and I'm wondering if Mr Beattie isn't trying to capitalise on the same public sentiment.

Calling for a State Election just 2 days before the fifth anniversary of the greatest Terrorist Attack on the West in modern history seems just a little too coincidental to me. Perhaps I'm only pointing out the obvious and this has crossed all our minds but I'd love to hear some feedback on this. Is Beattie playing the fear card?

He's more likely to be trying to avoid football finals and the imposition of level four water restrictions. The tip on the election date was the 9th or the 16th September for some time, but the second date undermines your theory completely.

The 9th probably won because of the Liberals' change of leader which in retrospect may have tipped the scales. He did use the health of the Member for Bundaberg, Nita Cunningham as his final excuse, but you'd have to think he'd known about that for a while.

What would he have to gain from the anniversary of 9/11?

Only what I outlined in my post. The public need for stability in a time of fear. It won John Howard another term and I daresay it will be a factor in the QLD election. With the twin tower collapse reminders already appearing in newspapers and today's release of a second movie based on that horrific days events the people are going to ask themselves which Government would best protect them from an Al-Qaeda threat in Queensland. An established experienced Government or an untrialled divisive Coalition. It's a winning strategy.

As you say there are a number of reasons why that date was selected but I think this could be another one. Ofcourse I might be wrong and the significance of September 11 might have slipped Peter Beattie's mind but somehow I doubt that very much. It will will also draw away attention from any last minute attempts by the coalition to highlight hospitals, power and water.

Wayne, not a single person in any of our focus groups or online surveys has mentioned this as a factor. You can check it all out by going to http://elections.nationalforum.com.au/queensland-election-2006/ and the blog http://currumbin2cook.nationalforum.com.au/.

I think people might look towards John Howard to provide security, but they're not sure that Beattie's even competent enough to keep the power turned on!

That was a witty comeback. Did you see the full page advertisement in The Australian today? He is still claiming credit for the drop in unemployment which more correctly belongs to John Howard and the emphasis is definately on "experienced stable government" as opposed to "infighting coalition who can't even run themselves never mind Queensland".

You don't think September 11 reminders are going to make people think twice about changing Government?

Well, it was just an observation. Perhaps the timing is purely coincidental but I'm sure Mr Beattie isn't complaining about it. Planned or not it's definitely playing right into his hands.

After coming out of a movie theatre having watched planes crash into the strongest Western nation most cinema goers are going to be thinking "What if it happened here?"

"Could MY government handle it?"

Can I risk voting for an untested party?"

Just my take.

Today's front page of The Australian said it rather succinctly. I'm writing from memory but went something like this.

"Voters are not prepared to change government at a time of prosperity and against a backdrop of Terrorism."

The last few days have been a long run of terrorist related articles mixed in with the deaths of Australian legends. Certainly a week which will go down as a negative one in history books and I'm not saying that because I chose the Coalition underdog.

I hope you had an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong Graham. Look forward to talking to you when you get back.