Awkward handshake for fierce Ashgrove foes

Campbell Newman and Kate Jones have come face to face at a polling booth in Ashgrove, and this time the Liberal National Party (LNP) leader accepted her handshake offer – on the second attempt.

Ms Jones arrived at The Gap State School just before 9am (AEST) on Saturday and not long after the would-be premier and his wife Lisa arrived with a media entourage in tow.

At first Mr Newman ignored, or possibly didn’t see, the petite local MP handing out how-to-vote cards, coming within a metre or two of her at the front gates while he greeted LNP volunteers and voters.

Ms Jones approached Mr Newman but his back was turned.

After retreating a few steps, she came forward again and this time the LNP leader responded with an outstretched hand.

“He wasn’t going to (shake my hand) at first and I had to stalk him to make him shake my hand,” Ms Jones told AAP.

Mr Newman has been criticised for refusing to shake his opponent’s hand after a debate last Sunday, apparently over Labor’s ads attacking his family.

He wouldn’t speak about it afterwards, but among his critics was former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke, who called it “not a man’s action”.

Ms Jones has fought a fierce grassroots campaign, only to be overtaken by Mr Newman in opinion polls in the last week.

Mr Newman is expected to oust her from parliament and lead his party to victory on a 11.7 per cent swing, according to a Newspoll in Saturday’s Weekend Australian newspaper.

He will vote for Rob Cavallucci, the LNP candidate in Brisbane Central, where he lives.

Despite Saturday’s Newspoll result, Mr Newman is still downplaying his chances.

“I don’t take votes for granted and it’s a tough battle and we won’t know until this evening,” Mr Newman told reporters.

“It’s like that across the state.”

He said Labor ads urging Queenslanders not to make their opposition too weak were “just a ploy”.

About 50 people had queued to vote before the start of polling at 8am (AEST).

Among them were Luke Hogan and James McCorley.

The pair said the local campaigning had been intense and they would be glad to see the back of this election.

“Last election you didn’t even notice it,” Mr McCorley told AAP.

Mr Hogan said he voted based on the candidates and not along party lines.

“I’m over it (the election),” he told AAP.

“It was over the top.

“I voted for the person I didn’t like the least.”

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