After their deputies traded blows, the Queensland premier and opposition leader are set to face off again ahead of the state election.

As they near the campaign’s halfway mark, Premier Steven Miles and Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli will on Wednesday lock horns in the second leadership debate in Brisbane.

It will be one of the main campaign events ahead of the October 26 poll, but it appears they have a hard act to follow after their deputies fired up.

Accused of hiding, shadow treasurer David Janetzki returned fire on Tuesday in back-to-back radio interviews.

He took aim at Treasurer Cameron Dick after copping criticism for not revealing his economic plan.

Mr Janetzki claimed the treasurer was more focused on auditioning for the top job than respecting Queenslanders’ money, saying it showed why the state “needs a fresh start”.

Mr Dick hit back, describing the shadow treasurer’s radio interviews as a “train wreck”.

“That is disrespectful to trainwrecks because a train needs … forward movement before it can run off the rails,” he told reporters.

“He has not been seen with the leader (Mr Crisafulli) on the campaign trail for two weeks…the shadow treasurer has been in an LNP witness protection program.”

The LNP had enjoyed a harmonious lead-up to the four week election campaign, appearing on track to end Labor’s nine-year reign.

But it faced a setback after a conservative crossbencher said he would introduce a private members bill to repeal abortion laws if re-elected.

Mr Crisafulli was peppered with questions and repeatedly told journalists abortion law changes were not part of his plans.

But he is facing mounting pressure after being unable to explain how he will guarantee that, while refusing to be drawn on whether or not he would deny LNP colleagues a conscience vote on any bill.

Mr Miles has campaigned on being transparent with voters about costings and their tax plan, spruiking cost-of-living initiatives and health services expansions.

He unveiled a $1.4 billion scheme to provide free lunches to primary state school students from term one, 2025.

His campaign has endured its own hiccups after twice forgetting the names of Labor candidates at press conferences.

The premier will face off with Mr Crisafulli in the second debate at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Wednesday afternoon.

They will give opening statements and exchange questions before being peppered by the media in front of a packed audience.

The final debate will be held on October 22, days before election day.

Mr Crisafulli made headlines at the October 3 opening debate after claiming he would step down as premier if crime numbers did not improve.

This post was originally published on Michael West.