The government went into caretaker mode on Tuesday morning after Premier Steven Miles visited Governor Jeannette Young, officially starting the countdown to the October 26 poll.
Mr Miles showcased his 50-cent fare scheme - which he has promised to make permanent if re-elected - by catching the bus to Government House where Ms Young handed the writ for the election.
"Every election in Queensland's really hard, but I'm confident with the plans that we will outline to Queenslanders over the next few weeks are good plans for our state's future," he told reporters on the walk.
Steven Miles arrived at Government House on a public bus. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
The incumbent premier of 10 months was feeling excited as the campaign trail officially began, with the first stop scheduled to be in Townsville.
"I love campaigning because it's when you really get a chance to get around Queensland, to meet with lots of Queenslanders, and to outline to them my plans ... to take our state forward," he said.
Mr Miles urged Queenslanders to think carefully before heading to the ballot box.
"Who do you trust to take our state forward? Because right now, the risks of going back are so great," he said.
"The way Queensland moves forward is by delivering a plan for our state's future.
"The commitment I make to you as your premier is that every day, I will look for ways, big and small, to secure our state's future."
Opinion polls suggest David Crisafulli will be Queensland's next premier. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)
The Liberal National Party appears on track for victory based on consistent polling.
The most recent poll from Freshwater Strategy on Monday had David Crisafulli's LNP leading Labor by 56 per cent to 44 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis.
Labor has won 11 of the past 12 state elections, with Campbell Newman the last LNP premier in Queensland from 2012-2015.
Prior to the Newman government, Robert Borbidge was premier between 1996 and 1998 for the National Party.
"I've gone through the weight of history and 11 of the last 12 (elections have been won by Labor) - that's not generational, that's a generation and a half," Mr Crisafulli said of the challenge ahead for the LNP.
While both parties are reluctant to claim favouritism, the key state election issues are clear - youth crime, housing, health and cost-of-living pressures.
"They are the battlelines for this election," Mr Crisafulli said.
The leaders of both major parties will go head-to-head in a debate on Thursday.
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