Just like his grandfather who migrated from Italy to a Sunshine State cane farm, Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli is seeking a fresh start in Queensland.
The opposition leader's nonno moved to north Queensland in 1960 and began cutting cane by hand to provide for his family, going on to buy the farm where Mr Crisafulli grew up and which his father still runs.
Mr Crisafulli attributes his drive in politics and hunger for the Liberal National Party to win the October 26 election to his grandfather.
"My late grandfather is still the single biggest mental inspiration for me," the 45-year-old told AAP.
"I just saw his work ethic. He was a really humble man, a really hard-working, decent man.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for two things: migration and agriculture."
Mr Crisafulli's career began in journalism before he became deputy mayor in Townsville and eventually ran for state parliament, becoming Member for Mundingburra in 2012.
He held the seat for three years and was appointed local government minister under former premier Campbell Newman before losing in the 2015 election.
Mr Crisafulli was re-elected as the Member for Broadwater in 2017, one of the safest LNP seats, and three years later was appointed opposition leader with a drive for change.
"I'm genuinely bullish about the future of Queensland," he says.
Mr Crisafulli is up at 4am every day to focus on the challenge, or what he describes as the opportunity to win the election.
He also says it is the only time his media advisor doesn't call him.
"I start every day with exercise and it's well before the sun and that puts me in the right frame of mind," Mr Crisafulli says.
"In some quirky way, I think there's a broader narrative and that is we've got ourselves fit for government."
Polling has indicated the LNP is indeed set for government, with a forecast win at the election to overturn Labor's three terms of government.
But Mr Crisafulli maintains his party is the underdog.
"History is against us and there are plenty of punters who have lost bets on far shorter odds," he says.
With the LNP only winning one election in the last 12, he says it is not the time for complacency and Queenslanders have to vote for change if they want it.
"I want people to understand what we're trying to do is genuinely create history."
Given the polling, the lead-up to the election has been plagued by political barbs, with the incumbent government claiming Mr Crisafulli has adopted a small target strategy by failing to detail his pledges.
But he is not deterred by the attacks, sticking to his promise of a fresh start for Queensland.
"The government's very desperate and increasingly we're seeing that," he says.
"We are determined to make sure Queenslanders see through the fear campaign and that they see hope and opportunity for a fresh start.
"My campaign will not focus on trying to scare people, my campaign will focus on giving them hope for the future and a fresh start for Queensland."
Mr Crisafulli has been clear there are four battle lines this election - crime, health, housing and cost of living.
"We have put forward short and long-term solutions and they come from Queenslanders," he says.
Some headline policies include "adult time for adult crime" to introduce harsher sentences on kids committing serious crimes, remove detention as a last resort from legislation and set up "youth justice" schools for offender rehabilitation.
He has also promised real-time data reporting on the health system for transparency, scrapping stamp duty for first-home buyers, introducing shared equity schemes to help people into the housing market and allowing first-time owners to rent out a room in their house.
It remains anyone's game with 35 days until voters head to the polls with Mr Crisafulli's work cut out for him to gain Labor stronghold seats.
"I want it to be about Queenslanders," he says.
"I want them to know that I lead a team that's focused on them."
Even with a busy month ahead, family remains a priority for the opposition leader.
"If I do get time off, there is nothing that I like more than a Sunday afternoon with homemade pasta and to watch the footy (NRL) with my girls," he says.
"I really love that. I love good food. I enjoy a nice red wine. I enjoy beer. I really enjoy my footy."
But when it comes down to Mr Crisafulli's love of the North Queensland Cowboys or the LNP winning the election, his party loyalty clinches the top spot.
"The Labor Party have governed for the better part of the last three decades," he says.
"So if my good mates, who are Cowboys fans, can just cut me a break I reckon an LNP win might be more needed for Queensland right now, just by a nose."
If the LNP wins, it will be straight to work for Mr Crisafulli who has committed to making sure every day counts.
"We've looked Queenslanders in the eye and told them that if we are elected in 2024, by 2028 there will be less victims of crime, lower ambulance ramping, less Queenslanders looking for a home and the pressure on the big bills around the kitchen table will be less," Mr Crisafulli says.
"So we're going to need every day of that four years."
