FORMER Queensland senator and leader of the Nationals Ron Boswell has slammed PUP leader Clive Palmer and declared the Newman government will retain power.

Casting his eye over the state of affairs from a Mooloolah lychee farm last week, Mr Boswell, who led the Nationals in the Senate from 1990, was confident Queenslanders would stick with the Newman government.

"I think the Campbell Newman government has a plan - they've got a direction, they know where they're going," Mr Boswell said.

"No government has a magic pudding, no government that comes in facing a $69 billion debt can afford to make popular decisions. He's (Campbell Newman) made tough decisions, he's made hard decisions, but I think the people respect him for that."

Mr Boswell said while he believed the LNP would have to fight for "every last vote" in the coming election, he remained reasonably confident the Newman government would be returned.

When quizzed on his thoughts on the Palmer United Party, and whether it would have much influence on the state election, Mr Boswell quickly made his thoughts clear.

"I think the people have woken up to them (PUP) ... he (Clive Palmer) wanted to take his spite out on the government, so he tried to run against them and I think he'll get his just desserts in this election," Mr Boswell said.

"I don't think he'll (PUP) win a seat. Oh no, no, he's not going to win a seat up here, this is conservative country up here.

"He made the Parliament look like a circus and he looks like the head clown."

Speaking on Saturday, Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer was confident of securing a few seats on the Coast this election.

He pointed to the fact the LNP had been making promises related to the duplication of the rail line from Brisbane for so long, yet failed to take action, as one example of the disdain Coast voters had been treated with.

"It's a very arrogant way to deal with the Sunshine Coast people," Mr Palmer said.