Speaking at a Queensland Media Club lunch on Tuesday, Mr Nicholls outlined his vision for the state under the Liberal National Party, including his five key priorities, six key drivers, and a four-point plan.

The priorities include more jobs and safer communities, the drivers include tourism, education and construction, and the four-point plan involves grants and initiatives to get young Queenslanders back to work, especially in regional parts of the state.

Mr Nicholls said his party stands for "hope" as he distanced himself from his time as treasurer under the previous Newman LNP government.

"In moving quickly we (the previous Newman government) failed to take Queenslanders with us, and I acknowledge that we broke the trust of Queenslanders, and for that I am sorry," said the LNP leader, who also took aim at the minority Labor government for a lack of leadership.

Mr Nicholls said he has "learnt his lesson" on asset sales, but he stopped short of ruling them out completely if elected again.

"We have to, and we will, live within the means granted to us by the people of Queensland."

Mr Nicholls also again ruled out forming a coalition with One Nation, saying he was aiming for a majority government, and urged voters to vote that way at the polls.

"I am aiming to get 47-plus seats ... because that's the only way you're able to deliver the outcomes that will deliver a better Queensland," he said.

The next state election is due by early 2018, but is widely expected to be called in the second half of this year.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt took aim at Mr Nicholls' attempt to distance himself from the Newman era.

"Either he was a weak treasurer who had no influence on government, or he's got amnesia," Mr Pitt said.

"He says he's a different person, but he's the same person who sacked 14,000 people in his first budget.

"He can't escape his past. He may want to forget he was Campbell Newman's right hand man, but Queenslanders won't forget."