This is the year Queensland Premier Campbell Newman must ditch his Can Do rhetoric and furnish some proof.

Mr Newman's personal approval rating has suffered deeply since his election in March 2012 - the rest of the year was an annus horribilis dominated by mass job and service cuts, nepotism scandals and defections.

Voters wondered whether his leadership style was too domineering and did more harm than good.

Australian Catholic University political analyst Scott Prasser says it is crucial the premier puts on a convincing show of good management in 2013.

"We've gone through the pain. Now we want to see positive policy initiatives, solutions to problems," Professor Prasser says.

"You don't win elections in an election campaign. You win them on how you manage government the twelve months before the election."

Queensland's recent floods could prove the perfect opportunity for the premier to change.

He has already softened.

Instead of telling Queenslanders they are going to lose their jobs, he is out saying he is there to help.

The former engineer is in his element; he wants to rebuild Queensland bigger and better.

But his treasurer might have to rein him in.

Although urgent flood repairs will be a priority, Tim Nicholls admits the government may need to consider scaling back some of the planned $15.5 billion worth of capital works this financial year.

"You could potentially defer spending on some projects that you anticipated spending money on this year," he says.

"You either have to earn more income, spend less, or you have to go into debt more.

"So we're looking all those options."

The promised return to surplus in 2014/15 isn't as solid as it was before the flood disaster.

The treasurer says it's difficult to predict how the state's finances will look before the full extent of the losses are known.

But he says the government will strive to deliver it.

"We'll be fighting our darnedest to make sure it does happen," he says.

Public scrutiny will focus on how the LNP handles the financial fall-out from the floods - estimated to cost over $2.4 billion - and inevitably they will make comparisons with Labor's performance two years ago.

Voters are also unlikely to welcome former federal treasurer Peter Costello's final report on the state's finances, which is expected to recommend selling electricity providers to pay down debt.

Mr Nicholls remains confident he can revive the state's economy.

"We needed to do some tough things to keep that patient alive, (and) we've done that," he said.

"This year is the year we want to get the patient running again."

After parliament resumes on Tuesday, we could see controversial laws that allow grog in dry communities and a ban on single people and homosexuals from having a child through surrogacy.

Bitter slanging matches with the federal government are also likely.

The Newman government might not play ball on the Gonski education reforms, while picking fights over health and disabilities funding and disaster relief payments.

Asked this week what we can expect in 2013, Mr Newman repeated his well-worn but highly successful catchphrases from last year's election campaign.

"This year is all about getting the state back on track," he said.

"I (would) just assure them (voters) that they elected a Can Do government, they expected a Can Do government, we have been a Can Do government all the way through, but perhaps through the floods they actually saw that come through again."

Although his comments lack imagination, the community's desire to get on with rebuilding Queensland may just be enough to turn the tide of opinion in favour of Campbell Newman.