George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip
Debate got heated in the latest sitting of Queensland Parliament, including one exchange where a line was crossed. THIS IS GEORGE ST BEAT
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Parliament is a tense place, but the deterioration of standards this week is worth noting.
It started on Tuesday when the government moved to claim the opposition – which made significant effort to address domestic and family violence while in power – suddenly didn’t care about it.
It was a political wedge leading to a debate about why police turned up to Member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan’s home to respond to a domestic incident and calls for him to explain just what happened.
Mr Sullivan said there had been no findings against him, but it sparked accusations Premier David Crisafulli and Deputy Jarrod Bleijie were “hollow men”.
Other notable barbs dished up came from, predictably, Grace Grace.
“Character assassinations is all you’ve got,” she shouted at the government.
Mr Bliejie’s attacks of CFMEU “union thuggery” also prompted the ageless Italian Grace to bite back.
“C’mon mate, keep bullying... keep calling me names,” she said.
Perhaps the most heated exchange came during a division when Mr Crisafulli and Treasurer David Janetzki were engaged in a skirmish with Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick over the involvement of family members in the political debate.
“Leave my wife out of it... get out of the gutter,” Mr Dick fired.
Outside of the chamber MPs are usually cordial, and we hope this continues.
JOB FOR THE... GIRL!?
It wasn’t the ghost of failed Labor MP Ali King stalking the halls of Queensland Parliament this week – she’s actually been given a job by mate and mentor Opposition Leader Steven Miles.
Many Labor MPs aren’t happy about it.
Ms King represented the Bribie Island seat of Pumicestone for one term before she was defeated in October by the LNP candidate her campaign labelled a “child”, too young and inexperienced to have a serious career as a member of parliament.
Well, the majority of constituents in the Pumicestone electorate laughed off this rubbish to send Ariana Doolan to the government benches.
For Ms King, the gravy train rolls on.
The appointment as a policy adviser to Mr Miles has raised eyebrows among some Labor MPs.
One smirked: “What advice could she provide… how to lose an electorate in one term?”
BRUCE THE RE-BUILDER
Speaking of old dogs learning new tricks, the shock loser in Maryborough Bruce Saunders has been tasked by Labor with rebuilding the party in regional Queensland.
He’s been named the new regional organiser for Queensland Labor.
The role will include getting out to regional Queensland and keeping the party’s foundations healthy as it looks to mount a challenge in 2028 to win back a dozen seats from Cook to Maryborough.
DON’T READ IT
Staying in Maryborough, it seems MP John Barounis has fallen into the classic trap of believing engaging with social media critics will result in a productive dialogue.
The new MP boldly invited his haters to get off their screens and come to his office to air their grievances to his face, or as he put it “say it straight to my face”.
A tragic mistake indeed.
See, the Facebook comments section is where reason goes to die.
It is a petri dish of unfiltered opinions and yes, derogatory comments.
And it is for these reasons that no politician should ever venture there unless they enjoy debating anonymous users with profile pictures or cars and middle-aged men yelling about fantasy tax policies.
Mr Barounis, next time you find yourself offended by online strangers, close the Facebook app and for the love of democracy, stay away from the comments section.
GOD SAVE THE SWORD
It’s predictable the election of a conservative government and fanatic monarchist Jarrod Bleijie increased the role of His Majesty’s representative in Queensland.
When Governor Jeannette Young grants assent to a Bill, making it law, it is simply marked by the Speaker as a “message from the Governor”.
However, not content with this, the LNP state government invited one of the Governor’s regal messengers – complete with a swinging sword – into the Legislative Assembly.
“Sword guy” as one opposition MP labelled the messenger, seemed to get fairly close to nipping Shadow Treasurer Shannon Fentiman.
BLACK-EYED BARB
Member for South Brisbane Barbara O’Shea has fractured her eye socket after suffering an almighty fall running to make a division in parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
Your GSB scribe witnessed Dr O’Shea, Labor MP Corrine McMillan and Liberal MP James Lister sprinting towards the chamber before she tripped and smashed her head on the tiled floor.
After checking Dr O’Shea was okay, Ms McMillan lifted her up and helped her into the chamber to make the vote – which Labor of course still lost.
She went to hospital and was later spotted with a dark black eye as a result of the fracture.
GSB wishes the first-term Dr O’Shea a quick and full recovery.
We also need to share some gossip about why Dr O’Shea was running late for the division.
Spies told us she jumped into an elevator already being used by a staffer, thinking it was travelling down to the chamber.
However, it was heading up – forcing her to wait for another going down before sprinting and, sadly, falling.
It’s for this reason lifts are off limits to staffers when the bells are ringing to allow MPs to get to the chamber as quickly as possible.
It’s a golden rule.
HOUSES OF INTEREST
Political nerds assemble – an updated MP register of interests has been released.
It gives GSB the chance to check out the real estate portfolios of our newest and youngest MPs.
Pumicestone MP Ariana Doolan, 22, who was the youngest woman ever elected into parliament last year is a beneficiary of a family trust which includes nine Townsville units.
In classic young-people problems, she also lists her HECS debt as a liability costing more than $23,000.
Gregory MP Sean Dillon, a fourth-generation grazier, declared his 20,400 hectare property in Alpha, in Central Queensland, a community his family has been connected to for more than a century.
Next to him, Mirani MP Glen Kelly’s 2330 hectares in the Rockhampton region is more humbling.
Rockhampton MP, Donna Kirkland, declared ownership of two commercial mechanic workshops, her Kawana residence, and a Berserker property.
Capalaba MP Russell Field noted his 10,000m2 freehold Belmont residence, and an 810m2 investment property at Alexandra Hills, while Musgrave MP Terry James lists a home in Mount Sheridan, and two commercial properties in Westcourt, Cairns.
Originally published as George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip
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