What you said about Shannon Fentiman as a potential Labor leader

Shannon Fentiman admitted her disappointment after a failed Labor leadership claim – but what do Queenslanders think? HAVE YOUR SAY

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman won’t rule out another tilt at the Labor leadership. Picture: David Clark

Best of a bad bunch or a changing of the guard for Labor?

Readers are divided over the potential leadership claims of Shannon Fentiman, who this week revealed she wouldn’t rule out again challenging for the party’s top seat.

Outlining her tense relationship with former Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the health minister, 40, admitted she was caught off guard with the endorsement of Steven Miles for the top job in December 2023.

“I didn’t know she was going,” she said of Ms Palaszczuk’s resignation.

“ … And at the very end of it she said Steven Miles.”

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman discusses her relationship with former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: David Clark

“ … I was disappointed that she anointed Steven – most leaders would leave it to the party to decide who was best placed to lead them.

“It was disappointing that she felt she had to weigh in on that.”

Quickly brushing it off, Ms Fentiman went for the top job anyway but pulled out within days.

That said, Ms Fentiman won’t rule out another tilt at the Labor leadership.

“We’ll see what happens, I wouldn’t say no, but there’s a lot to happen between now and the election and I want to win, we want to win,” the member for Waterford in Logan said.

Many readers, though, weren’t convinced of her leadership credentials.

Some backed her for the job – albeit in Opposition after October’s state election – while others insisted she may be the best of a bad bunch of options.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

No thanks

Nicholas

Zero experience in life yet has the in-built arrogance of modern day Labor politicians to think they can run the state …

hv84

She has done a horrendous job in every aspect of Health, imagine her as Premier

Sir Les P

Fentiman has been a shocker in every portfolio she has had/Labor needs people who have worked outside the union movement and outside of the Labor Party for at least 10 years to become a better party.

Ron

Fentiman would be an appropriate replacement as opposition leader after Labor get walloped on 26 October. Fentiman has mimicked her former boss (Palaszczuk) and won’t live in her electorate. Another fake who purports to represent the working class – just so long as she doesn’t have to live near them or see them very often.

Andrew

She has the credentials for the Labor leadership. Incompetent.

Only What’s Allowed

If Fentiman ends up leading Labor, Labor is in deep desperate trouble. Then again you could say the same with all of their current woeful rabble.

Shannon Fentiman. Picture: Tara Croser.

Fentiman fan

G1

Even if Labor loses the election, we need them to be an effective opposition.

Fentiman is the only one capable of leading, the rest are deadbeats.

Babs

A beautiful lady. Intelligent and always meant for politics.

Sophie

Fentiman is in a very safe Labor seat and is unlikely to lose it.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman with Premier Steven Miles and Deputy Premier Cameron Dick announcing 260 extra ambulance officers for Queensland. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Still the best bet

Geoff2

At least Labor has a viable alternate leader or two. Crisafulli’s the least inspiring leader in living memory and the rest of the State LNP are witless.

Considered

Forget the ALP. Crisafool and his mates need more substance. The only reason the ALP are in power because the biggest fear is that the LNP have no spine and no good ideas.

Rosie

One big shock for Labor is they are going to be on the cross bench for the next decade or more and possibly a minor party to the greens. Palaszczuk, Miles or whoever Qlders have had enough of their lies and incompetence.

Shannon Fentiman during Question Time at Parliament House.

Not a fan

KRISTINE

So the buttering up of the readers to sell them the soon-to-be Leader of the Opposition commences. Possibly one of the most unpleasant and egotistical Ministers anyone can recall dealing with..

dave

All the liberal or labour comments are as if the two parties are different … there is no real choice they are both basically the same party. Most of the comments here alway seem to be from generation greed who seem to believe they have a choice, probably because they had it too easy.

Mel

this Government and it MPs is now a laughing joke. It goes from bad to worse..

Ben

Hugely popular? She’s stuffed up every portfolio handed to her.

Mark

The old rift between the two leading Labor females trick. If Miles loses the October state election, then Labor can fool Queensland voters by making Fentiman the new leader. They can say, look, a changing of the old guard for new guard.