Bundaberg and Burnett MPs thank Palaszczuk for service
Bundaberg and Burnett MPs have thanked outgoing premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for her service to the region, while Stephen Bennett took a shot at the ‘factional warlords’ he said played a role in her successor’s victory.
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Both of the two Burnett state MPs were unanimous in thanking outgoing premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for her service, but that is where the common ground ended as LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett echoed his leader’s criticism of the role of unions in anointing her successor Steven Miles.
In a Sunday afternoon Facebook post issued in the aftermath of Ms Palaszczuk’s bombshell resignation, Bundaberg MP Tom Smith thanked the former premier for her attention to regional Queensland and the personal guidance she had given to the first-term MP.
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“Her legacy will be seen across this state for generations to come,” Mr Smith said.
“Whether it be her strengthening of equality, equity, and opportunity for all, her delivery of major infrastructure, or her leadership through natural disasters, community tragedies, and a global pandemic, our Premier embodied the sentiments of Queenslanders and moved our state forward each step of the way.
“In Bundaberg, during this term alone, I am proud to have worked alongside the Premier to secure projects already underway and set to change not only the skyline of Bundy, but its opportunities for jobs, health, and education into the future.”
While Mr Smith would not be drawn on which candidate he backed after Shannon Fentiman threw her hat in the leadership ring with Steven Miles, the factional and union alignments binding him to Queensland’s next premier suggest he would be happy with the outcome.
While all three MPs are in the dominant Labor Left faction, Mr Smith and Mr Miles are both aligned with the United Workers Union, while Ms Fentiman has the support of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union.
Despite Mr Miles refusing to comment on the role played by unions in the outcome of the leadership tussle, Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell reported on Tuesday Ms Fentiman’s announcement that she would contest the leadership led directly to Mr Miles securing the support of the Cameron Dick-aligned Australian Workers Union in addition to his own United Workers Union that gave him the numbers over his cabinet colleague.
Mr Smith has made regular public appearances with Mr Miles, most recently in November when the acting premier visited Bundaberg to give a carton of XXXX beer and a bottle of Bundaberg Rum to emergency services crews who had been battling bushfires.
Mr Smith’s Facebook profile features a picture of himself together with Mr Miles at the media conference for this event.
LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett echoed opposition leader David Crisafulli’s claim that “undermining ministers and factional warlords” were the deciding factor in the leadership tussle.
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“This was a cunning and calculated coup,” Mr Bennett said.
“Sadly, Labor is full of internal undermining with a backbench at war with itself.
“It should have been Queenslanders who got to vote on the next premier, not self-serving ministers and factional union bosses.”
Nevertheless, Mr Bennett thanked Ms Palaszczuk for her dedication to Qld as the country’s longest serving premier.
“Regardless of politics, nine years as premier deserves acknowledgment and respect,” he said.
“I would like to thank Ms Palaszczuk for her service and wish her all the best in her retirement.”
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