Federal election: Labor taking extreme measures in Qld to avoid election drubbing

For possibly the first time in its history, Labor is taking this drastic step in Queensland as it bids to rebound from the devastating 2019 drubbing in which it won just 20 per cent of the state’s seats.

Labor has set up a special Queensland strategy group ahead of the looming federal election following its devastating 2019 drubbing that saw the party win just 20 per cent of the state’s seats.

It’s the first time in the party’s recent history – if ever – that such a group has been formed for Queensland and includes state secretary Julie-Ann Campbell, state president John Battams, national secretary Paul Erickson and national president Wayne Swan.

A senior party source revealed the group would provide advice around specific issues, particularly in regional Queensland, as they conceded the party needed to “make gains” in the Sunshine State to win the election.

“Queensland will be a focal point in the campaign,” they said.

“A federal Queensland strategy group has been established to advise on Queensland specific issues in the federal campaign.

“Basically trying to make sure that advice can be provided on issues which are impacting on the Queensland campaign … particularly in regional Queensland.”

The then Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labor Party Bill Shorten, flanked by his wife Chloe Shorten concedes defeat following the results of the Federal Election in 2019. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Labor’s post-mortem review of the 2019 election found the party’s “ambiguous language” on Adani’s coal mine and some “anti-coal rhetoric” savaged the support from Queensland’s regional coal mining communities.

“Labor won only 20 per cent of seats in Queensland in the 2019 election and it has proven very difficult for Labor to win a federal election without performing better in Queensland,” the report read.

“Labor’s position on Adani sent a message to workers and their families in central and north Queensland that Labor did not value them or the work they do, a problem magnified by the Stop Adani Convoy.

“A perception Labor was not supportive of the mining industry may have also damaged the Party across the rest of Queensland.”

Labor leader Anthony Albanese. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

The party source said Mr Erickson was very supportive of the group given the “lack of performance” in Queensland during recent elections.

“The success of the state government has been the fact that they have been able to protect and enhance the environment as well as create economic growth and jobs including within the resources sector,” they said.

It’s understood Mr Battams initiated the group which has been advising for a number of months.