‘Autocracy’: Premier’s ex-mentor calls for leadership rule change

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s former mentor is calling for an end to the ‘tortured process’ of removing a Labor leader, declaring party MPs should know when it’s time for them to go.

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s former mentor is calling for an end to the “tortured process” of removing a Labor leader, declaring party MPs should know when it’s time for them to go.

Former Speaker, Beattie and Bligh government minister John Mickel is the latest Queensland Labor stalwart to weigh into leadership rumblings, following former ministers Robert Schwarten and Bob Gibbs’ attacks on Ms Palaszczuk in past days.

Labor leadership rules introduced in the wake of the federal tussle between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard now require at least half of the parliament’s Labor MPs to petition party headquarters to hold a vote.

Three separate ballots for Labor MPs, branch members and affiliated unions would then be combined to determine the leader.

Mr Mickel argued the leadership rules forced a drawn out and “tortured process” if there was no chosen successor to the leader.

“I said at the time this was unwise, I stand by that,” he said.

“It’s gone largely from a process of democracy to an autocracy.

“The Caucus should be in charge of its own destiny … they see these people close up.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with John Mickel

Labor has 52 members in its Caucus, which only meets in person during parliament sitting weeks and is not due to reconvene until February 12.

“The last week in parliament and nobody did any of this … for a vote of no confidence, you’ve got to bring them all back,” Mr Mickel said.

His intervention is expected to add fuel to persistent leadership questions dogging Ms Palaszczuk.

Mr Mickel is a former mentor of the Premier, who in her maiden speech in 2006 thanked and praised him as a “long-term family friend”.

It is understood, however, the pair had a falling out several years ago.

When asked whether Ms Palaszczuk was the best person to lead Labor to the next election, Mr Mickel said only that she was “determined”.

“Right now she is the leader,” he said.

“I don’t know who they’re coalescing around … I’m not aware of any other challengers.”

Mr Mickel noted Ms Palaszczuk was approaching the record of becoming Labor’s longest-serving leader in a state where the party had been battered at a federal and local government level.

He said the Caucus was aware of the Premier’s electoral strength – an “innate ability” to read the mood of Queensland voters.

“She’s a centrist,” he said.

Ms Palaszczuk has won three elections, taking Labor from six seats to 52.

John Mickel

Ms Palaszczuk has insisted she will lead Labor to the next election and United Workers’ Union powerbroker Gary Bullock has reportedly reconfirmed the decision remains hers to make.

One senior Labor MP argued continuing speculation about Ms Palaszczuk’s leadership would not push her out the door.

Without an internal challenge, they argued she would likely again “dig in”.

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe on Sunday dismissed leadership questions and backed the comments of Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath, who said rumblings were only being driven by old men of yesteryear.

“I’m not gonna waste my time dealing with has-beens,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“I know that the Premier has the support of her colleagues, and this is just a waste of time.”

Mr Hinchliffe said he did not support a change to the leadership rules.

“They take account of the nature of the election leadership system that we have in Queensland,” he said.

“I’m happy to see how the rules operate because they are reflective of what the party wants.”