George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip

Polarising Labor figure Jackie Trad has been spotted sharing a red with another former deputy premier. THIS IS GEORGE STREET BEAT

Jackie Trad has caught up with another former deputy premier.

They may be from opposing factions, but it seems the Left and Right sides of the Labor Party are still happy to break bread on occasion.

Our GSB spies this week spotted two former deputy premiers, Jackie Trad and Paul Lucas, having a glass of red and, presumably, a bit of a gossip.

Of course Ms Trad tends to stay out of the limelight these days, but insiders say she still has plenty of sway inside the Left faction.

Meanwhile Lucas – a former health minister – was recently given a gig on the South West Hospital and Health board, thanks to current Health Minister Shannon Fentiman.

PREMIER PULLS OUT OF $200/HEAD LUNCH

A major Property Council lunch headlined by Premier Steven Miles has been postponed just days out.

The $200-a-head event was set to take place at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on April 23.

Mr Miles was the keynote speaker, with the session moderated by newly minted Property Council Queensland head Jess Caire.

But on Friday attendees were informed the event had moved to May 24.

It’s understood the Premier alerted the Property Council he could no longer make it and while a frontbencher replacement was floated, ultimately the entire event was moved.

Why Mr Miles’ schedule suddenly changed — at the end of a challenging parliamentary week — is unclear but it’s understood he will instead be travelling regionally on April 19.

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

The state and federal branch of the LNP are once again at loggerheads after David Crisafulli’s Opposition this week supported Labor’s ambitious emissions target – infuriating leaders of the Coalition.

The party backed a Miles government Bill this week to legislate an emissions reduction target of 75 per cent on 2005 levels by 2035 and ultimately ditch the reliance on coal-fired power stations.

Progressive Opposition environment spokesman Sam O’Connor told parliament the move made sense from an economic perspective but also from an environmental view to protect “our state’s unique and precious biodiversity”.

Leader of the National Party of Australia David Littleproud was blindsided by the move. Picture: Martin Ollman

The move blindsided federal Nationals leader David Littleproud who accused the state branch of viewing energy policy through a “very micro lens of Southeast Queensland”.

“We will be the ones with the cheque book,” he said

“These renewable projects, the funding mostly comes from the federal government so unless David Crisafulli wants to fund them all by himself, that’ll be a decision for him.”

The clash comes after Mr Crisafulli repeatedly refused to get on board with the Coalition’s nuclear push.

ONE NATION BOOTED

The state government sensationally threw the baby out with the bath water this week when it prematurely dissolved an independent youth crime inquiry meant to give Queensland a blueprint for fixing youth crime.

And there were lesser known casualties along the way. One of them was One Nation’s Stephen Andrew (Mirani) who was unceremoniously booted off the Community Safety and Legal Affairs Committee to make way for independent Sandy Bolton (Noosa).

Ms Bolton had been at the helm of the youth crime inquiry.

It was noted Mr Andrew wasn’t in the parliamentary chamber when he was kicked off the team. But the One Nation MP revealed he had been given the heads up by Leader of the House Mick de Brenni, who rang him before the deed was done.

Mr Andrew confirmed he was befuddled by the decision but was more sympathetic to the palava Ms Bolton had been forced to endure.

RECOVERY MODE

Member for Southport Rob Molhoek is not set to return to parliamentary duties until at least June 5 it can be revealed, as the Liberal National MP continues to recover from a significant stroke.

Southport MP Rob Molhoek is still recovering from a stroke.

On April 16 Mr Molhoek posted an update on his Facebook page with pictures of him at Gold Coast University Hospital. “Working on my left arm with the green machine. 500 reps everyday to strengthen my elbow and shoulder,” he wrote. We wish him a speedy recovery.

BART HITS THE BRUCE

There’s no rest for the wicked – and apparently that includes our pollies.

Transport Minister Bart Mellish faced questions this week after the atrocious state of the Bruce Highway was revealed.

Asked the last time he travelled the road, the Minister revealed he was actually hitting the Bruce this weekend.

Queensland Minister for Transport Bart Mellish is set to hit the Bruce Highway with his wife Vivienne this weekend. Picture: Dan Peled

“It is my 10th wedding anniversary and my beautiful wife and I will be driving up the Bruce Highway,” he told parliament.

“We have got the weekend away. We have not been able to find a babysitter so we are taking the kids, but we will still manage to have a good time.”

A text to his wife Vivienne seen by GSB reveals “you got a mention in Hansard, happy anniversary.”

And who says romance is dead?

SICK NICK

Another MP was missing from the halls of parliament this week too – the KAP’s Nick Dametto (Hinchinbrook). It’s understood the north Queenslander was recovering at home from a nasty flu.

SPOTTED 1:

Hill MP Shane Knuth ambling into the parliamentary chamber for a vote while still wearing a Dolphins hat, in a near breach of dress code.

Member for Hill Shane Knuth took a break from the Akubra to sport a Dolphins hat. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Knuth nearly turned the colour of the hat when he realised what he had done and swiftly took it off before too many people noticed. It is unlikely this is the first time Dolphins merch has slipped into the hallowed room, as Phins diehard Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath has some form of team paraphernalia on her person at all times.

SPOTTED 2:

Federal Speaker of the House and Member for Oxley Milton Dick who stopped by his brother Treasurer Cameron Dick’s place of work to support the new Inala MP Margie Nightingale. Ms Nightingale, in the well-trodden path of major party politicians, lists jobs with both Dick brothers on her CV.

SPOTTED 3:

Newly minted MP Darren Zanow confidently walking through the halls of parliament with the LNP’s “Right Priorities for Queensland’s Future” booklet in his arm. Unfortunately the newbie had the booklet facing the wrong way. We suspect he will learn quickly.