George Street Confidential: Qld politics news and gossip

The fallout from Les Walker’s infamous birthday bash continues, with the state Labor MP conspicuously absent from a local event.

Les “bring back the biff” Walker was nowhere to be seen at the Australia Day flag raising ceremony in Townsville attended by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Governor Paul de Jersey, Mayor Jenny Hill and Labor’s two other local MPs Scott Stewart and Aaron “the paramedic” Harper were there, along with Deputy Opposition Leader David Janetski.

But not Les.

Perhaps the Member for Mundingburra just didn’t remember, something he’s been doing a bit since his 56th birthday bash at the Mad Cow Tavern ended with him being taken away in an ambulance and fined for being a public nuisance.

LNP’S LATEST GETAWAY

No reports yet of any nefarious activity from the LNP love-in during the week on the Sunshine Coast, but there’s still hope.

They all bedded down at the Kawana Waters Mercure and heard the heroic personal story of Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart, who suffered horrific injuries after being hit by a rubbish truck when she was 23.

Those present were thankful that there was no butcher’s paper at this year’s brainstorming sessions about how they could possibly ever get back into government.

However there was common ground found over their collective anger at LNP headquarters, which still hasn’t updated its website to reflect the post-election leadership changes.

POLLIES’ COSTLY TROUGH

Speaking of common ground, there’s bipartisan outrage over what appears to be a price rise at State Parliament’s famed nosh pit.

With politicians’ pay frozen for the next four years because of COVID-19, some MPs are being forced to watch their pennies.

So there was alarm among members this week when the parliament emailed a menu showing a large serve of roast pork with cracking and vegetables was priced at $16.10.

A small was $11.50.

Prices at the cafeteria have always been competitive and the food has improved substantially since the days when lamb’s brains was served daily.

However some observers point out that one of Parliament’s large serves could feed a small family.

OUT WITH THE OLD – NEARLY

Meanwhile, Parliament is yet to replace the signs of some ousted and retiring MPs. For example, the office of Labor’s Tom Smith was still adorned with the name and image of David Batt, the Liberal National MP he defeated.

IT’S A NEW DAY

And we’ve got to the bottom of why the LNP’s vanquished Maiwar candidate Lauren Day is flogging off some of her trendy clothes online.

Day revealed to us she’s pregnant and is due soon. It’s a boy. Congrats.