Jackie Trad unsure of political comeback, reveals ‘guilt’ of loss
Fallen deputy premier Jackie Trad has revealed her grief of last year’s election loss and left open the possibility of a political return. LISTEN NOW
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Jackie Trad has left open the possibility of a return to politics, while revealing the heartache and guilt of her election defeat to the Greens.
Ms Trad, who wielded unrivalled power within the State Labor Government before losing her seat of South Brisbane by 3564 votes in October 2020, has broken her silence about the defeat, while not ruling out a return to politics.
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Appearing on former federal Coalition minister Christopher Pyne’s Pyne Time podcast, the former Queensland deputy premier and treasurer was asked whether she would ever return to politics.
Ms Trad declared there were no “predetermined plans” to return to politics, but added she didn’t know if she would take another tilt.
In her first public comments about the election defeat, the controversial former MP revealed there was a significant “grieving process”.
“Of course it was very difficult,” she said.
“The feeling that I let down so many people who were part of my campaign, who spent so much of their time every weekend, weeknights doing calls, door knocking and working really hard – it was a challenge to deal with the guilt I felt for having let them all down.”
Ms Trad also hit out at the LNP, whose decision to put the Greens ahead of her in preferences ultimately led to her defeat.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE BELOW
“The complete irony in it from my perspective is that they got what they wanted, they got me out of Parliament but they lost the election,” she said,
“They were so focused on me and not on Queensland and Queenslanders.
“Well done, tick, you got Trad out of Parliament but you’re still in opposition.”
Ms Trad was forced to defend a string of corruption allegations which ultimately forced her resignation as deputy premier and treasurer in May 2020 – however she was later cleared of criminal wrongdoing.
She expressed sympathy for the plight of former New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian – who resigned after she was the subject of an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation – and raised concerns about the role of Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission.
She said such entities were necessary, but the CCC‘s investigation into her provided a platform for the LNP and Greens to attack “regardless of the outcome, regardless of the merits of it”.
“Once they become part of the political process it becomes a problem,” she said.
Ms Trad said she relied on the support of her family and friends as well as exercise to get through the difficult days in politics.
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