Labor braces for Inala swing as LNP slams election delay

With the Palaszczuk dynasty over, Labor and the LNP are battling for Inala and while they won’t admit it, there’s a lot at stake for both sides.

The Opposition has declared the party will have a candidate ready to vie for the seat of Inala if a by-election was called immediately and accused the government of treating constituents with “disdain” if voters were forced to wait months to fill the vacant electorate.

It comes after The Courier-Mail reported Labor insiders were bracing for a swing against the government in Inala amid heavy criticism for leaving the “jewel” of its heartland without a local member for several months.

Inala, the safest seat in Queensland with a 28.2 per cent two-party margin to Labor, will be left vacant for two-and-a-half-months following Annastacia Palaszczuk’s resignation on December 31.

The state government is expected to hold the by-election on March 16 to coincide with the local government elections to allow the two polls to be managed concurrently to save costs.

It will, however, leave the multiculturally diverse community of some 65,000 people without a local member of parliament for several months.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli on Monday urged the government to hold the poll immediately to provide parliamentary representation for the electorate left vacant by the retirement of former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

He said the LNP was “working on” finalising a candidate and insisted the party would be ready as soon as the date for the by-election is confirmed.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli – Picture: Richard Walker

“I’d like one in the field soon and I’d like the residents in that area to have a vote really soon,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I don’t think it is acceptable for that community to be without representation for several months.

“(They) could be without a member for two (parliamentary) sittings and a really long period of time and that’s not on.”

Treasurer Cameron Dick dismissed comments from the Opposition on Sunday, saying he and other MPs will pick up the slack and ensure the constituents are represented and heard.

But Mr Crisafulli said “nothing beats a local member”.

“Every community still needs that ability to go to their local member and for the Labor Party to treat that community with such disdain shows you everything you need to know.”

Mr Crisafulli said he was aware of the “political realities” given Inala is the safest seat held by Labor and success for the LNP is unlikely.

“The Labor Party primary vote is nearly 70 per cent but we’re not running away from it and we’ll be putting forward a candidate – I’d like to be doing that soon,” he said.

When asked if the Opposition would have a candidate ready if a by-election was called immediately, he said: “You bet”.

“I’m aware of two people who are interested at the moment,” the Opposition Leader said.

Margie Nightingale is widely tipped to be the Labor candidate for Inala.

His comments come after The Courier-Mail reported manager of opposition business Andrew Powell earlier called for the by-election to be held immediately and argued Ms Palaszczuk’s early exit was indicative of a “disrespectful and arrogant” state government.

“Because they’re in chaos and crisis, they don’t care their historical heartland will not have their voices represented for the first quarter of the year,” he said.

“We will return to Parliament and the seat of Inala – the jewel in Labor’s decaying crown – will be empty.”

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick dismissed the comments, noting he and other government ministers were available to Inala electors.

“There are electorate staff still discharging their duty, all ministers are working hard to support constituents out there with any requests for help or assistance so the electorate is still being supported,” he said.

Mr Dick declined to say whether the government was anticipating a swing against it, declaring once the date was known “then we’ll worry about the campaign”.

Margie Nightingale is the frontrunner to be the government’s candidate in the by-election, which is almost certain to be won by Labor.

The party’s first preference vote percentage has consistently reached the high 60s, with the exception of the 2012 wipe-out when it fell to 46 per cent.

Experienced Labor operatives are expecting a swing against the party – noting by-elections to replace exiting premiers Daniel Andrews in Victoria and Mark McGowan in Western Australia resulted in a double-digit move against Labor.

The government is expecting its vote to soften following the end of the 40-year Palaszczuk reign, but there is no concern about the seat being lost.

A double-digit swing to the LNP would create some concern within the Miles government seven months out from a general election, but the opposition is playing down the chance of such an event.

The Palaszczuk era is over for Inala.

LNP Leader David Crisafulli, in an unusual visit to the seat on Sunday, said the party would campaign hard.

“I understand the weight of history that is against us, I’m under no illusions how difficult this is – this is the jewel in the Labor Party crown, I get that, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to run away,” he said.

“It doesn’t mean that we’re not going to give this community the opportunity to be able to vote for change.”

Ms Palaszczuk is thought to be prepared to help Labor during the Inala by-election campaign, but the extent of her involvement is yet to be decided.

In September Ms Palaszczuk returned from a European holiday to face questions about her leadership and shocked many after declaring she would serve a full term as the Member for Inala regardless of the 2024 election result.

Instead, Ms Palaszczuk quit as Premier on December 10 and revealed she would finish as the Inala MP on December 31.

Her resignation ended the Palaszczuk family’s 40-year representation of the area, with Henry Palaszczuk representing the seat of Archerfield from 1984 before becoming the Member for Inala in 1992 – a position he continued until Ms Palaszczuk replaced him in 2006.