Sosso controversy ‘a tactic’ to divert from Labor leadership tension

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has claimed Labor is using the controversy over Director General John Sosso’s appointment to divert attention from its own leadership tensions.

Director General John Sosso.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has dismissed Tony Fitzgerald’s concern about the government’s push to appoint John Sosso to help redraw electoral boundaries.

Instead, Mr Bleijie claimed Labor was using the controversy to divert attention from its own leadership tensions.

The appointment of Mr Sosso – director-general of Mr Bleijie’s Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning – sparked a rare public statement from legendary corruption investigator Mr Fitzgerald, who said he feared it could lead to a repeat of the “bad old days” of political gerrymandering that became rife under the Joh Bjelke-Petersen government.

Asked in Bundaberg if Mr Fitzgerald’s concerns were misplaced, Mr Bleijie stumbled over his wording, saying “yes” before clarifying: “But no, the point I’m making is the people on the redistribution commission are beyond approach.”

“What the Labor Party are doing in trying to bring down a public servant with 45 years standing with the commonwealth and state levels is nothing more than a disgrace, and it is nothing more than a distraction … for the fact that Steven Miles is not going to be the leader of the Labor Party,’’ he said.

“Shannon Fentiman is politicising this appointment.

Jarrod Bleijie and John Sosso in 2015.

“This is an internal war taking place between Shannon Fentiman and Steven Miles.

“The only reason she’s doing it is a power play in the Labor Party to attack someone of high standing, like John Sosso, because she knows as we all do that Steven Miles is not up to the job and he’s not going to last much longer.’’

Mr Bleijie is one of seven cabinet ministers who have backed Mr Sosso, saying Queenslanders should trust the government despite Mr Fitzgerald’s concern over the director-general’s appointment.

They included Treasurer David Janetzki and Attorney-General Deb Frecklington.

But several opposition spokespeople raised questions over Mr Sosso’s appointment, since it was revealed by the Courier-Mail last Wednesday.

Mr Miles was the first to raise concerns by saying QRC appointees had to be perceived as impartial.

“Anyone with any understanding of Queensland political history would know how critical it is that we have fair electoral boundaries determined by people who are not just impartial, but are perceived as impartial,” he told the Courier-Mail.

Shadow Attorney-General Meaghan Scanlon attempted to use a parliamentary committee last week to ask if such an appointment was appropriate, without naming Mr Sosso, but the question was ruled out of order by the government chair.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles said there was no possible way the redistribution panel could be perceived as impartial.

“Queenslanders should be frightened by Jarrod Bleijie’s bizarre rant instead of addressing the serious concerns raised by Tony Fitzgerald,” he said.

“The Deputy Premier’s refusal to answer questions about these concerns only heightens the level of suspicion around his desire to politicise electoral boundaries.”