Controversial former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad offered shock lifeline back into politics

Controversial former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has been offered a lifeline back into politics but the LNP warns her resurrection is bad news.

Controversial former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad could be making a return to politics sooner than expected, with reports she has been offered a lifeline by the unions.

Sky News reports union powerbrokers are canvassing Ms Trad’s potential return to politics, at a federal level and has the backing to be preselected this federal election.

But the opposition warns her political resurrection should ‘send a chill down the spine of every Queenslander’.

The Queensland boss of the United Workers Union Gary Bullock released a statement saying if Ms Trad were to return to politics the unions “will do whatever to assist that” and there are discussions in the unions about her return.

“I’d like to see her in federal politics, I think we need more people of her calibre in federal parliament,” Mr Bullock’s statement said.

Jackie Trad lost her South Brisbane seat at the 2020 election. Pics Tara Croser.

The marginal Federal seat of Longman, currently held by LNP MP Terry Young, has been floated as a possibility.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she hadn’t seen reporting on Ms Trad’s potential move to the federal arena.

Asked what she thought of the idea, she said: “She’s very experienced.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she had not spoken to her former deputy since she lost her quest for re-election in the seat of South Brisbane in October last year.

However, in a statement released by the LNP, the opposition said Ms Trad’s political resurrection should ‘send a chill down the spine of every Queenslander’.

“Jackie Trad pushed and shoved Queensland to high-unemployment and spiralling debt,” said the LNP statement.

“Jackie Trad dragged this state through two CCC investigations and was rightly thrown out of office.

“Queenslanders have spoken. They won’t bend to the will and wishes of unelected unionists.

“The Premier and Deputy Premier must be clear with Queenslanders. Do they support the return of Jackie Trad?”

Ms Trad, who lost her South Brisbane seat in the 2020 state election in a decisive defeat by Greens’ conqueror Amy MacMahon, three years after she only narrowly defeated same party.

She won South Brisbane in a 2012 by-election after the resignation of Anna Bligh and was for years Labor’s most powerful personality.

Greens MP Amy McMahon won Trad’s seat thanks to LNP preferences. Pic Annette Dew

And, in her final parliamentary term Ms Trad was forced to defend a string of corruption allegations which ultimately forced her resignation as deputy premier and treasurer in May – however she was later cleared of criminal wrongdoing.

Ms Trad’s reputation as an effective head kicker dominated headlines and led to claims she was calling the shots within the Palaszczuk Government.

Now, she could be given a shot at trying her hand at the federal level.