Deb Frecklington backs Tim Mander over Jackie Trad comments

OPPOSITION Leader Deb Frecklington has rubbished suggestions her Deputy Leader Tim Mander should resign over his comments comparing Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s propaganda chief.

OPPOSITION Leader Deb Frecklington has rubbished suggestions her Deputy Leader Tim Mander should resign over his comments comparing Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s propaganda chief.

Ms Trad has called for Mr Mander to resigned or be sacked over the comments, labelling them racist and offensive.

Mr Mander, however, accused Ms Trad of mock outrage.

Ms Frecklington today backed her deputy.

Deb Frecklington, right, has backed Tim Mander, left, following his comments on Tuesday. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Tim Mander is one of the most decent men in the Queensland Parliament,” she said.

“He has my full support.

“This mock outrage by the Treasurer is exactly that.”

As reported by The Courier-Mail, Mr Mander refused to apologise for the comparison, labelling Ms Trad’s reaction as “mock outrage” and accusing the Government of hypocrisy after they likened Ms Frecklington earlier this year to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said she found the comments offensive. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms Trad had accused the Opposition of racism after the comparison, saying being compared with a dictator behind “some of the most awful genocides within our recent history” had crossed the line.

Ms Trad, who is of Lebanese descent and has previously been labelled “Jihad Jackie” by the Opposition, said the latest attack from Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander was “deeply deeply alarming and personally offensive”.