Don’t cross me or it’s another poll, warns Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

UPDATE: Annastacia Palaszczuk has threatened a snap election, but one of her senior ministers has this morning played down the chances of an early call back to the polls.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is shielded from the rain as she takes a phone call during an engagement at Point Danger on the Gold Coast, Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Palaszczuk says she is prepared to call an early election after government MP Rob Pyne quit her Labor party on Monday night following months of complaints about the party system. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has threatened a snap election as her minority Government descends into chaos following the extraordinary resignation of Cairns MP Rob Pyne.

The Queensland Premier yesterday angrily warned all sitting MPs that she would seek a fresh mandate from Queenslanders if they frustrated her job-creating agenda.

Senior Labor figures including ministers, backbenchers, party identities and former MPs, and business leaders are urging Ms Palaszczuk to act amid fears increasing uncertainty will cruel economic confidence.

Mr Pyne’s decision to tear up his Labor membership and join Parliament’s crossbench has sparked furious finger pointing throughout the ­Government.

Ms Palaszczuk’s office was accused of failing to properly consult with the Cairns MP, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad was blamed for angering and deriding the renegade while Left faction unions were scorned for preselecting him to begin with against the wishes of local branch members.

“(Pyne’s) father was a Labor icon and he would be spinning in his grave,” one senior Labor figure said.

Speaking at Point Danger on the Gold Coast, Ms Palaszczuk said any rejection of job-creating legislation in Parliament would trigger a trip to Fernberg Road to visit Governor Paul de Jersey.

“When I put legislation through the Parliament that is about creating jobs, I say to all members in Parliament here today, I need your support,” she said. “And if you don’t give me your support, I’ll get the support of the Queensland public.

The Premier denied her office had not done enough to keep the MP in the party. Picture: Dave Hunt

“I am not ruling (an early election) out because I am making it very clear to Queenslanders I am here for them. I am here to govern for them in the best interests of them and I will not let anyone stand in my way.”

Ms Palaszczuk contacted Mr Pyne’s office yesterday to express her disappointment with his decision but did not attempt to convince him to return to the Labor fold.

The Premier denied her office had not done enough to keep the MP in the party. “I have had a very good, constructive working relationship with Rob Pyne,” she said.

“My office has had a very good working relationship with Rob Pyne, as has the Caucus members.”

In an email to Labor’s 42-member Caucus, Ms Palaszczuk put MPs on notice that her early election threat was real.

“No Member of Parliament will get between me and creating new jobs,” she wrote.

Senior Labor figures are urging Ms Palaszczuk to seize the opportunity for an election after just a year in office, convinced Mr Pyne’s defection will make the Parliament even more unstable and damage their future prospects.

But State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham this morning publicly talked down the possibility of an early election.

Dr Lynham said the must ensure it has the crossbenchers, including Mr Pyne, on side as a snap election would be bad for job creation in Queensland.

“I do not want an early election. I want jobs, I know the premier wants jobs,” he told ABC Radio this morning.

“Rob Pyne and the crossbenchers have to see Queensland needs jobs, Queensland’s economy needs to grow and we’re growing Queensland’s economy.”

Constitutional and political experts yesterday had differing views on whether the Governor, Paul de Jersey, would allow an election to be called and if the Premier would be able to call an election before serving at least half of her term in office.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg declared the LNP “government ready” but warned Ms Palaszczuk should be leading rather than pondering elections.

“But she’s not going to call a snap election, she’s not going to go to the polls, we don’t need an early election,” Mr Springborg said.

“The Premier cannot just say she wants to run off to an early election because she can’t deal with the crossbenchers.

“We just need leadership from this Premier.”

Mr Springborg said it was Ms Trad as leader of the dominant Left faction who was the real threat to the Government’s stability rather than Mr Pyne.

Independent MP Peter Wellington, whose support put Labor in power last year, was unperturbed about the prospect of another state ­election.

“That’s her call, she’s the Premier,” he said.

However, Mr Wellington said everyone needed to “settle down” and allow the Parliament to operate properly.

“People have been elected to represent their constituents and do the best they can for Queensland,” Mr Wellington said. “I am looking forward to seeing what legislation passes and we’ll see what happens.”