George Brandis’ senate replacement Amanda Stoker approved by parliament

GEORGE Brandis’ senate replacement has been approved by Queensland parliament — a day after sustaining a social media tirade from the state’s deputy premier for being a pro-lifer.

GEORGE Brandis’ senate replacement has been approved by Queensland parliament — a day after sustaining a social media tirade from the state’s deputy premier for being a pro-lifer.

Queensland state parliament has to approve replacement candidates for casual vacancies in the federal senate, and did so on Wednesday after lawyer Amanda Stoker was selected earlier this month.

Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk officially nominated the 35-year-old barrister, while Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington welcomed “another LNP woman” to politics.

Lawyer Amanda Stoker will replace George Brandis in the Senate in Canberra.

Ms Stoker was one of 12 candidates put forward by the LNP, with reports there was internal debate over whether a woman should be chosen to replace retired former attorney-general Mr Brandis.

The LNP maintains it eventually chose Ms Stoker on her own merits, not because of her gender.

The appointment motion passed without any contribution to the debate from Deputy Premier Jackie Trad who took to Twitter the day before to criticise Ms Stoker for attending a pro-life rally through Brisbane on Sunday.

(1/3) This is Qld’s newest LNP Senator, Amanda Stoker, speaking at an anti-abortion rally in BNE over the weekend.

Handpicked by @DebFrecklington, Ms Stoker hasn't even been sworn in & she’s taken to the streets to preach hate about women & their right to choose #qldpol #auspol pic.twitter.com/xKOPLXIW24

— Jackie Trad (@jackietrad) March 19, 2018

(2/3) It's 2018 & we're still putting up with this crap - even from elected representatives.

Many of you know I am unapologetically pro-choice. So it's disappointing to see the LNP here in Qld, under Deb Frecklington, continue to attack women over a very personal choice #qldpol

— Jackie Trad (@jackietrad) March 19, 2018

(3/3) So let me be very clear to those making these attacks, to those people like this soon to be LNP Senator: there’s no way that you will keep Qld women in the dark ages.

I won’t let you & neither will the millions of Qld women who also believe in their right to choose #qldpol

— Jackie Trad (@jackietrad) March 19, 2018

In addition to attending, Ms Stoker addressed the crowd, speaking about her conviction to stand up for the rights of unborn children.

“Children and babies may not be able to vote but we must ensure that they are heard and protected by all those who govern,” she said.

Ms Trad tweeted: “Handpicked by Deb Frecklington, Ms Stoker hasn’t even been sworn in & she’s taken to the streets to preach hate about women & their right to choose”.

Mr Brandis has been appointed as Australia’s high commissioner to the UK.