Ipswich MP Jim Madden tried to switch camps for plum post, claim

A Labor state backbencher who this week switched factions, creating a rift in the government, has previously attempted to switch allegiances to secure a lucrative parliamentary post, it has been claimed.

FACTIONAL defector Jim Madden attempted to switch allegiances and snare a $60,000-a-year plum parliamentary post at the start of this term, it has been claimed.

The Courier-Mail was yesterday told by multiple sources that Mr Madden offered to join Labor’s pint-sized Old Guard faction in early 2017 in exchange for a coveted committee chair position but was rebuffed.

State backbench MP Jim Madden defects to Labor’s Left faction

The Ipswich-based Labor backbencher’s decision to ditch Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Right faction for Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s Left faction has torn a rift in the administration.

Ipswich MP Jim Madden

Left faction figures yesterday insisted they did not court the second-term MP and blamed poor Right faction leadership as well as veiled preselection threats for the defection.

“Maybe they should be asking themselves why they keep losing people,” one senior figure said.

Mr Madden declined to be interviewed.

However, he indicated in a Facebook post that his decision wasn’t about self-preservation or promotion but using his new faction to win more funding.

"My decision has nothing to do with what happens in Brisbane," he said.

"I support Annastacia Palaszczuk 100 per cent and always have from the time she was Opposition Leader against Campbell Newman in 2012.

"My decision is about getting my local campaign right and making sure I can do everything I can for my electorate of Ipswich West to secure extra funding from State and federal government whether it be for our schools, main roads or community sporting facilities."

Mr Madden’s controversial move just six months before the state election, which was approved by the Left faction executive on Tuesday night, prompted stinging criticism from the Queensland Premier.

“Frankly, I don't have time for factional games," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"And I think everyone should be focused on dealing with this crisis.

“It's very disappointing that people are focusing on that when my whole entire time should be focused on the coronavirus."

The eruption of a factional brawl is a blow to the Premier whose personal popularity has lifted during her leadership of the coronavirus crisis.

Right faction figures denied Mr Madden was being threatened and insisted his defection wasn’t a surprise.

“Jim was always fighting with his branch members and they wanted to get rid of him,” one said.

“Not a factional thing and he was supported by the group that he was fine and to ignore them.

“He tried to quit and join the Old Guard after last election to get a chair spot.”

Ms Trad yesterday phoned Left faction colleagues to insist she knew nothing about Mr Madden’s move.

“She might not have orchestrated this but she has certainly made herself more of a target now by not doing more to stop it,” an insider said.