Jackie Trad survives again as Labor Caucus focuses on unity

After MPs were told they could air any grievances they wanted, ultimately it was only one maverick MP who spoke out about the divisive Deputy Premier. VOTE IN OUR POLL

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has demanded unity from MPs fractured over the future of Jackie Trad, after Labor’s longest-serving MP branded the divisive Treasurer “a four-letter word”.

The call for calm followed days of ructions driven by backbenchers and senior Labor figures angry at Ms Trad’s run of integrity crises, and a surprise attack from veteran Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller, who called on the Deputy Premier to consider her future.

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But their grievances were ultimately not aired at today’s caucus, with MPs instead counselled on the need for party unity.

Ahead of the meeting, Ms Palaszczuk called on people to “have a cold shower” and told MPs they should be worrying about their own jobs rather than other people’s.

“There’s a whole lot at risk, and if everyone’s not focused on the future and about creating jobs for Queenslanders, then there is going to be damage and destruction by the LNP,” she said, foreshadowing the October state election.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would not be distracted by those backgrounding media about her right-hand woman, who she said would keep her job.

“And I will give a very blunt message for everyone today: Get focused on your job and not worrying about everybody else’s jobs,” she said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at today’s Caucus meeting. Picture: Liam Kidston

Treasurer Jackie Trad leaves the Caucus meeting. Picture: Darren England/AAP

Ms Trad did not speak to waiting media after caucus, but told them on the way in that Queenslanders were sick of politicians talking about politicians.

“They want us to be focused on making sure that they have the jobs, the roads, the hospitals and the schools for their children and that’s what I’m focused on working on in this Budget,” she said.

Ms Trad would not be drawn on Mrs Miller’s attack on her, in which she called on Ms Trad to have a “good long look at herself”.

“The Labor Party is bigger than one person or bigger than a couple of people,” Mrs Miller told media following Ms Palaszczuk’s press conference.

“She needs to not only talk to colleagues, she needs to talk to ordinary branch members out in the regions of Queensland.

“I have been talking to some of my colleagues. Some of them are exasperated to be honest.

“They are concerned… there’s got to be a plug put into the haemorrhage.”

Mrs Miller, who is weighing up running for the Ipswich mayoral race, also complained of Labor bullying as she urged any MPs who had been on the receiving end of “insulting behaviour” from Ms Trad to make an official complaint

She suggested she had been ostracised by the Labor Party, calling Parliament the loneliest place in the world.

“They make it very clear whether you are part of the Labor Party or not,” she said, claiming she had been the victim of “the silent treatment” for years after stepping down as police minister.

Earlier Mrs Miller told ABC Radio: “Trad is a four-letter word, isn’t it. Maybe I should leave it at that.”

During a press conference where Mrs Miller watched on, Ms Palaszczuk said she believed caucus was the place where MPs could raise their concerns.

“I don’t think MPs should be speaking about other MPs like that,” she said.