Former Rockhampton MP Bill Byrne throws support behind Independent candidate Margaret Strelow

A former Labor minister and Rockhampton MP who has made it clear he has had nothing to do with the party since he retired, says the Beef Capital has in many ways been taken for granted.

Former Queensland Labor government minister and Rockhampton MP Bill Byrne has cast aside his party and thrown his support behind the Independent candidate running for the seat once his, ex-mayor Margaret Strelow.

Mr Byrne cut the ribbon at the opening of Ms Strelow’s campaign office at Northside Plaza on Friday.

Former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk backed Ms Strelow at the 2017 state election to replace Mr Byrne and he was photographed signing Cr Strelow’s preselection nomination form.

But Ms Palaszczuk’s “captain’s call” sparked a factional showdown, with party stalwart Robert Schwarten successfully fighting for Labor’s support for retiring Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke at the 2017 election.

Not to be deterred, Ms Strelow ran against Mr O’Rourke in 2017 nonetheless.

In backing Ms Strelow for the 2024 election, Mr Byrne said she was the best person for the seat and described politics as “personal”.

“Margaret is a personal friend who gave me unwavering support during my time in parliament and government,” he said.

Former Rockhampton MP and Labor minister Bill Byrne.

“We don’t agree on every subject, far from it and nor do we have to, that’s what proper debate looks like.

“However, I do agree that Margaret is by far best candidate for the seat of Rockhampton. As far as I’m concerned.

“Any choice based on true merit results in Margaret first and daylight second.

“Help her reclaim Rockhampton.”

Mr Byrne, who left the Labor Party when he retired from politics, said the Rockhampton region was “calling out” for an Independent.

“I’ve had nothing to do with the Labor Party since I retired, and quite deliberately so,” he said.

“Like I said in my maiden speech in parliament, there are good people in all sides of politics, it’s not that like the government are all right and the opposition are all wrong and vice versa, that’s what it turns into, it’s turned into this extreme, permanent adversarial situation.

“I support good governance, I support good people and that’s what this is about, as I said before I’ve formed a view that politics attracts a certain kind of personality and I saw much evidence of that in my time in parliament. The narcissistic sociopath is not an exception, in my view, in terms of political mainstream in the mainstream parties.

“If there was ever a community calling out for an Independent candidate, it’s Rockhampton. Rockhampton has been taken for granted in many respects and it’s time we stood up for ourselves, Margaret provides the perfect vehicle for us to do that.”

Bill Byrne and Margaret Strelow at Kershaw Gardens in 2017.

Ms Strelow said the significant projects that have defined her time as mayor were only possible because of the support Rockhampton and Gracemere received from the Queensland Government while Bill Byrne was the state member.

“It’s an honour to have his support again as I make a bid for his former seat,” she said.

“What we are seeing more and more is that the survival of the regions is a competition of region against region and it is a competition for a declining number of new opportunities where those opportunities are now most often dispensed to one region over the other as a result of government largesse.

“Whatever the make up of the next parliament we need someone who will fight for us 110 per cent and not be bound by party politics.

“I believe that I am that person.”

Margaret Strelow.

Craig Marshall was announced as the Labor candidate for Rockhampton in January following Labor MP Barry O’Rourke’s announcement in November that he would not be running again after seven years as the state MP, having first been elected in 2017.

Former Rockhampton Regional councillor Donna Kirkland announced in October 2023, she would be running as the LNP candidate for Rockhampton at the October 2024 election.

Mr Byrne was the Rockhampton MP for just under six years, between March 2012 and November 2017, but retired because of ill health.

He was one of the seven Labor MPs that sensationally pushed the LNP out of office under Campbell Newman in 2015.

Ms Strelow resigned as Rockhampton Regional Council mayor on November 9, 2020 on the basis of her personal integrity following Councillor Conduct Tribunal investigation after she was found guilty of misconduct for not declaring an Adani-funded flight following a trip to India.

Former Labor MP Bill Byrne threw his support behind Independent Candidate for Rockhampton Margaret Strelow as she opened her campaign office in Northside Plaza.

The investigation determined she registered the trip on the wrong form and she was ordered to apologise and put it on her Register of Interest.

However, she refused to apologise and still has an appeal ongoing and maintains the hospitality from Adani was recorded correctly.

But Mr O’Rourke has no faith in Ms Strelow’s chances to replace him.

Rockhampton MP Barry O'Rourke and Keppel MP Brittany Lauga.

“Margaret Strelow and Bill Byrne are two retired politicians who stepped away some time ago - which is fair enough,” he said.

“We’re all getting too old for personal vendettas so I look forward to joining them both in retirement in a few months time.

“Maybe we can all join a Mahjong club together and make the most of post political life?”

Mr Schwarten and the Labor party have been contacted for comment.