Senior federal Labor MP Anika Wells warns party ‘must do better’

An MP who will today become the first Queensland woman elevated to a Labor federal cabinet has sounded the alarm for her party ahead of the looming election.

Aged Care and Sports Minister Anika Wells. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Anika Wells says the government must do better selling its achievements and convince Queenslanders not to help elect one of their own, Peter Dutton, as Prime Minister.

Ms Wells will on Monday become Labor’s first female Queensland MP elevated to Cabinet, with the reshuffle and her promotion coming months out from the next federal election.

She joins Kelly O’Dwyer as the equal youngest female cabinet minister and becomes only the second woman under 40 elevated.

The Aged Care and Sport Minister said her promotion proved the importance Prime Minister Anthony Albanese always placed on the state and the shortening lead time to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“In elevating me the Prime Minister seeks to elevate Queenslanders,” she said.

However, Labor faces an uphill battle to improve its standing in Queensland where it holds just five out of 30 seats.

Anika Wells at home with her family, husband Finn, daughter Celeste, 7, and twins Oshy and Dash, 4. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Asked if the cost of living pressures had improved or worsened over three years of Labor, Ms Wells acknowledged it was a “mixed bag”.

“The high interest rates are absolutely crippling for mortgage holders and that’s been really difficult,” she said.

The Lilley MP said non-mortgage holders were less affected by cost of living increases and had benefited from improved service delivery.

Ms Wells, who shares an electorate boundary with the opposition leader Mr Dutton, said the government needed to enter the federal election selling its achievements in health and aged care.

“It is a battle for Labor, we must do better in Queensland,” she said.

“People like me are absolutely charged with leading that important cause.

“Because we are the most decentralised state it’s a place that really values top service delivery.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton greets supporters at Arana Hills on Sunday. Picture: Lachie Millard

Ms Wells said the key to winning Queensland was the ability to demonstrate “authenticity”.

“That’s the key to success, being authentic and working really hard and at all times putting Queenslanders first,” she said.

After the swearing-in ceremony at Government House on Monday Ms Wells will meet with Stephen Conry, chair of the 100-day infrastructure review for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The meeting is expected to focus on her leanings from the Paris Games and building a pathway for young athletes.

Ms Wells indicated the federal government would not provide a dollar more than the $3.4bn it has pledged for Games infrastructure, noting Sydney 2000 was built without any federal support.

“We’re capped at $3.4bn and it’s unprecedented the federal government would be a 50-50 partner,” she said.

In Sydney … despite the fact John Howard was Sydneysider, the federal government didn’t commit at all.

“That demonstrates how committed the Albanese government is.”

2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure review chair Stephen Conry, Picture: Richard Walker

On the contentious issue of a new or upgraded stadium, Ms Wells said the state government needed to deliver what Queenslanders demand.

“We want to put on the best possible Olympic and Paralympic Games that taxpayers are prepared to pay for,” she said.

“If what Queenslanders want is a best-in-class, new, leading, generational stadium then that’s what Queenslanders should get

If they want a refurbished stadium … with cash instead used to focus on service delivery … that’s what they should get.”

Asked where community sentiment stood, Ms Wells insists “it’s genuinely split”.

“I hear Brisbane shouldn’t have the Games at all and I hear people saying I don’t want Brisbane to be embarrassed,” she said.