Disastrous Federal Labor outcome a warning for Townsville MPs

The disastrous election outcome for Labor in North Queensland should be seen as a “warning” to Townsville’s three state MPs to stop towing the party line.

THE DISASTROUS election outcome for Labor in North Queensland should be seen as a “warning” to Townsville’s three state MPs to stop towing the party line, with Adani and the Galilee Basin identified as linchpins in the campaign.

Pressure was on all State Labor MPs yesterday, including Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, to explain if their handling of the Adani project helped secure a thumping defeat for their Federal colleagues.

Mayor Jenny Hill said the State Government’s rejection of Adani’s black-throated finch management plan didn’t “help any campaign”.

“There’s no doubt that the opening of the Galilee Basin in the northern and central Queensland seats (was an issue), there was a real concern from workers,” she said.

Mayor Jenny Hill.

Townsville Enterprise chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan said “never before” had a state issue so heavily dominated the national agenda as it had in the last five weeks.

“The fate of the Galilee Basin was no longer just barbecue conversation in Townsville, Mackay and Clermont, but discussed and debated across the whole country,” she said.

“Although the final approvals on the Carmichael Mine are sitting with the Queensland Government, the positions from political parties at all levels and the opinions formed from all Australians on this project has had impact on the results of this election.

“The regions of Queensland have sent our politicians a very strong message during this election that the Galilee is vitally important to our community. It’s about jobs, not politics, and North Queenslanders deserve and need this opportunity.”

One Labor insider said the Federal campaign had been “giving themselves a wedgie” on Adani for the last three years.

“Who is the voice for the Labor Party in North Queensland?” the insider said.

“Labor needs to start running their operation out of North Queensland, not a couple of blokes in Brisbane.

“I think it’s a warning that (the three MPs) need to differentiate themselves from the Labor Party and be allowed to say what they think … I think they know what North Queensland needs and they fight for that but they get let down often by Brisbane.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Townsville with local MPs Aaron Harper and Scott Stewart to tour RPC facility at Haughton Pipeline. Pictures: Supplied: Jack Tran/Office of the Premier

Labor’s Cathy O’Toole, after conceding defeat in Herbert on Saturday night, said Adani had certainly not been a “godsend or a help” but there were other factors at play.

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said Adani had been turned into a political football that it “never should have been”.

He said there was “no doubt” the campaign by lobby groups like Townsville Enterprise had an impact.

Townsville MP Scott Stewart said there were a number of factors that hurt Federal Labor in Queensland, including negative gearing and franking credits.

“We’ve certainly seen that play out here with the Galilee Basin and people wanting that to be opened immediately,” he said.

“I think the message that I clearly get form this election is that people are doing it tough, they are concerned about jobs.”

Ms Palaszczuk yesterday insisted Queenslanders knew the difference between state and federal elections but would not be drawn on whether she should shoulder some blame for the result in central and North Queensland.

Originally published as Disastrous Federal Labor outcome a warning for Townsville MPs