News Corp readers reveal which Australian state produces the worst politicians

AS the major parties and independents battle it out on the election trail, an online survey has revealed which state consistently produces the worst politicians.

Queensland politicians: former Speaker Peter Slipper, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, One Nation MP Pauline Hanson, Palmer United Party founder Clive Palmer, and former Premier Joh-Bjelke-Petersen.

IT’S official: Queensland produces the worst politicians of any Australian state.

A poll of more than 3200 readers across News Corp websites today found that 38.2% of respondents (as of 4.20pm) had selected Queensland as the state that produced the worst politicians.

The Sunshine State has produced some polarising figures from across the political spectrum — from Pauline Hanson through to Kevin Rudd and Clive Palmer.

New South Wales — home to Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Mark Latham — was the next most popular response, with 20.4% of the vote.

Victorian politicians: Greens leader Richard DiNatale, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard (now resident in South Australia, but represented a Victorian electorate), Labor leader Bill Shorten, former Liberal MP and current candidate Sophie Mirabella, and former Premier Jeff Kennett.

NSW politicians: former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce, former Labor leader Mark Latham, Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Tasmanian politicians: Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz and Independent MP Andrew Wilkie.

SA politicians: Liberal Seantor Cory Bernardi, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon, Labor Senator Penny Wong, and Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Christopher Pyne.

Western Australian politicians: retiring Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan, Greens Senator Scott Ludlum, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Assistant Immigration Minister Michaelia Cash, and former Defence Minister Stephen Smith.

Victoria has been home to some polarising MPs over the years — from Sophie Mirabella on the conservative side of politics through to Julia Gillard and Bill Shorten on the Labor side — but only 13.8% of respondents rated it as the state that produced the worst politicians.

Tasmania has sent any number of colourful personalities to Canberra over the years — including Jacqui Lambie, Andrew Wilkie and Eric Abetz, to name but three — but received just 11.1% of the poll vote.

South Australia and Western Australia scored 8.9% and 7.4% of the vote respectively — suggesting that they are the states that have produced the least worst politicians in our history.

Register your vote below — and tell us in the comments which Australian state you believe has produced the consistently worst politicians.

Originally published as News Corp readers reveal which Australian state produces the worst politicians