Kate Jones and David Crisafulli: turn up the heat in Townsville as they clash in Parliament

Broadwater MP David Crisafulli has been subject of a heated attack about his past in front of an audience which included a large group of schoolchildren.

KATE Jones and Broadwater MP David Crisafulli have had a heated clash on the first day of Parliament being staged in Townsville before a packed gallery.

Most of the visitors, many of them school students, would have found the first session tame at the Townsville Convention Centre, until Ms Jones baited the Broadwater MP.

After Ms Jones targeted the Gold Coast LNP frontbencher during her response in Question Time, he turned on the Tourism Industry Development Minister, calling her “a lightweight”.

Kate Jones at Parliament. Picture: Annette Dew.

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Ms Jones had told the Parliament: “I bet you there’s one person coming back to town that was a bit scared to see his family and friends back here. No-one will forget how the Member for Broadwater cut and run on Townsville.”

The Labor Minister was referring to Mr Crisafulli resurrecting his political career on the Coast where he won a tough pre-selection battle against sitting LNP MP Verity Barton.

Ms Jones explained that Currumbin LNP MP Jann Stuckey was dismissive of the Townsville Parliament, having made public remarks, saying “I’m not on the ground I’ve been dragged up to Townsville”.

Broadwater MP David Crisafulli pictured on the beach.

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“Do you know what, if we didn’t have the Townsville Parliament the Member for Broadwater has been dragged back to face the music in his community,” Ms Jones said.

“This is a man who went to the 2012 election promising more jobs, more infrastructure and more for the Townsville community. After one term — sorry I take offence to those comments, I ask him to withdraw.”

Speaker Curtis Pitt called order after the remark. Ms Jones then said Mr Crisafulli had called her “a lightweight”.

David Crisafulli election campaigning by hopping on a boat and heading over to South Straddie to doorknock the 12 residents who live there. Picture: Richard Gosling.

Mr Crisafulli got to his feet and withdrew the comment but Mr Pitt was forced to intervene again as Opposition MPs interjected.

“Let’s bring some civility to this Parliament please,” Mr Pitt said.

Time had expired for Ms Jones to continue her answer but before she sat down she stared at the LNP frontbencher. “He’s shown his true colours,” she said.