Jann Stuckey’s days as Gold Coast Games Minister numbered after LNP loses patience with MP

TROUBLE-prone Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey is unlikely to be the Minister for the Commonwealth Games next month — no matter which party wins government.

State Minister Jann Stuckey and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Legacy Board Chairman Rob Borbidge announce who is going on with the Legacy Board today. Pic by David Clark

TROUBLE-prone Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey is unlikely to be the Minister for the Commonwealth Games next month — no matter which party wins government.

Ms Stuckey has struggled with the portfolio since she was given the job by the newly elected Newman Government in 2012, even after many of her responsibilities were carved off and given to Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney.

Constant squabbling about the Games with the Gold Coast City Council and, in particular, Mayor Tom Tate, has done Ms Stuckey no favours with the party hierarchy, while the Minister has also been dogged by claims about how hard she is to work with after evidence of high staff turnover emerged from her office.

Complaints to Premier Campbell Newman and other party heavyweights about her behaviour have also triggered questions about her future, LNP sources say.

Constant squabbling about the Games with the Gold Coast City Council and, in particular, Mayor Tom Tate, has done Ms Stuckey no favours and she is likely to lose the key Games portfolio.

But the final nail in Ms Stuckey’s political coffin came when Queensland Auditor-General Andrew Greaves delivered a report last month, which questioned progress and processes associated with aspects of the Games she’d been put in charge of organising.

Political insiders indicated the crucial portfolio would be handed to John-Paul Langbroek if the LNP was re-elected, as long as the Surfers MP is allowed to keep education.

Southport MP Rob Molhoek is rumoured to have stuck his hand up for the job, which could be taken on by the next Queensland premier based on the decision by Anna Bligh to handle the Games portfolio when in power.

Jann Stuckey flanked by Gold Coast Commonwealth Games medallists Melanie Wright (left) and Michael Shelly (right) at the unveiling of the games flag at Metricon Stadium.

Ms Stuckey declined to discuss the matter when she was asked about her ministerial responsibilities if the LNP was re-elected.

“That is a question for the Premier,” she said.

Mr Newman refused to publicly buy into the debate.