Queensland election 2017: LNP leader Nicholls blasts defector Dickson over job cuts claim

ONE Nation’s Steve Dickson has been branded “completely untrustworthy” for a claim he made about LNP leader Tim Nicholls during his time under former premier Campbell Newman.

One Nation Queensland leader Steve Dickson, pictured with Pauline Hanson at a rally on the Sunshine Coast, has claimed LNP leader Tim Nicholls convinced Campbell Newman to cut jobs and sell assets. Picture: Lachie Millard

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ONE Nation’s Steve Dickson has been labelled “completely untrustworthy” after he claimed it was Tim Nicholls who convinced Campbell Newman to cut jobs and sell assets when in power.

Mr Dickson, who was sports minister in the Newman government, said it was “unfair” the former premier was “condemned solely and wholly alone for those decisions” because it was then-treasurer and now LNP Leader Mr Nicholls who was in charge of financial decisions.

“I was in the Cabinet room, I was a minister, I sat directly opposite Campbell Newman and I remember his point very, very clearly,” he told the ABC.

One Nation Queensland leader Steve Dickson, pictured with Pauline Hanson at a rally on the Sunshine Coast, has claimed LNP leader Tim Nicholls convinced Campbell Newman to cut jobs and sell assets. Picture: Lachie Millard

“When asset sales were put on the table, he said, ‘you B’s will rue the day you did this’ and he was right.”

Mr Nicholls slammed his former colleague as “completely untrustworthy” but stopped short of saying Mr Dickson’s claims weren’t true.

“I think people know that Steve Dickson is completely untrustworthy,” he said.

“He is untrustworthy in relation to his loyalty, he is untrustworthy in relation to the people of Buderim, he is untrustworthy to his former colleagues.

“I think people should take whatever Steve Dickson says in the light of his proven untrustworthiness.”

It comes amid the ongoing Labor campaign to remind voters of Mr Nicholls role in the unpopular Newman administration.

Originally published as Queensland election 2017: LNP leader Nicholls blasts defector Dickson over job cuts claim