NewsBite

Queensland election 2017: Premier’s choice in Rockhampton, Margaret Strelow, to run as an independent

A QUEENSLAND mayor who received Annastacia Palaszczuk’s endorsement for preselection has chosen to run as an independent. Now, the Premier has thrown her support behind a new face in the hotly contested seat.

Rockhampton Region mayor Margaret Strelow has announced she will run as an independent at the state election.
Rockhampton Region mayor Margaret Strelow has announced she will run as an independent at the state election.

ROCKHAMPTON Mayor Margaret Strelow will run as an independent after losing preselection to contest the Central Queensland seat for Labor.

BACKGROUND: Palaszczuk’s attempt to endorse Strelow for Rockhampton backfires

With her opportunities to take the next step fast running out, Cr Strelow’s latest political manoeuvre threatens to throw the race for Rockhampton wide open.

In the wake of the announcement, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk released a statement backing Labor’s Rockhampton candidate.

“Anyone who meets the requirements is entitled to nominate for the State election,” the statement read.

“Through Labor’s preselection process, local members chose Barry O’Rourke as the candidate for Rockhampton. I understand Margaret Strelow was disappointed in the result.

“Barry is passionate about the Rockhampton community and he will fight each and every day to ensure the people of Rockhampton have a strong voice.

“Labor representatives have always worked hard for the great city of Rockhampton and I know Barry will continue in that tradition.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk backed Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow for preselection, but she failed to win the nomination of the Labor Party. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk backed Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow for preselection, but she failed to win the nomination of the Labor Party. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

EARLIER: Cr Strelow’s move to run as independent against Labor even caught Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk off guard.

“I haven’t heard that. I would find that very surprising,” she said at a press conference in Mackay.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had anointed Cr Strelow her preferred candidate to replace retiring Rockhampton MP Bill Byrne who is bowing out of politics for health reasons.

After a number of failed attempts to win preselection races for the Labor Party to represent Central Queensland in federal and state election campaigns over the years, Cr Strelow’s move was one borne out of frustration with party powerbrokers and factional alliances who have thwarted her continued attempts to ascend to the next level in her political career.

The latest of these was the battle for Labor preselection, for Rockhampton, The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin reports.

Cr Strelow, with the backing of the right faction and the endorsement of Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk didn’t have the numbers to overcome Labor’s Old Guard faction and union backed choice – Queensland public housing boss Barry O’Rourke.

“This will be a tough fight but I want the best for Rockhampton,” Cr Strelow said in a statement released to the media ahead of a press conference in Rockhampton.

She will now create competition for Labor in the seat, competing against the man who beat her for ALP preselection Barry O’Rourke.

As a self styled everyday man, Mr O’Rourke is an inexperienced political candidate who is now up against a formidable opponent in Cr Strelow who is serving her fourth term as Mayor.

The move has the potential to split the Labor voting base in the normally safe “Labor stronghold”.

In the last two state elections, Labor won with 53 per cent in 2015 and 40 per cent in 2012, Liberals brought in 30 per cent in both elections and a resurgent One Nation is only slightly less popular than they were 20 years ago when they secured 25 per cent of the vote.

The Morning Bulletin has previously reported Rockhampton businessman Dominic Doblo offered $50,000 in political funding to back a worthy independent to run in the state election representing Central Queensland’s interests rather than toeing the line of the major political parties.

Although Cr Strelow had only reaffirmed her commitment to Rockhampton’s Regional Council two weeks ago, it is set to be thrown again with the unexpected news of the Mayor stepping aside from her role to contest the state election.

Deputy Mayor Cherie Rutherford is expected to step into the Mayor’s shoes while council awaits the election result and if Cr Strelow was to win the seat, it will force a by-election where a number of councillors are expected to vie for the top job.

Cr Strelow’s decision also means she will be kicked out of the Labor Party as under the ALP rules membership ceases automatically upon nominating to run against a Labor candidate.

Former Rockhampton MP and Labor Party elder Robert Schwarten slammed the Mayor for going back on her pledge that she would accept the preselection result.

“This is the same woman who said while the plebiscite was on that she would abide by the branch members’ decision and get behind whatever candidate they chose and now she is running an independent,” Mr Schwarten said.

But he denied it would make it harder for Labor to win the seat.

“I don’t think it will make much difference,” Mr Schwarton said,

“I think she is about to find out how unpopular she really is in Rockhampton.”

Former Labor minister and Rockhampton MP Robert Schwarten slammed Cr Strenlow’s decision to run as independent.
Former Labor minister and Rockhampton MP Robert Schwarten slammed Cr Strenlow’s decision to run as independent.

LNP Leader Tim Nicholls was also surprised by Ms Strelow’s decision, which he was told of during his press conference in the seat of Pumicestone.

“Really?” he asked.

“We’ve known for the past three years that Labor has been a disunited, muddle-headed rabble.

“They couldn’t agree on many things.

“We’ve seen Jo-Ann Miller quit, we’ve seen Leeann Donaldson sacked, Stirling HInchliffe quit, Billy Gordon get fired, Rick Williams – the successful, so-called MP up here – be given his marching orders as a pretext for the early election call.

“And now we see a disgruntled, former Labor member of the party, a mayor, thumb her nose and run as an independent.

“The real question for Annastacia Palaszczuk is does she prefer the preselected ALP candidate or does she prefer her good friend, the mayor of Rockhampton, Margaret Strelow?

“I mean, they are a mess.”

Originally published as Queensland election 2017: Premier’s choice in Rockhampton, Margaret Strelow, to run as an independent

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/queensland/state-election-2017/queensland-election-2017-premiers-choice-in-rockhampton-margaret-strelow-to-run-as-an-independent/news-story/7522419e533192d2cf4b8fa223c14de7