Queensland election results 2017: Labor in factional brawl over Pitt

THE election outcome is still undecided, but an internal war has already broken out within Queensland Labor as the party’s left and right factions battle it out to replace Curtis Pitt as treasurer.

THE election outcome is still undecided, but an internal war has already broken out within Queensland Labor as the party’s left and right factions battle it out to replace Curtis Pitt as treasurer.

Curtis Pitt’s days as treasurer appear to be numbered. Picture: Annette Dew

An internal brawl has broken out within Queensland Labor as the party’s left and right factions battle it out to replace Curtis Pitt as treasurer. While Labor is still to formally secure a majority following Saturday’s state election, it is all but certain to retain government.

Factional players have been in negotiations about the makeup of the next Labor cabinet since Sunday.

With Mr Pitt widely expected to be ousted from Treasury there is a push to replace him with Health Minister Cameron Dick from the premier’s Right faction, according to senior government sources.

The push would also see Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, considered by others in the party to be the natural replacement for Mr Pitt, take over the Health portfolio. However, that move will be strongly opposed by Ms Trad’s Left faction and the smaller Old Guard faction, who hold a majority of seats in the Labor caucus.

“Dick doesn’t have the numbers to be Treasurer,” a senior source told AAP.

Dumping Mr Pitt would go against Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s public promise during the election campaign to keep him in the job.

“Yes I do guarantee his job,” Ms Palaszczuk said on the campaign trail in response to questions about Mr Pitt’s performance.

Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad. Picture: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

It is also understood the party is planning a portfolio restructure that would better reflect the government’s agenda, compared to the previous cabinet structure considered by some in the party to have been a hangover from the Newman government.

Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman, Attorney General Yvette D’Ath, Education Minister Kate Jones and State Development Minister Anthony Lynham are expected to be in line for more senior roles.

Increasing the number of assistant ministers from two - Assistant Minister of State Assisting the Premier, Jennifer Howard and Assistant Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Glenn Butcher - is also being contemplated. Labor believes it is on track to win the 47 seats it needs to govern in its own right, five days after Queenslanders went to the polls.

A majority government would fend off a deal with a larger and more varied cross bench than that of the previous parliament.

The Liberal National Party is currently sitting on 38 electorates, with five seats undecided.

Originally published as Queensland election results 2017: Labor in factional brawl over Pitt