Analysis: What happened to the good old days of Queensland politics?
If you thought the first three weeks of this campaign was dull, the breathless tough talk from two Labor candidates might push you over the edge, writes state political editor Hayden Johnson.
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If you thought the first three weeks of this campaign was dull, the breathless tough talk from two Labor candidates might push you over the edge.
One week ago in this drawn-out campaign Premier Steven Miles announced the government would splash $365m doing the federal government’s job and open 50 bulk-billing GP clinics if he’s re-elected.
The locations of these state-owned clinics, we were promised, would be done in consultation with industry.
What Labor didn’t mention was the consultation it would also do – and probably put greater emphasis on – was with its candidates desperate to win seats on October 26.
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Hot into journalists’ inboxes on Monday morning was a joint demand from Labor’s Mackay candidate Belinda Hassan and doctor-turned Whitsunday candidate Bauke Hovinga demanding a slice of this latest pork-barrelling pie.
On a Labor letterhead, the Labor candidates demanded Labor deliver a bulk-billing GP clinic in the Mackay Whitsundays region.
“Our Premier”, Ms Hassan gushed … “announced that Labor will intervene in the primary care space for the first time in an unprecedented move to deliver more GP clinics around the state.
“One of those should be right here in Mackay. It’s the healthcare we need and deserve.”
Talk about tough.
Of course, their demands were written by party headquarters knowing a GP clinic is coming if Labor is re-elected.
It was the same story with satellite hospitals just a few months ago.
Desperate to be perceived as fighters, Labor’s ‘Palaszczuk’s pensioner’ MPs for Nicklin and Caloundra launched a petition demanding the government commit to a satellite hospital in their communities.
Low and behold, a grovelling Mr Miles rode in, capitulated to their demand and announced Sunshine Coast Satellite Hospital “thanks to the advocacy of local members Jason Hunt and Rob Skelton”.
They’d twisted his arm with a stunning display of persuasion while securing the contact details of signatories ahead of an election campaign.
This party political system means your local MP – on both sides – must play as a member of a team.
But what happened to the old days when local members seemed to demand more than they knew they’d get, no matter the consequences?
Originally published as Analysis: What happened to the good old days of Queensland politics?
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