Ministers dodge leadership talk as election reckoning looms

Senior Labor ministers have shot down talk of who would lead the party if it is defeated on Saturday. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman on Monday. Picture: Annette Dew

Senior Labor ministers have shot down talk of who would lead the party if it is defeated on Saturday.

Polling indicates Opposition Leader David Crisafulli will form a majority government for the LNP on Saturday, putting Labor on the opposition benches for the first time since January 2015.

It could also create a prolonged battle for the Labor leadership, with Health Minister Shannon Fentiman and Treasurer Cameron Dick expected to stand if premier Steven Miles does not seek to continue as opposition leader.

However the Left faction candidate most likely to secure enough support from Labor’s caucus and unions, Ms Fentiman, on Monday declined to be drawn on the leadership during a media conference to announce a new fertility service.

“I am honestly so focused on winning this election, because look at what is at stake,” she said.

“We’re here today, an historic day for the first ever state-funded fertility preservation service.

“If David Crisafulli wins the election we know they’re going to wind back abortion rights, and we know from our experience in the US that fertility treatments are next on their hit list.

“So I have not had time to think about what happens, because I’m so focused on making sure every Queenslander knows what’s at risk.”

Mr Crisafulli has labelled Labor’s comments a scare campaign, and said changes to abortion laws would not occur under his government.

However he has declined to say how Liberal National MPs would be permitted to vote if the issue is brought before parliament.

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In Cairns, Mr Miles also declined to be drawn on a possible future leadership battle between Ms Fentiman and Mr Dick.

“I think I’ve been pretty clear that I won’t be answering any of those kinds of questions until Sunday and I hope never to have to answer them, because we are working hard to win on Saturday,” he said.

If the race for Labor’s leadership is contested a ballot of members, unions and MPs is undertaken.

Ms Fentiman would likely secure enough support from unions and MPs.

The Courier-Mail revealed on Monday United Workers’ Union powerbroker Gary Bullock would likely remain the dominant union boss after the election.

Mr Bullock was instrumental in installing Mr Miles as premier following the resignation of Annastacia Palaszczuk in December.

Originally published as Ministers dodge leadership talk as election reckoning looms