Election 2022: ‘Progressive agenda will stem Greens’ surge’, says Annastacia Palaszczuk
Annastacia Palaszczuk is not concerned surging Green support in Brisbane will affect her re-election prospects, insisting her Labor government is ‘progressive’ enough.
Annastacia Palaszczuk is not concerned surging Green support in Brisbane will affect her re-election prospects, insisting her Labor government is “progressive” enough.
Brisbane cemented itself as Greens’ heartland at Saturday night’s election when they recorded mammoth swings towards them in three inner-city seats.
The party easily captured the South Brisbane seat of Griffith from Labor’s environment spokeswoman Terri Butler and the neighbouring electorate of Ryan from the Coalition. It is also leading a tight count in the seat of Brisbane.
Federal success comes after the Greens won their first Brisbane council division and two state parliament seats in just the past six years.
The trend puts Labor seats of McConnel and Bulimba – both held by state ministers – in serious jeopardy at the 2024 state election.
But the Queensland Premier is not concerned.
“Queensland is a big state, people can see the difference between the state and federal elections,” she said. “We have a very progressive environmental agenda and we have a very progressive jobs agenda.”
Ms Palaszczuk has no plans to set more ambitious emission reduction targets to slow the Greens’ march.
“We have a clear target and we will continue to focus on it.”
The Palaszczuk government’s emission reduction target is 30 per cent by 2030, well behind Anthony Albanese’s federal goal of 43 per cent.
Both state and federal Labor governments’ reduction targets are behind Liberal-led NSW, which is a 50 per cent cut to emissions by 2030.
Taking a veiled swipe at ousted Labor frontbencher Terri Butler, who lost Griffith after the Greens unleashed a year-long doorknocking blitz of the electorate, Ms Palaszczuk said the results were a lesson for all MPs to be “in touch with their local communities”.
“I think Terri Butler worked very hard but obviously in this case there was maybe a more structured campaign (from the Greens),” she said.
“I think people just need to be really aware of the issues that are in their local community. (Voters) want people who understand their issues, be in touch with their issues, and they are the people who will get elected.
“I know hard working campaigners like, off the top of my head, Milton Dick and Anika Wells (are) very, very good local campaigners, Shane Neumann, they are all out there talking to voters.”
Ms Butler suffered a 2.35 per cent swing against her, dropping to 28.57 per cent of the primary vote, and was third behind the Liberals on 29.86 per cent.
Ms Palaszczuk congratulated Mr Albanese on his win and said she would lobby him for a 50-50 funding split on health to help fix overcrowding in public hospitals.
“It was front and centre of the previous national cabinet and the former prime minister would not even allow it to be on the agenda to be discussed,” she said.
“(Health) is the biggest pressure point across Australia and it is something that we need to sit down and have a real conversation about.”
Trump’s Gaza gambit is brazen and naive
Donald Trump has shown the gulf between his position and Anthony Albanese’s, wedging Labor on Palestine. But his plan to ‘own’ Gaza won’t work.
Kerr’s trashy outburst should’ve been the end of the story. Sadly, it’s not
Two women. Two court cases. Each much ado about nothing. But there is a bigger tale here about a plodding prime minister who took too long to intervene.