Haneef’s lawyer to stand for state Labor

THE solicitor who secured the release of doctor ­Mohamed Haneef will stand as a Labor candidate at the QLD state election.

QLD_CM_NEWS_LABOR_CANDIDATES_15APR14

THE solicitor who secured the release of Gold Coast doctor ­Mohamed Haneef will stand as a Labor candidate at the next Queensland state election.

Peter Russo was among 17 candidates in weekend preselection contests that were otherwise dominated by former MPs, union officials and political staffers. He will contest the seat of Sunnybank, which is held by the Liberal National Party on a margin of almost 3 per cent.

He decided to run in the wake of the Newman government’s fights with members of the legal community and judiciary.

“The attacks on the judiciary, the lack of understanding of the separation of powers, the attacks on lawyers themselves. I just think it was important that I had the opportunity to stand and I hope I can make a real difference,’’ he said.

Last week, Newspoll showed the LNP could lose its huge ­majority and government, with its lead over Labor now down to 52-48 on a two-party-preferred basis. Primary support for the LNP has fallen from the 49.7 per cent support it received in the 2012 election

If the 10.8 per cent swing was uniform — which is unlikely — then the government would easily lose more than 30 seats, including that of Premier Campbell Newman.

Mr Russo, who also defended disgraced LNP MP Scott Driscoll and former federal speaker Peter Slipper, said he would not speculate on whether he had ambitions to be attorney-general.

“One step at a time. The end game is to win Sunnybank for Labor. It won’t be easy but I’m sure I’ve got the energy and the stamina to bring it up (to the government),’’ he said.

ALP state president Dick Williams said he believed the outcome of the preselection contests showed there was a “growing base of talent’’ from the community to represent Labor.

“We have a number of first-time candidates out there and some former MPs, labour and union officials who are all worthy and I hope Queenslanders see it like that,’’ he said.

Former MPs Di Farmer, Cameron Dick, Stirling Hinchcliffe, Kerry Shine and Mark Ryan are also candidates.