New Labor MPs toast of Brisbane union march

ALP’s tyro parliamentarians were mobbed by union members as they were joined by federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his one-time boss and mentor Wayne Swan.

Queensland Labor MP Grace Grace embraces the newly elected member for Peter Dutton’s old seat of Dickson, Ali France, at Queenslands Labour Day March in Brisbane’s CBD. Picture: Glenn Campbell/NewsWire

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Anthony Albanese’s newly elected Queensland MPs were the toast of Labour Day in Brisbane on Monday, leading the state’s union movement in the annual march through the city that for years had turned its back on ­federal Labor.

After more than doubling its MPs from the state at the weekend election, Labor’s tyro parliamentarians were mobbed by union members as they were joined by federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his one-time boss and mentor Wayne Swan.

And special attention was given to the giant killer, Ali France, who on her third attempt as a candidate for the outer Brisbane seat of Dickson defeated Peter Dutton.

Ms France, who lost a leg after being hit by a car at a suburban shopping centre, rode a mobility scooter alongside the other newly elected MPs, who wrestled away seats from the Greens and Liberals in a surprise sweep of Brisbane.

Labor lifted its number of MPs in the state from five to 12, as well as winning another Senate spot, after more than a decade of the federal Coalition dominating the Queensland political landscape.

Ms France, who zipped ahead of the march on occasion, was heard telling Mr Swan, the former federal treasurer and current national ALP president, and senator Murray Watt to “keep up”.

The fresh-faced politician has previously said losing her leg above the knee and having to rely on Medicare was one of the main reasons she entered politics.

Reflecting on the whirlwind weekend, Ms France said she was grateful to be part of the team and the work of her volunteers.

“I’m just really proud,” she said. “I’m in awe. The Labor team has just been incredible.”

Newly elected Queensland MP Renee Coffey at Queensland’s Labour Day March in Brisbane’s CBD. Picture: Glenn Campbell/NewsWire

Ms France was accompanied by fellow parliamentary newcomers Kara Cook (Bonner), Renee Coffey (Griffith), Madonna Jarrett (Brisbane), Emma Comer (Petrie) and Rowan Holzberger (Forde) – who all won seats for Labor – as well as Julie-Ann Campbell, who was elected to the Labor-held seat of Moreton.

The Liberal-held seat of Longman, on Brisbane’s outskirts, is still too close to call as counting continues but incumbent Terry Young has a small lead over ­Rhiannyn Douglas.

Mr Chalmers was in the crowd, but did not join his colleagues at the front of the march.

Mr Swan said the election ­victory was a “reaffirmation of everything Labor stands for”.

Thousands of workers made their voices heard in the midst of public service enterprise bargaining negotiations with the state Liberal National government. Black T-shirt clad members of the CFMEU yelled they were “here to stay”, while one man carried a head resembling Mr Dutton on a spike.

Union members march through Brisbane on Labour Day. Picture: Glenn Campbell/NewsWire

The march was met by pro-Palestine protesters, led by failed Greens candidate for Moreton Remah Naji, who joined the back of the crowd, chanting “we must stand by what we witness, Palestine is union business”. They outnumbered a small group calling for climate action.

State Labor leader and former premier Steven Miles said the Queensland result showed the electorate did not resonate with the LNP’s values. Saturday’s poll followed a similar trend to last year’s state election, when the LNP failed to pick up any representation in Brisbane, while the Greens lost one of their two seats in parliament.

“You saw Anthony campaigning on healthcare, on education, on cost of living, on cutting HECS while the LNP stuck to their bread and butter of fear and strongman tactics,” Mr Miles said.