Queensland election: Rockhampton mayor to run as independent

Rockhampton mayor Margaret Strelow will run for parliament as an independent.

Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow. Picture: Allan Reinikka

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s campaign has been dealt an embarrassing blow with Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow contesting the local seat as an independent after being blocked to stand for Labor in a factional brawl.

Ms Strelow was Ms Palaszczuk’s pick to be preselected for the seat after incumbent MP and agriculture minister Bill Byrne ­retired because of ill health.

The seat is vulnerable to One Nation, which is understood to be polling a primary vote of close to 30 per cent.

The local “Old Guard’’ faction ignored Ms Palaszczuk’s public endorsement of Ms Strelow on the eve of the election, and backed public servant Barry O’Rourke who won preselection.

The move angered Labor insiders, who felt the Old Guard — the smallest faction in Queensland Labor which is now in an alliance with the left — had undermined the Premier.

Both Ms Palaszczuk and Ms Strelow are members of the Australian Workers Union-dominated right faction.

Yesterday’s decision caught Ms Palaszczuk off-guard while she was campaigning in Mackay, where she told reporters: “I haven’t heard that. I would find that very surprising.”

She later released a statement that did not criticise Ms Strelow, whom she said was “disappointed” with preselection of Mr O’Rourke.

“Anyone who meets the ­requirements is entitled to nominate for the state election,” she said. “Through Labor’s preselection process, local members chose Barry O’Rourke as the candidate for Rockhampton.

“I understand Margaret Strelow was disappointed in the result. Barry is passionate about the Rockhampton community and he will fight each and every day to ­ensure the people of Rockhampton have a strong voice.”

Ms Strelow, who was re-elected last year but has now stepped down as mayor during the campaign, said the “factionalism and preselection loss’’ had not driven her to stand as candidate.

Instead, Ms Strelow said the candidates had failed to impress.

“I listened to them and they don’t seem to understand the ­issues facing our community. I couldn’t hear the passion or any kind of vision,’’ she said.

Ms Strelow, who as mayor proposed building Adani’s mine site airport, said she would not comment specifically on Ms Palaszczuk’s decision to veto the $1 billion federal loan for Adani’s rail line. “(But) In principle I support the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and the loan because the rail line will open up the Galilee Basin,’’ she said.

“If people didn’t support NAIF, they should have said that when it was being set up.’’

Ms Strelow said she had not yet decided on how she would send her preferences or what he would do in the event she was elected in a hung parliament.

“I have friends and people I ­admire on the other side of politics, and we have seen what can be achieved by independents in hung parliament,’’ she said.

Ms Strelow said she expected to be expelled from Labor after 25 years in the party. “But my priority has always been my community and I am committed to putting Rockhampton first,’’ she said

“This is a strong Labor town, and I appreciate that.

‘‘For me, this was a matter of conscience. I just felt that someone needed to step forward who could speak for our issues.”