George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip
The LNP are slated to wipe the floor with the Miles government at the upcoming Queensland election according to one group of committed outsiders, with the odds of the Premier retaining power looking astronomical. THIS IS GEORGE ST BEAT
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The LNP are slated to wipe the floor with Labor at the upcoming Queensland election – at least according to betting outfits.
Sportsbet currently has the LNP paying out a $1.10 to be the next government of Queensland, while Labor is paying out a whopping $9.
TAB is paying out even less, giving punters $1.05 on the LNP.
But some have been quick to point out the betting companies don’t always get it right — pointing to the 2019 bungle which resulted in Sportsbet losing upwards of $5m after paying out early on Bill Shorten to win the federal election.
THE SWITCH
Floundering in fortress Queensland, the great Australian Labor Party is desperate to claw back ground from Peter Dutton’s Coalition – and it could be up to a former state minister.
GSB hears Star casino’s in-house lobbyist and former Labor candidate Corinne Mulholland is all-but-certain to have a tilt at the Senate for the Right faction, while Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill has also revealed she’ll have a go.
But all eyes are on Left-faction darling, former Palaszczuk government minister Kate Jones.
Ms Jones is the preferred choice of United Workers Union powerbroker Gary Bullock to run for the Senate at the next federal election.
She’s also been praised by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who while telling media on Thursday it’s “a matter for the Queensland branch”, endorsed Ms Jones as “a very good person”.
“We hold just one Senate seat out of the six that will be up for grabs when the elections are held next year … I’m certainly hopeful of at least two Senators being elected from Queensland but it’s a matter for them,” he said.
GIVE KATTER A GO
He’s polished and passionate, so why couldn’t Robbie Katter be premier of Queensland – or a new state?
According to Tourism Minister Michael Healy, he’d be great at it.
Mr Healy’s full-throated endorsement of a Katter’s Australian Party reign came during the minor party’s motion in parliament to split Queensland in two.
A new north Queensland state – the press gallery has already dubbed ‘Katterstan’ – would be suitably led by Mr Katter.
“I think he would make a great premier,” Mr Healy told parliament.
“He is well dressed. He presents well. He is passionate.”
Not finished there, Mr Healy even allocated Cabinet positions to the two other Katter MPs.
“I can see the Member for Hill as the treasurer. He would be a fantastic treasurer. I can see the member for Hinchinbrook as the Attorney-General and police minister,” Mr Healy said.
The quality of the parliament’s speaking list revealed it wasn’t a serious debate for the LNP and Labor about splitting the state.
The vote, just four MPs in favour, proved it.
‘AMATEUR HOUR’
On the scale of jobs Queenslanders care about, Leader of the House ranks somewhere near arts minister in the Tasmanian government.
It’s a procedural, but critical job to ensure parliament runs as planned – but Labor MPs are increasingly wondering whether Mick de Brenni – sent into the role by the premier in January – is up to the task.
Mr de Brenni has been repeatedly forced to return to the chamber to move motions and some MPs acknowledge parliament has been more clunky with him in the role.
On Tuesday Mr de Brenni oddly attempted to have a question to Mr Miles about cabinet appointments ruled out of order.
Later, through a straight face he spoke about the importance of parliament sitting late to deliver legislation for Queenslanders – quite a change of heart from March when he refused to do so and slammed the LNP for “whinging” about it.
It prompted the LNP to take aim at the floundering Leader of the House.
“He’s an amateur,” shadow treasurer David Janetzki said.
“Bring back Stirling,” LNP water spokeswoman Deb Frecklington said – referring to veteran MP Stirling Hinchliffe.
THE DELIVERABLES
An independent Olympic Games infrastructure authority is now law and already the jostling is on to lead it.
One resignation in the local government space raised GSB’s eyebrows.
Sunshine Coast Council CEO Emma Thomas quitting after three-and-a-half years to “explore new opportunities”.
Ms Thomas is a well-regarded executive and whispers within the government indicate she’d be well-suited to the infrastructure authority role.
The hunt for seven independent directors will soon start – and they’ll be chosen by the CEOs of the nine Games Delivery Partners.
CLINIC RESCUES ENOCH
There’s a spell of illnesses spreading through parliament like wildfire this week, with a number of MPs including frontbenchers Charis Mullen and Mark Furner taking ill.
But it was Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch that struggled the most. It’s understood Ms Enoch, just as she was preparing to enter the parliamentary chamber on Wednesday, fainted.
Parliament’s resident doctor Christian Rowan was once again in the right place at the right time to come to Ms Enoch’s aid. And what would that place do without him. It has been confirmed Dr Rowan has now come to the aid of, or saved in the case of Clayfield MP Tim Nicholls, 10 people in a decade.
This time though he had help, with the equivalent of a rural clinic workforce rushing to her side.
Greenslopes MP Joe Kelly, a registered nurse, and Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper, a former paramedic, were also on hand to aid Ms Enoch.
It’s understood she went to the nearby St Andrews Hospital for a quick check up and was back in parliament on Thursday – though she looked rather grey and was off campus by early afternoon.
OUR THOUGHTS
Well-liked former Labor Minister Anthony Lynham on Friday ended his four-year tenure as chair of Gladstone Ports Corporation.
Effective May 31, Dr Lynham made the decision amid an illness in the family.
GSB sends our best wishes to a true gentleman of politics.
Originally published as George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip
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