Julieanne Gilbert retires as Mackay MP ahead of state election, Belinda Hassan likely replacement

A regional Queensland deputy mayor widely expected to drop out of council to run for a Labor safe seat was working as a casual in the office while her local government election votes were being counted.

Julieanne Gilbert has dropped out of the race for the Mackay seat ahead of what looks to be an electoral brawl with the LNP in October, and her expected replacement has already worked in her office.

Ms Gilbert is believed to be conceding for Mackay Regional Council deputy mayor Belinda Hassan to step up, after she scored the most votes in the March local government elections.

But in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mercury Ms Gilbert revealed that the deputy mayor had already nominated for the currently vacant Whitsundays seat held by the LNP’s Amanda Camm.
Ms Hassan in response said she had submitted an EOI for the seat but did not progress to a formal nomination.

Queensland Labor state party secretary Kate Flanders said the party had opened up the Mackay seat for nominations, with local members able to put their names forward until 5pm Saturday.

Ms Hassan’s links to the Mackay seat run deep however — including time spent working in Ms Gilbert’s office as a casual employee before the election was finalised, the sitting MP said.

“It wasn’t a lot, and it seemed like it was going to be a good fit,” Ms Gilbert said, adding that it was placed on Ms Hassan’s register of interests.
“I got permission to make sure that was above board and I know that Belinda spoke to the CEO to find out whether it fitted within the rules while they were in that caretaker counting mode.”

Julieanne Gilbert was resolute and confident as she called time on her career as Mackay’s MP. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Standing with Premier Steven Miles in Mackay on Friday, Ms Hassan addressed the timing of when she was hired.
“It was in the period between when the election was held and before [the results] were announced,” she said.

“I’m a single woman on a single income there was no guarantee I would be re-elected.

“I just spent nearly $15k of my own money on a LGE, which leaves me very little to commit to this election.”

Ms Hassan said it was cleared with the council CEO and executive officer.

“If I knew this was going to happen I absolutely wouldn’t have spent that money. My commitment at that time was to local government.”

Gilbert calls it quits

At her press conference on Thursday, Ms Gilbert was surprisingly upbeat as she called quits on her time as Mackay’s MP.

“For me it’s an exciting day plus a fairly emotional day as I’m announcing that I won’t be re-contesting the state election for the state of Mackay in the up and coming election,” Mrs Gilbert said.

“When I was first elected there was high unemployment, we had 2000 empty houses, businesses were shutting their doors, even great businesses like Porters, they had to let staff go.

“Now we are booming again, and Mackay is in a good place and I’d like to thank the Mackay community for their support … it has been a great journey that we have travelled together.

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert spruiking the Mackay Covid-19 vaccination hub during the pandemic. Picture: Heidi Petith

“There is alway as lot of work to do and continuing the projects that are in place now where we are looking at diversifying our economy so that we don’t get to that situation where we’re tied to sugar peaks and coal price peaks and lows, where we can have new industries on the back of those.”

Mrs Gilbert emphasised that she was not pushed to drop out of the race by Queensland Labor and said she was grateful to retire on her own terms.

Ms Gilbert’s staff stood in solidarity as she retired. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Queensland Labor state secretary Kate Flanders said the party was “grateful” to Ms Gilbert for her service to Labor and her community.

“Julieanne is a great example of a Labor person who has contributed to every part of her community – teaching and learning, infrastructure, workers safety and the resources industry, sugar and agriculture, healthcare and in this her focus was always people,” she said.

Mackay Regional Council Councillor Alison Jones, deputy mayor Belinda Hassan, Australian Street Aid Project founder Kayleigh Brewster and Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert. Picture: Fergus Gregg.

Mrs Gilbert would not confirm whether Ms Hassan would become the Labor candidate for Mackay but said she was a “fantastic person”.

“Everywhere I go Belinda has touched a part of the community,” Mrs Gilbert said.

“I wish Belinda and all the other candidates who put their hand up the best.”

For Ms Hassan, it would be the mother of four’s first run at becoming a state politician having previously tried her hand at the federal realm in 2018 but having lost to renegade politician George Christensen.

During that election, Ms Hassan had the public backing of Mrs Gilbert’s husband, Frank Gilbert.

Julieanne Gilbert MP, Qld parliament Question Time, Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Before becoming a councillor in 2020, Ms Hassan was the manager of Mackay Funerals and Sarina Funerals and worked at a domestic violence shelter.

The fifth-generation Mackay local has previously been vocal about increasing Medicare rebates to increase the affordability of seeing a GP.

Ms Hassan has kept silent for weeks when asked by this masthead if she plans on running.
If she does decide to run she will not need to resign from council but she will need to take unpaid leave during the campaign from the point of her announcement.
If elected, she would be automatically removed from council when taking her state seat.

Mrs Gilbert was a primary school teacher in Mackay and union organiser for the Queensland Teacher Union before coming a Labor member of Queensland parliament in the January 2015 elections with a 12 per cent swing.

She had stepped into the sizeable shoes of the late Tim Mulherin who held the seat from 1995.

During her nine-year career in politics, Gilbert had served as a deputy government whip; a member in the Agriculture and Environment, Parliamentary Crime and Corruption, and Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis committees; and as Assistant Minister for Treasury, Health and Regional Health Infrastructure and Education portfolios.

Presently, the 62 year old is the Assistant Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Industrial Relations and Racing.

Premier Steven Miles said Ms Gilbert was an “incredibly strong advocate” for Mackay over the last nine years.

“She’s been a great local MP and should be proud of her contribution to Queensland,” he said.

“We’re fortunate to have a strong team, with broad experience in our Caucus.

“As a former teacher, Julieanne has always advocated to ensure a strong future for Mackay, so the next generation prospers.”

Mrs Gilbert said she wants to spend more time with family, and cited the media scrutiny about her re-election as factors in her decision to bow out.

“I actually needed to sit down and talk to all of the people I care most about and map out what the future of our family will be,” she said.

“The world is my oyster now.”

Originally published as Julieanne Gilbert retires as Mackay MP ahead of state election, Belinda Hassan likely replacement