Premier Steven Miles backs Belinda Hassan to replace Julieanne Gilbert as Mackay MP

With Julieanne Gilbert bowing out, Premier Steven Miles has thrown his weight behind Mackay deputy mayor Belinda Hassan to replace her, but some of her colleagues are less than impressed. See what it means for voters.

Steven Miles arrived in Mackay the day after Julieanne Gilbert's resignation to announce his backing of Belinda Hassan. Photo: Fergus Gregg

After weeks of speculation Premier Steven Miles settled the rumours surrounding the seat of Mackay once and for all by asking Belinda Hassan to throw her name into the ring.
The Premier travelled to Mackay and stood up with the Mackay deputy mayor to promote her as his preferred candidate for Mackay, less than 24 hours after three-term MP Julieanne Gilbert said she wouldn’t contest the seat.

Mr Miles called Ms Hassan a fantastic candidate for Mackay that he wanted on his team, before paying tribute to Ms Gilbert, who was not in attendance.

“Nobody loves Mackay like Julieanne does,” he said.

Julieanne Gilbert was resolute as she called time on her career in politics after three terms. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Wearing Labor red Belinda discounted the rumours regarding her candidacy and talked about how “stressful” the previous days had been for her.

“This is a very recent decision,” Ms Hassan said.

“I’m very pleased to follow on from Julieanne.”

She also admitted to working in Ms Gilbert’s office as a casual while votes were still being counted in the council election.

Ms Gilbert had said Ms Hassan had nominated for the Whitsunday seat in an interview with this masthead on Friday morning, but Ms Hassan clarified she “sent an EOI, but did not proceed with the nomination”.

“I did not think that was appropriate as I don’t currently live in that electorate,” she said.

While Ms Hassan has yet to officially submit her nomination for Mackay it is imminent.

“If anything I’m making myself more committed to representing my community,” she said.

Ms Hassan said she will focus on housing, an issue she said council had done its best to address but required greater advocacy at the state level.

If Ms Hassan remains the sole nominee for the candidacy she will face a tough battle against former police officer turned LNP candidate Nigel Dalton.

The Premier confidently said he believed Ms Hassan would defeat Mr Dalton in the October election, but the latest polling places it within snatching distance for the opposition.

“She will be a fantastic candidate for the Labor Party,” Mr Miles said.
Queensland Labor state secretary Kate Flanders said nominations are open until Saturday, 5pm.

What happens with council if she wins?

Her former colleagues in council will need to vote for a new deputy mayor as well as decide who will fill the vacant councillor seat.

According to the Electoral Commission of Queensland, the councillors can vote to hold a by-election or instead save costs and welcome in the candidate who scored 11th at the March polls, which would be former councillor Michelle Osborne, nee Green.

Team Williamson members (from left): councillor candidate Stephen Cutting, incumbent mayor Greg Williamson, incumbent councillor and candidate Michelle Osborne (nee Green), and incumbent deputy mayor and councillor candidate Karen May at the early voting for Mackay Regional Council election at the Mackay Showgrounds. Picture: Heidi Petith

Ms Osborne told the Daily Mercury she would “have to weigh up the options”.

“I loved the role, I thought I was very effective in the role and I look forward to what more I could do if I was to return to that role,” she said.

Cartoonist Harry Bruce's take on Julieanne Gilbert's announcement she was not going to re-run for the Mackay seat at this year's state elections with Mackay Regional Council deputy mayor Belinda Hassan expected to take her place as Labor's candidate.

Ms Hassan’s decision to run has ruffled some feathers among the deputy mayor’s peers in Mackay Regional Council.

Councillor Martin Bella posted thinly-veiled swipes at his colleague on Facebook in the lead-up to her intentions being made public, on Thursday writing: “You are about to see a vow shatter like glass ... It was never strong from the start.”

Speaking to the Daily Mercury, Mr Bella said Ms Hassan’s bid for state parliament “is not something that’s just happened”.

“This has been in the wind for a long time, it’s a matter of honesty I suppose,” he said.

“I just think that when you make a vow ... when you put yourself up for (local) election, you commit to serve the term unless something happens to you.”

Other councillors declined to comment while Councillor Karen May, who used to be Mackay’s deputy mayor, said she’d like to see state elections pushed out by another two years to “alleviate the problem” of newly-elected councillors vacating seats for a chance to higher political realms.

“It’s a flawed process,” Mrs May said.

“If there has to be a by-election, that’s just an extra cost to ratepayers.”

But when it came to her support for Mrs Hassan, she said: “I wish her all the best”, a sentiment echoed by Councillor Alison Jones.

Belinda Hassan and Alison Jones at the Community Bank Sarina celebration of community dinner, Bob Wood Cultural Hall, Sarina. Picture: Michaela Harlow

“She’s currently respected in her role in council as a community leader and I wish her all the best,” Mrs Jones told the Daily Mercury.

Councillor Peter Sheedy, who is serving his first term in council, said he was surprised to learn Ms Hassan was trying for state government.

There could be another fresh face at the council table should Ms Hassan retain the seat for Labor.

Hoping to snatch the seat for the LNP is former top cop, Nigel Dalton, who is expected to win over many come-of-age voters because of his many years delivering programs across the region’s high schools.

The chance of a by-election shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand should Ms Hassan quit council given that six of Jacko’s Team Mackay First 10-strong party failed to get a seat and the four that did get in — Heath Paton, Namarca Corowa, Nathanea MacRae and George Christensen — might be inclined to give them another shot.

Mackay First party members hoping to be elected to represent Mackay Regional Council (from left): Ian Christensen, George Christensen, Kylee Stanton, Nathenea MacRae, Steve 'Jacko' Jackson, Lindsay Temple and Namarca Corowa. Absent were Heath Paton, Jeff Keioskie, Keith Hicks and Melissa Fowler. Picture: Heidi Petith

This would open the floodgates for anyone wanting to become a councillor to put their hand up.

The Daily Mercury asked veteran councillor and former candidate for mayor, Laurence Bonaventura, if he was interested and the answer was a “definite no”.

“Laurence Bonaventura is currently on holidays in Europe,” he said, adding Ms Hassan was “welcome to do what she feels she wants”. 

“As a person, I am disappointed for the people of Mackay - in the way that they voted, for what they thought was going to be someone for four years.”

What do you think about Ms Hassan trying for state governments only months into her tenure as deputy mayor? Comment below, on Facebook or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Premier Steven Miles backs Belinda Hassan to replace Julieanne Gilbert as Mackay MP