Rockhampton Labor supporters accuse Dutton of attacking workers’ rights

They were small in number, but Tuesday morning saw a group of determined Labor supporters decry what they saw as inconsistency in Liberal Party policy ahead of the Federal election.

Labor supporters (from left) Lynette Dobson, Tom Bartlem, Marree Bartlem, Bridget Walker and Deb Wynne proudly show off who they are supporting this upcoming Federal election.

They may have been small in number, but they were nonetheless enthusiastic.

Tuesday morning saw six Labor supporters wave placards in support of Labor candidate for the Capricornia, Emily Mawson, outside long-time sitting MP Michelle Landry’s Rockhampton office.

Locals at the gathering, which took place at 7.30am, fiercely argued the Liberal Party’s policy was flip-flopping on its policy coming into the election.

“We’ve got a Federal Election coming up and the LNP’s first instinct was to cut jobs and attack workers’ rights,” Central Queensland Workplace Branch president Bridget Walker said.

“But now that we’re 11 days into the campaign and those policies have been deemed unpopular they want to backtrack, back pedal and just want everybody to forget it.”

The policy Ms Walker is referring to is the suggestion early on in the election campaign by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to slash tens of thousands of public servant jobs as a cost saving method.

This plan has since been reversed by the Liberal Party.

Ms Mawson is one of several candidates hoping to unseat Ms Landry, who was first elected in 2013.

At the time of the protest, Ms Landry was at Nebo and committed $4 million to the redevelopment of the Nebo Showgrounds.

She described the showgrounds as ‘the beating heart of this proud rural community’ and said some of the ‘biggest rodeos in the country’ are held there.

Originally published as Rockhampton Labor supporters accuse Dutton of attacking workers’ rights