Single party claim is truly a political hoodwink

Patently, federal members of the LNP do not represent the same particular group of people or share the same set of ideals

Ballot boxes. Picture: Cathy Adams

A POLITICAL party is an organisation that represents a particular group of people or a set of ideals.

In Queensland one such party is Queensland's Liberal National Party.

In the Federal Parliament it has 26 members spread across the Senate and House of Representatives.

When electors in Queensland vote for an LNP candidate they reasonably assume they are voting for an individual who shares the same agenda and platform as others in the party.

However, of the 26 Queensland members elected under the LNP banner, 18 sit with the Liberal Party and eight sit with the National Party.

This may not seem to be of crucial importance until one considers recent events.

LNP politicians who sit in the Liberal party room will be expected follow Prime Minister Morrison's directive to preference One Nation below Labor.

However, LNP politicians who sit in the National party room will be able to decide for themselves with Ken O'Dowd, Keith Pitt and Michelle Landry all having said they would preference One Nation above Labor.

There is also the ongoing conflict between the Coalition partners over energy policy.

Patently, federal members of the LNP do not represent the same particular group of people or share the same set of ideals.

So why present themselves as a single party?

Is this yet another party political tactic to hoodwink the electorate?

PAUL CLYNICK

Moffat Beach

Originally published as Single party claim is truly a political hoodwink