• Labor’s crooked move to fix state elections takes away Queenslanders’ choice
• Senior Labor Minister dismisses Fitzgerald reforms as outdated
• Premier called on to explain her government’s rejection of the Fitzgerald reforms
The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s crooked move to fix state elections in their favour effectively tears up Fitzgerald principles and takes away Queenslanders’ choice, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said today.
Mr Springborg said Queenslanders had been left stunned by comments made by Leader of the House Stirling Hinchliffe on ABC radio that the Fitzgerald principles were outdated.
When asked about the Palaszczuk Government’s reforms going against the post Fitzgerald inquiry recommendations, Mr Hinchliffe responded by saying:
“Well it was more than 20 years ago, it was 25 years ago… So it is indeed a generation ago, and the circumstances and experiences of the way our electoral system changed.”
“Does Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk back her Minister and agree that the Fitzgerald Principles are outdated and no longer relevant to Queenslanders?” Mr Springborg said.
“Not only has the Premier broken the promise she made to Queenslanders about openness, accountability and consultation, but now it seems the Fitzgerald Principles document she signed before being elected isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk must level with the people of Queensland about why she took away their choice and outline what other promises she intends to break.”
Shadow Attorney-General Ian Walker said the Palaszczuk Government had revealed its true deceitful and conniving self and the real Labor Party has reared its ugly head.
“There’s no denying that the Palaszczuk Labor Government hasn’t done much since it was elected 14 months ago,” Mr Walker said.
“But when faced with defeat this week, what we saw was a Labor Government switch into survival mode – more interested in self-preservation than governing in the best interests of our great state.
“This isn’t what Queenslanders voted for.”
Key Facts:
• The Landmark Fitzgerald inquiry recommended Queensland adopt optional preferential voting.
• Optional preferential voting is used in Queensland and NSW state elections as well as local government elections.
• The Palaszczuk Labor Government has pushed through major voting reform with zero consultation and with just 18 minutes notice.
Click here for a PDF of the final report of Fitzgerald’s Electoral and Administrative Review Commission (1991), recommending optional preferential voting.