The LNP government in Queensland was crushed in the Stafford by-election in late July with a thumping 19 per cent swing against them. This follows Labor’s win in the Redcliffe by-election with a 17.2 per cent swing against the LNP. After just one term, Labor is in striking distance of returning to government.
When you consider Labor’s 51 seats were reduced to just seven in 2012, and union leaders were talking about three terms out of government, this is a remarkable turn around.
“Can do Campbell”—as Premier Campbell Newman dubs himself—saw his 2012 victory as the green light to ride rough shod over anyone opposing his crude pro-business agenda. But, much like Tony Abbott federally, a series of overestimations have backfired badly.
During the election campaign Newman promised that “the public service has nothing to fear from me” but went on to sack 14,000 public servants. Doctors working for the public health system had a bruising fight with the government over contracts, while Newman arrogantly dismissed broad concerns about the health of the Great Barrier Reef saying, “We are in the coal business”.
Following a bikie brawl on the Gold Coast last September Newman thought he’d boost his government’s fortunes by beating up a law and order scare campaign. But the public widely see these laws as going too far in impinging on civil liberties.
Newman’s relationship with the legal fraternity has become toxic. He branded critics of his sex offenders laws as “apologists for paedophiles” and lawyers that defended bikies as “hired guns” who profited from the drug trade. The relationship soured further when he gave himself the power to appoint the head of the Crime and Corruption Commission. But after he promoted Tim Carmody to Chief Justice, one of the few judges who praised the government’s bikie laws, there was uproar. Renowned former corruption fighter Tony Fitzgerald came out of retirement to criticise the government as “inexperienced, arrogant fools”.
The government is now pushing ahead with a massive privatisation agenda. This is in spite of public opposition demonstrated at the last election when Labor was punished for its own privatisation agenda.
Following his crushing defeat in Stafford, Newman has apologised and retreated on some issues. But he is still going ahead with privatisation. The ball remains in the unions’ court. Newman can and must be stopped.
By Mark Gillespie
