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| Queensland state Labor MP says he will now stick by Palaszczuk after talks | Queensland state Labor MP says he will now stick by Palaszczuk after talks |
| (7 months later) | |
| A Queensland Labor backbencher who considered quitting the party over his disillusionment with the machinery of government has said he will now stick by premier Annastacia Palaszczuk after she promised to address his concerns that his north Queensland constituents had been neglected. | A Queensland Labor backbencher who considered quitting the party over his disillusionment with the machinery of government has said he will now stick by premier Annastacia Palaszczuk after she promised to address his concerns that his north Queensland constituents had been neglected. |
| Rob Pyne revealed that he had abandoned the idea of deserting the minority Labor government – which would have increased its reliance on crossbench support to pass legislation – after being “pleasantly surprised” by talks with Palaszczuk late on Wednesday. | Rob Pyne revealed that he had abandoned the idea of deserting the minority Labor government – which would have increased its reliance on crossbench support to pass legislation – after being “pleasantly surprised” by talks with Palaszczuk late on Wednesday. |
| Pyne told Guardian Australia that Palaszczuk had given assurances she would investigate delayed responses to funding issues he had raised around his Cairns electorate, including economically disadvantaged residents in the west of the city. | Pyne told Guardian Australia that Palaszczuk had given assurances she would investigate delayed responses to funding issues he had raised around his Cairns electorate, including economically disadvantaged residents in the west of the city. |
| The first-term Cairns MP – who has pushed unsuccessfully for a state government inquiry into misconduct in councils and is an advocate of moves to allow more internal dissent in Labor’s parliamentary wing – said new party whip Chris Whiting had also committed to enabling a stronger voice in parliament for regional MPs. | The first-term Cairns MP – who has pushed unsuccessfully for a state government inquiry into misconduct in councils and is an advocate of moves to allow more internal dissent in Labor’s parliamentary wing – said new party whip Chris Whiting had also committed to enabling a stronger voice in parliament for regional MPs. |
| “I’m very happy to have spoken with the premier this afternoon and to hear her say that she hasn’t got a problem with me speaking out for the people of Cairns and she’s going to look into these issues I’ve been raising and follow up with the ministers,” Pyne said. | “I’m very happy to have spoken with the premier this afternoon and to hear her say that she hasn’t got a problem with me speaking out for the people of Cairns and she’s going to look into these issues I’ve been raising and follow up with the ministers,” Pyne said. |
| “I was very happy that [was her] response, rather than trying to crack down or hit me over the head with a sledgehammer, she’s actually going to go and see why some of the issues I’ve been raising with my community haven’t progressed.” | “I was very happy that [was her] response, rather than trying to crack down or hit me over the head with a sledgehammer, she’s actually going to go and see why some of the issues I’ve been raising with my community haven’t progressed.” |
| Pyne’s talks with Palaszczuk, treasurer Curtis Pitt and Whiting on Wednesday came a day after he revealed he had considered moving to the crossbench to join fellow north Queensland MP Billy Gordon, whose vote the government continues to rely after he quit the Labor party amid a series of scandals last year. | Pyne’s talks with Palaszczuk, treasurer Curtis Pitt and Whiting on Wednesday came a day after he revealed he had considered moving to the crossbench to join fellow north Queensland MP Billy Gordon, whose vote the government continues to rely after he quit the Labor party amid a series of scandals last year. |
| Pyne – whose desertion would have left the Palaszczuk government and the Liberal National opposition with 42 seats each, leaving the passage of legislation in the hands of three left-leaning independents and two Katter’s Australian party MPs- told Guardian Australia this was “certainly” now off the table. | Pyne – whose desertion would have left the Palaszczuk government and the Liberal National opposition with 42 seats each, leaving the passage of legislation in the hands of three left-leaning independents and two Katter’s Australian party MPs- told Guardian Australia this was “certainly” now off the table. |
| “This commitment I’ve had from the premier and the party whip, I can say at this point in time it appears very genuine and looks like forming part of an ongoing dialogue that will allow me to get better outcomes for the city of Cairns,” he said. | “This commitment I’ve had from the premier and the party whip, I can say at this point in time it appears very genuine and looks like forming part of an ongoing dialogue that will allow me to get better outcomes for the city of Cairns,” he said. |
| “So that’s very promising.” | “So that’s very promising.” |
| Pyne said while he had not broached with Palaszczuk the topic of allowing more party room dissent to be expressed openly in parliament, his discussion with Whiting had been heartening. | Pyne said while he had not broached with Palaszczuk the topic of allowing more party room dissent to be expressed openly in parliament, his discussion with Whiting had been heartening. |
| “I was very happy to hear Chris say that he’s very interested in talking to members from regional areas and listening and making sure everyone gets their opportunity to speak in the parliament,” he said. | “I was very happy to hear Chris say that he’s very interested in talking to members from regional areas and listening and making sure everyone gets their opportunity to speak in the parliament,” he said. |
| “To be honest, I am a little surprised and pleasantly surprised.” | “To be honest, I am a little surprised and pleasantly surprised.” |
| Pyne, Australia’s first quadriplegic member of parliament, said he was concerned that legislatures across the country were being “marginalised and the executive wielding all the power”. | Pyne, Australia’s first quadriplegic member of parliament, said he was concerned that legislatures across the country were being “marginalised and the executive wielding all the power”. |
| The careerist nature of parliaments, seen as stepping stones to ministry jobs, was an issue for both Labor and the Liberal National party, he said. | The careerist nature of parliaments, seen as stepping stones to ministry jobs, was an issue for both Labor and the Liberal National party, he said. |
| “I do think both parties need to look at the role of people who aren’t in the executive and be honest. | “I do think both parties need to look at the role of people who aren’t in the executive and be honest. |
| “I’d like my colleagues who aren’t in the ministry to consider their role as lawmakers and not necessarily consider this about a career path to becoming cabinet ministers.” | “I’d like my colleagues who aren’t in the ministry to consider their role as lawmakers and not necessarily consider this about a career path to becoming cabinet ministers.” |
| Pyne said the mechanisms of party discipline such as binding caucus votes were obstacles to restoring the proper role of parliament. | Pyne said the mechanisms of party discipline such as binding caucus votes were obstacles to restoring the proper role of parliament. |
| He called for Labor MPs to be allowed to introduce private members bills on matters of conscience like abortion rights or euthanasia without running the risk of party expulsion. | He called for Labor MPs to be allowed to introduce private members bills on matters of conscience like abortion rights or euthanasia without running the risk of party expulsion. |
| “There are some values that are universal to members of the broader Labor movement and I can’t imagine a Labor member wanting to cross the floor to take rights away from working people,” he said. | “There are some values that are universal to members of the broader Labor movement and I can’t imagine a Labor member wanting to cross the floor to take rights away from working people,” he said. |
| “But on areas that aren’t of that nature, for example, a woman’s right to choose – if I wanted to move a private member’s bill (securing easier access to abortion) I could get kicked out of the party for that. Why? | “But on areas that aren’t of that nature, for example, a woman’s right to choose – if I wanted to move a private member’s bill (securing easier access to abortion) I could get kicked out of the party for that. Why? |
| “Such a position would have the wholehearted support of rank and file members around the state, yet party policy is you can be kicked out for initiating a private member’s bill.” | “Such a position would have the wholehearted support of rank and file members around the state, yet party policy is you can be kicked out for initiating a private member’s bill.” |
| Pyne has previously questioned the value in his electorate of nightclub “lockout” laws drafted by the government to curb alcohol-fuelled assaults, and admitted he was compelled to vote for sugar marketing laws he privately opposed because they advantaged corporations over farmers. | Pyne has previously questioned the value in his electorate of nightclub “lockout” laws drafted by the government to curb alcohol-fuelled assaults, and admitted he was compelled to vote for sugar marketing laws he privately opposed because they advantaged corporations over farmers. |
| Among the topics Pyne broached with Palaszczuk was the securing of longer term funding for a community development centre at Manoora – the west Cairns community left reeling after the killing of eight children in December 2014. | Among the topics Pyne broached with Palaszczuk was the securing of longer term funding for a community development centre at Manoora – the west Cairns community left reeling after the killing of eight children in December 2014. |
| Pyne said while he was loathe to “make any political mileage” out of the tragedy, he was concerned the community centre had lost funding three months beforehand, and after being given a lifeline was about to run out again in March. | Pyne said while he was loathe to “make any political mileage” out of the tragedy, he was concerned the community centre had lost funding three months beforehand, and after being given a lifeline was about to run out again in March. |
| He also sought more funding for drug and alcohol services and job skills training in west Cairns where “many people in that part of town aren’t job ready”. | He also sought more funding for drug and alcohol services and job skills training in west Cairns where “many people in that part of town aren’t job ready”. |
| Since news he was considering leaving the party broke this week, Pyne had also been offered a meeting with education minister Kate Jones to discuss a proposal for a covered area for school assemblies at Cairns state high school. | Since news he was considering leaving the party broke this week, Pyne had also been offered a meeting with education minister Kate Jones to discuss a proposal for a covered area for school assemblies at Cairns state high school. |
| “I do feel my access has increased,” Pyne, whose previous emails and letters on the matter had gone unanswered, said. | “I do feel my access has increased,” Pyne, whose previous emails and letters on the matter had gone unanswered, said. |