This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/09/queensland-election-deputy-labor-leader-tim-mulherin-quits-politics

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Queensland election: deputy Labor leader, Tim Mulherin, quits politics Queensland election: deputy Labor leader, Tim Mulherin, quits politics
(about 3 hours later)
Queensland’s Labor opposition deputy leader, Tim Mulherin, has announced four days into the state’s election campaign that he will quit politics for personal reasons.Queensland’s Labor opposition deputy leader, Tim Mulherin, has announced four days into the state’s election campaign that he will quit politics for personal reasons.
Mulherin’s unexpected departure comes ahead of the probable election of a wave of party leadership contenders in an expected swing back to Labor when the state goes to the polls on 31 January.Mulherin’s unexpected departure comes ahead of the probable election of a wave of party leadership contenders in an expected swing back to Labor when the state goes to the polls on 31 January.
Mulherin, a 19-year parliamentarian and former minister for agriculture, fisheries and primary industries, was one of just seven Labor MPs to survive a historic thrashing at the hands of Campbell Newman’s Liberal National party in 2012.Mulherin, a 19-year parliamentarian and former minister for agriculture, fisheries and primary industries, was one of just seven Labor MPs to survive a historic thrashing at the hands of Campbell Newman’s Liberal National party in 2012.
The Labor leader, Annastacia Palaszczuk, told reporters on Friday that Mulherin was “a gentleman and a scholar” and her “right-hand man” through three years of rebuilding the party in opposition.The Labor leader, Annastacia Palaszczuk, told reporters on Friday that Mulherin was “a gentleman and a scholar” and her “right-hand man” through three years of rebuilding the party in opposition.
Mulherin, who holds the seat of Mackay – which has long been the centre of the state’s coalmining boom – by a margin of just 0.5%, will remain deputy leader until the election.Mulherin, who holds the seat of Mackay – which has long been the centre of the state’s coalmining boom – by a margin of just 0.5%, will remain deputy leader until the election.
His decision to retire came as he was caring for his mother after the death of his father, Leo, in recent months, which had also led him to postpone his own cardiac surgery, ABC reported.His decision to retire came as he was caring for his mother after the death of his father, Leo, in recent months, which had also led him to postpone his own cardiac surgery, ABC reported.
Labor will run Julieanne Gilbert, a Mackay primary schoolteacher and Queensland teacher’s union organiser, in his place.Labor will run Julieanne Gilbert, a Mackay primary schoolteacher and Queensland teacher’s union organiser, in his place.
The party has announced a plan to spend $9m over three years to add 45 guidance officers to Queensland high schools.The party has announced a plan to spend $9m over three years to add 45 guidance officers to Queensland high schools.
In a statement, Palaszczuk said on its own figures the government was spending $203 less for each high school student, and $1770 less for each student with a disability, than in 2012.In a statement, Palaszczuk said on its own figures the government was spending $203 less for each high school student, and $1770 less for each student with a disability, than in 2012.
She said schools had been forced to choose between guidance officers and specialist teachers for areas such as remedial maths, literacy and English as second language.She said schools had been forced to choose between guidance officers and specialist teachers for areas such as remedial maths, literacy and English as second language.
The education minister, John Paul-Langbroek, claimed Labor had underestimated the cost of its scheme by $2m.
“Not only has Ms Palaszczuk forgotten to include primary and schoolkids in her vague policy, she also has given schools no option to choose what support their students actually need,” he told Fairfax.