As the sun sets on another political year, once again the “Killing Season” has lived up to its renowned drama. Another new Prime Minister basking in his glory and those dejected by the process are ruffling party room feathers, aiming to get themselves back on the top bench. Lucky there is now a long break at the beach for candidates to refresh and plan new strategies for the year ahead.
Yet in the domain of Queensland there seems to be no tension in our state political sphere. Let’s take a look at the credentials of our representatives. Possibly they are all performing so highly a reshuffle is not required. We have the ‘sexting’ independent, a debt-juggling treasurer, a non-existent opposition leadership, a new ag minister whose sector credentials are gardening, and the third racing minister in twelve months in a sector ‘dogged’ (excuse the pun) by a lack of direction or leadership.
The current hung parliament situation is crying out for a wrecking ball for Christmas and yet I don’t see any prospects on the horizon. Granted there has been a cabinet reshuffle and finally a realisation that one minister cannot juggle four cabinet portfolios successfully.
The previous administration took a number of positive steps for the agricultural sector of this state during the last term of government. A commonsense approach to leasehold land tenure and freeholding, sensible land clearing legislation, a reinvigoration of the trade and investment department and major improvements to cleaning up the Workcover system. Positive steps that acknowledge the positive growth prospects in agriculture and help encourage further investment and business growth within the sector. One by one, these steps towards prosperity have been reversed by the current administration. Less than a year later, we find agriculture is now lumped in with the resources stack and again seen as an old economy driver. It would appear agriculture’s time in the sun in Queensland was hardly long enough to obtain a decent tan.
Yet In response to this winding back of the clock all I have heard from the leadership of the LNP is what a terrible shock it was to lose the last election. It is now almost twelve months ago since the dramatic change of government in Queensland and the opposition has not put forward a new agenda and have not gained support in the polls. The time for grieving is done.
Every good opposition leader should never lose focus that the job they really desire is that of premier. The leadership team of the LNP are sensible, good minded people with solid credentials but they lack the hunger for government. The lesson of the last election loss should not be to roll up into a ball and run dead but it should be reminding voters of what remains crying out to be done in Queensland, bold industry plans, investment in infrastructure and regional development to name but a few. Where is the policy debate, where are the impassioned speeches? No longer is it a time for a safe pair of hands, it is time for a leader that can garner public support and stand up the innocent incompetence of the current government for what it really is.
Yes I’m a card-carrying LNP member, but in my mind that is irrelevant to the current situation. A parliamentary democracy, particularly one without a house of review, works best when both sides of the fence are driving the debate and engaging the general public in the discourse. Bring on 2016!
