Silence was the premier’s response of choice when quizzed about his former assistant health minister’s application to join the Labor party, just two days after resigning from the LNP.
The former LNP member for Stafford, Dr Chris Davis, resigned from the party in May after publicly questioning some of its policies. He now believes the Labor party has the policies to take Queensland forward.
It’s another kick to the state government, which suffered a massive loss to Labor in last weekend’s Stafford by-election.
Dr Davis told the ABC he was committed to better results, particularly in healthcare, for the people of Queensland.
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“I have joined a party that is committed to listening to the people of Queensland and clearly got feedback last weekend in Stafford,” he said.
“I think it is vital to show support of a party that will do that.”
Premier Campbell Newman was quizzed about Dr Davis’s decision while attending a Cerebral Palsy League fundraising picnic in the Roma Street Parklands on Sunday.
But in keeping with the government’s post by-election strategy of staying on message and avoiding public slanging matches, the Premier only said Dr Davis’s chief concerns were already being addressed.
“I would say this about Dr Davis when he’s talking about health, and that is the health system is being turned around,” Mr Newman said.
“This government has done that because we focused on letting doctors and nurses and administrators get on and make the improvements that are required.”
Mr Davis flagged on Friday’s 7.30 Qld that he may run against Mr Newman in his seat of Ashgrove.The Premier refused to comment on Dr Davis as a potential rival.
But Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday said only a Labor party member would be a chosen as a candidate.
ALP state secretary Anthony Chisholm said Dr Davis’ membership application would be processed at the next administrative committee meeting on August 11, just like all others.
He said more than 4000 people have joined Labor in the past two years.
“A lot of those people have been members of other political parties in recent times, including the Liberals, we’ve had people join from the Greens, we’ve had people join from the Katter Party,” Mr Chisholm said.
“It just shows you there’s a broad cross-section of the populace who want to join the Labor Party, but it’s unique in terms of it being an ex-MP and someone who was elected under Newman’s banner at the last election.”
Source: Brisbane Times