OLIVE BRANCH SIGNALS FURTHER ASSET SALES AND HIGHLIGHTS LABOR HYPOCRISY

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns Darren Hunt has warned Cairns voters that moves by Premier Bligh to extend an olive branch to ETU president Peter Simpson, and not local organizer Stuart Trails, is a sign the government intends to sell off Queensland electricity assets and send electricity bills skyrocketing at a time when people are really struggling.

Mr Hunt said "The Bligh government is plunging our state into debt at an alarming rate and their only answer has been asset sales. The electricity network is next, along with any other public assets they can get their hands on, and this is going to lead to huge rises in power bills for the people of Cairns. People are really struggling with power bills as it is, how bad is it going to get when the Premier sells off more of our public assets.”

“The fact that Premier Bligh has given ‘tacit support for negotiations’ to overturn Peter Simpson’s expulsion shows how desperate they are to get the ETU back into the ALP fold so they can exert more control over members when they want to sell off the electricity assets. ”

Mr Hunt’s statements came as it was reported there were negotiations to overturn the expulsion of ETU boss Peter Simpson, if he and Stuart Trails withdraw their Supreme Court suit over their expulsion, ahead of the ALP conference this weekend. The same offer is not being extended to Cairns based organizer Stuart Trails.

“The fact the same courtesy is not being extended to Stuart Trails highlights the hypocrisy of Premier Bligh when previous Cairns members have been able to go out and start a new political party, without being expelled from the ALP, and then being brought back in as a branch member and campaign manager for the Member for Cairns. Now that hypocrisy has been exposed they are claiming it is because of recent Cairns pre-selection comments.” Mr Hunt said.

“I could care less about the internal politics of the ALP and if they don’t want to take advantage of the talent they have in people like Ritchie Bates and Stuart Trails then more fool them. But this is about sending a message to all aspiring ALP politicians and shutting people up who criticize them on asset sales. The Premier wants nodding puppets who will do and say what they’re told regardless of the impact on their electorate, like the current four we have up here, and not people who are going to stand up and oppose the sale of our electricity networks and other public assets. Under this government if you speak up, no matter how stupid the decision, you’re out.”

Mr Hunt stated “This action is a clear sign the government is maneuvering to sell off our electricity assets. It is the policy of the LNP and ‘Can-do Campbell’ to do the same, so if people vote for the ALP or LNP that’s what they’re going to get and their power bills are going to skyrocket. The Queensland Party policy on this issue is clear and we are the only party that opposes the sale of our electricity network and further privatisation.”