QLD:Bligh is safe, says Beattie

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2010
QLD:Bligh is safe, says Beattie

BRISBANE, Aug 23 AAP - Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie says his successor's
job is safe despite criticism that the state government's performance affected Labor at
the federal election.

Labor suffered a five per cent swing against it in Queensland - more than twice the
national swing.

The election result has no clear winner, with the prospect of a hung parliament looking likely.

Some have blamed Premier Anna Bligh's unpopular decisions in Queensland for the swing
against Labor, saying she could face being dumped from the leadership like former prime
minister Kevin Rudd.

But her predecessor Peter Beattie says Ms Bligh's job is safe.

"Any moves against Anna Bligh would certainly not be in the interest in the state or
the national Labor Party," Mr Beattie told ABC Radio on Monday.

"The reason being is at a time when the government is trying to form a minority government
with the support of independents, the worst thing that could happen is a ruckus."

Parliamentary secretary Bill Shorten, one of the Labor powerbrokers behind the dumping
of Mr Rudd, blamed coalition "attack ads", especially in Queensland and to a lesser extent
in NSW, that associated federal Labor with the fortunes of unpopular state governments.

Returned LNP MP Andrew Laming in Bowman, and Peter Dutton in Dickson, have said the
Bligh government was a major factor in Saturday's poll.

"(Premier) Anna Bligh is pretty toxic in Queensland, and people will vote at any level
of government to try to have her removed in Queensland," Mr Laming said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the seat of Brisbane remains the only undecided electorate in the state.

AAP peb/ao

KEYWORD: POLL10 BLIGH

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