QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman has promised to do more for voters, after his government lost its second by-election, just eight months out from the state's general election.
The LNP conceded defeat on Saturday for its young candidate Bob Anderson, at the hands of Labor's maxillofacial surgeon Anthony Lynham.
A huge swing to Labor of 18.5% was confirmed on Sunday, bringing the Opposition's seats in parliament to nine, after suffering the monumental defeat in 2012.
It was the second by-election which the state government has lost, after the controversial fall on first-term MP Scott Driscoll in Redcliffe early in the government's first term.
The latest by-election brought admittance by Premier Newman that his government had made "unpopular" decisions, after a string of controversies has dogged the government since it took office.
Among them, the appointment of Chief Justice Tim Carmody, changes to political donations rules and plans to sell-off and lease public assets were attributed to the loss on Saturday.
Mr Newman on Saturday night pledged to work harder for the state, but also blamed former government MP Chris Davis, who resigned from parliament earlier this year, as a key reason for defeat.
Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the loss was symbolic of a wider malaise among Queensland voters responding to a premier who was "not listening".
She said on Sunday the choice for voters in the coming general election, due by March next year, was between an "arrogant and out of touch government", and a Labor government under her leadership.
No comments:
Post a Comment