‘Blame LNP for Stuckey’
Premier ‘not aware’ of slurs by Labor
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is “not aware” of any personal attacks or name-calling from her party towards Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey – and the LNP needs to have “a long, hard look at itself”.
Speaking at a launch for the ALP candidate for the seat yesterday, Ms Palaszczuk brushed off any suggestion her party was to blame for the retirement of Ms Stuckey, who quit last week over depression and ongoing abuse.
Ms Stuckey announced her retirement, saying she had been “swamped” by the “black cloud’” of depression after being “ridiculed and abused”.
“I think the LNP needs to have a long hard look at itself,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“There are always reports about internal workings of the LNP and I think Deb Frecklington needs to address those issues.
“But what I said is the parliament itself needs to be a more respectful place, and I also believe that community representatives need to reflect the community and be role models for the community.
“Especially for the children out there who are forced to deal with issues of cyber bullying.”
When asked if name-calling and attacks towards Ms Stuckey
came from her own party, the Premier disagreed.
“I am not aware of that,” she said.
“We see the detrimental effect it (cyber bullying) has on young people but the public should be aware of the impact on adults, whether it is your workplace or social groups,” she said.
“We should have respectful debates around policy but personal attacks do nothing to help anyone.
“You don’t know how that person and that family feels so I think a little bit more respect needs to be across the board as a community.”
Labor candidate for Currumbin,
Kaylee Campradt, said she was ready to put in a “mammoth” effort in the byelection that will follow Ms Stuckey’s resignation.
“I am under no illusions that this is going to be a tough fight but I am raring and ready to go,” Ms Campradt said.
“We have a great team of people, we have been on the ground already.
“We know we have Mount Everest ahead of us but we are ready to go, and looking forward to it.”
A date for a by-election cannot be set until Ms Stuckey’s resignation is formally received by the Speaker of the House.