Union’s power denied by MPs

TOWNSVILLE Labor MPs Coralee O’Rourke and Aaron Harper say they are servants of their electorates, not the leftwing United Voice union.

United Voice state secretary Gary Bullock has referred to seven MPs who received the union’s backing during the recent state election – including Ms O’Rourke and Mr Harper – as “United Voice MPs”.

It comes after Cairns- based Senator Jan McLucas was ousted from Labor’s Senate ticket in an internal Left faction ballot last month, with United Voice instead backing former Bligh MP Murray Watt, which could leave the North without a Labor senator.

Mr Bullock declares in a YouTube video that the union “won some fantastic commitments from Labor” and wants “to see the new Palaszczuk Government restore their faith, just stick to their word”.

Mr Harper, a former paramedic and a United Voice member for 25 years, said he was not beholden to the union.

“My duty now is to the people of Thuringowa,’’ he said.

“Any decisions I make as a Member of Parliament will be for the greater good of the peo- ple of Thuringowa and, more broadly, North Queensland.

“I am not ashamed to have had the assistance of United Voice and its members, who are teacher aides, health professionals, school cleaners and paramedics, who I think represent a good cross- section of people in our community.”

Mr Harper said he received in- kind support from the union, not direct financial aid.

Ms O’Rourke would not say what assistance she received.

“As per Labor policy, all donations over $ 1000 will be disclosed and published on the Queensland Electoral Commission website,” she said.

“I was heartened by the support I received during the campaign from a wide variety of people, including local community members, doctors, lawyers, teachers, mums and dads.

“I’m a member of a government that made a series of election commitments and we will keep those commitments.

“I took a stand for the Mundingburra electorate at the last election that Labor would reverse the LNP’s secret political donation laws.”

A senior Labor source said a Brisbane United Voice organiser was flown to Townsville to help with Mr Harper’s and Ms O’Rourke’s campaigns.

“The union pumped a lot of resources into their campaign and, in effect, helped those two get elected,” the source said.