AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-1998
QLD: Beattie to rule in own right after One Nation slump
BRISBANE, Dec 6 AAP - Queenslands Beattie government can now govern in its own right after
a slump in support for One Nation helped Labor claim victory in the Mulgrave by-election.
One Nations vote in the north Queensland seat was last night slashed in half, dropping to
16 per cent from 31 per cent in June, when Charles Rappolt won the seat for Pauline Hansons
party.
The by-election was prompted by Mr Rappolts sudden resignation for health reasons.
Opposition leader Rob Borbidge said Labors claim of victory was premature, but an elated
Premier Peter Beattie said the numbers were on his side.
"Another 1,100 votes were counted today and we have a lead of 310, with 782 votes
outstanding," Mr Beattie said.
He said most of the outstanding votes were postal and Labor scrutineers had worked out that
the National Party could not win.
The lead will return former Labor cabinet minister Warren Pitt to state parliament with
about 48 per cent of the vote, ahead of the Nationals Naomi Wilson on 45 per cent.
Mr Beattie, who formed government after the June state election only with the support of
independent Peter Wellington, promised there would be no changes in policy now Labor could
govern outright with 45 seats in parliament.
"It will be business as usual and we will concentrate on the basics - jobs, the economy and
law and order," he said.
"I said after the June election we would govern as if we had a majority of 10 and we
have."
Mr Beattie also said he would not cast Mr Wellington aside.
"I told Mr Wellington Labor will stick to all the commitments it gave at the June state
election and in the lead-up to Mulgrave."
Mr Beattie said the government was now better placed to deliver basic services and create
jobs.
"My government has been stable and solid and nothing will change," he said.
"But it will allow us to drive our jobs strategy in the face of the Asian economic crisis."
Mr Borbidge has refused to concede defeat and described Mr Beatties attitude as "mango
madness".
"This is going to go right down to the wire and I am very surprised Mr Beattie is confident
enough to claim victory," Mr Borbidge said.
Mr Beattie said the Nationals were trying to put a spin on the result to try to save face
for Mr Borbidge.
"Privately, the Nationals admit they cannot win," he said.
One Nation benefited in the June state election from coalition preferences. This time Labor
put One Nation last while the Nationals opted not to direct preferences.
One Nation spokesman David Oldfield said the party never expected its candidate Peter
Boniface to win, given Mr Rappolt had resigned so soon after the general election.
"There was always going to be a backlash for that," Mr Oldfield said of Mr Rappolts
resignation, which the
new MP blamed on ill health and stress brought on by abuse and
unwelcome media attention. Mr Rappolt later suffered a nervous breakdown.
"They put their faith in him and regardless of why he did resign, he let them down," Mr
Oldfield said.
Mr Oldfield said One Nation was still a political force and the Mulgrave result would not
be duplicated if a full state election was held tomorrow.
One Nation struggled in Octobers federal election, when it managed to win just a single
Senate seat.
National Party leader Tim Fischer said One Nation was not a spent political force.
"No, its not; its down but its not out," Mr Fischer told the Ten Network.
AAP jfs/kr/de
KEYWORD: MULGRAVE NIGHTLEAD
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