Tag Archive for 'Ronan Lee'

Borg bombs in Brisbane

Published
by
Mark
1 year, 1 month ago
in Media, Queensland and State/Territory Elections
. 19 Comments

The Poll Bludger links to a report in The Australian about LNP polling that shows they’re in a huge mess in Brisbane. I’m not surprised by the report – I was hearing similar numbers back in January about their internal polling. One thing is for certain about the forthcoming campaign – the Labor Party will be running against the National Party in every Brisbane seat. In a way, this makes Labor’s task somewhat easier than it was when the Liberals were a distinct party with a softer and more urbane image (which may or may not have been warranted, but they had one!)… I’d also observe on the eternal election speculation front that the premise of the story is wrong – the state budget is not delivered in May. Oh, and while Labor is yet to preselect a candidate for Green MP Ronan Lee’s seat of Indooroopilly (which I think is probably looking more winnable for the ALP), it’s a pretty long bow to suggest that an early election is in the offing.

Indooroopilly Labor MP Ronan Lee joins Greens

Published
by
Mark
1 year, 5 months ago
in Local Elections, Queensland and State/Territory Elections
. 257 Comments

As noted here and here in comments, there’s an extremely interesting development in Queensland state politics today – Indooroopilly MP Ronan Lee has defected from the ALP to join The Greens.

Lee has been something of a maverick during his time in Parliament, causing both Peter Beattie and Anna Bligh a few headaches, and having switched factional allegiance from one right wing faction – the Old Guard (“Labor Unity”) to the other – the AWU (“Labor Forum”). He might have expected ministerial promotion, particularly if Anna Bligh had had the determination and the support to put the broom through Cabinet that is needed – rather than just talking about “renewal” – but has had to content himself with the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General. Lee has been a very active local member, as his website demonstrates, and a position of some independence with regard to his party (Lee’s election paraphernalia and office signage have radically downplayed his ALP affiliation) must have assisted him in retaining a very marginal seat in traditional Western Suburbs leafy Liberal heartland he first won in 2001. Lee has also been outspoken on environmental and transport issues, and recently took a swipe at Anna Bligh for not being serious about green issues.

Lee’s defection is not necessarily unexpected, and as Dennis Atkins notes at Party Games, may not be unrelated to the difficulty of holding Indooroopilly if the LNP vote does improve in Brisbane. Continue reading ‘Indooroopilly Labor MP Ronan Lee joins Greens’