Qld: Stark contrast in Qld politics

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2006
Qld: Stark contrast in Qld politics

By Paul Osborne

BRISBANE, Aug 7 AAP - The contrast could not have been starker.

There was Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, striding into the drawing room of Government
House alongside an immaculately groomed Governor Quentin Bryce.

The national anthem plays on a CD player.

Seated on an antique chair in a room decorated with priceless artwork, Mr Beattie co-signs
a proclamation declaring new ministerial portfolios.

His former water minister Henry Palaszczuk, who announced his election-day retirement
earlier, stands and is sworn in on a leather-bound Bible as minister assisting the premier
on water.

Back in Brisbane's CBD, Dr Bruce Flegg has just stuck his scalpel into Bob Quinn in
a half-hour party room coup and taken the state Liberal leadership.

He gets annoyed and starts leaning heavily onto the podium in the Parliament House
media room as he fends off questions from a ravenous press gallery in election mode.

Did he backstab Mr Quinn? Was it a calculated move decided days before by backroom plotters?

He ducks and weaves.

His new deputy Mark McArdle flushes bright red as he stands beside him in the glare
of television lights.

Another day in Queensland politics.

AAP pjo/sc/apm/jlw

KEYWORD: POLL QLD SCENE (PIX AVAILABLE)

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