Another ALP drubbing in Queensland
The ALP has suffered another humiliating defeat at the Queensland polls, this time at Saturday鈥檚 local government elections.
Brisbane鈥檚 incumbent Liberal National Party (LNP) Lord Mayor Graham Quirk won a convincing victory over Labor opponent Ray Smith, securing 62 percent of the primary vote.
The LNP is expected to hold 18 of council鈥檚 26 wards.
Smith had promised to implement a same-sex relationships register for Brisbane City Council if he was elected, in response to a likely repeal of civil unions by the new LNP state government.
Quirk had been criticised by local activists in March for approving the controversial anti-gay prayer rally 鈥� featuring the now infamous 鈥榟ate truck鈥� 鈥� in Brisbane鈥檚 King George Square.
He said the win was a historic one given there was now no Labor representation in the Brisbane CBD at federal, state and local government levels.
Queensland will likely see 35 new mayors elected throughout the state in the continued shift away from the ALP since the state election.
SOUTH BRISBANE BY-ELECTION
In somewhat happier news for the ALP, it should hold on to the Queensland state seat of South Brisbane, with Jackie Trad declaring herself the likely winner of Saturday鈥檚 by-election to decide who takes over former premier Anna Bligh鈥檚 old electorate.
Trad is currently leading LNP opponent Clem Greham 52.85 percent to 47.15 percent on a notional two-candidate result.
The Electoral Commission of Queensland hasn鈥檛 confirmed Trad as the winner, but Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the LNP would need to secure an unlikely 75 percent of mostly uncounted postal votes to win.
Greham last week ignored calls from concerned locals, declaring he would support the repeal of Queensland鈥檚 civil union laws.
He tried to justify his position on civil unions with the claim he once 鈥渓ived with two homosexuals鈥� in the United States.
Trad said such a response indicated the LNP鈥檚 complete ignorance and disrespect for LGBTI issues.
鈥淭he LGBTI community is such an important and valued part of South Brisbane鈥檚 history and it鈥檚 a great shame my LNP opponent refuses to recognise their rights,鈥� she said.
鈥淗aving grown up in South Brisbane, I鈥檓 proud of our diversity and, if elected, I pledge to champion progressive issues in state Parliament.鈥�
Trad said she not only supports civil unions, but also fought for changes to the ALP platform in favour of same-sex marriage.
鈥淚 support equality before the law for people in same-sex relationships at a state level and will fight [Premier] Campbell Newman鈥檚 bid to repeal civil unions legislation, every step of the way,鈥� she said.
鈥淭his community needs a local member who will fight for all of its residents as Mr Newman鈥檚 massive majority seeks to take rights away.鈥�
Trad has been appointed Opposition spokeswoman for transport, environment and the arts despite the by-election count still continuing.
AND??? The labor party did WHAT,over how many years?
And it won’t be long before their National Party friends will be cooking the books, filling up brown paper bags with cash and calling for the whips and stocks for homosexuals.
Bible-Bashers always bring out the tambourines and fringe element.
The LNP in the late 80鈥檚 and early 90鈥檚 called on camps in the desert to be setup for homosexuals. It is no surprise that with the help of the Murdoch Mafia, the LNP are turning back the clock and stripping people of Civil Rights. The Liberal and National Party are no different to Communist. When Chairman Mao came to power, he stripped same-sex married couples of their rights also.