Bligh quits Parliament
Tony Moore
March 25, 2012

 

Anna Bligh announces she's quitting Queensland Parliament in Brisbane.


Anna Bligh has quit the Queensland Parliament in the wake of Labor's humiliating electoral defeat.

Ms Bligh told a media conference this morning Queensland had sent her and her government an overwhelming message.   :(

Bligh said today was a "heartbreaking day" for the Labor Party in Queensland and the party needed to focus immediately on rebuilding.


"This is not a task that can be achieved with me at the head of the team or indeed as part of the team," she said.

Her decision to resign from the seat of South Brisbane, which she has represented since 1995, will become effective on Friday.

Labor was last night reduced to between six and eight seats in the 89-seat Queensland Parliament in a debilitating defeat.   :(

"This result is absolutely shattering for the Australian Labor Party. This is much more than a loss; it is without doubt a devastating defeat," Ms Bligh said during her press conference today.

"The task for Labor is not be consumed by that heartbreak.

‘‘The task for us is to do everything in our power to recover, to rebuild and to renew and to be everything this party has been for more than a century,’’ she said.

‘‘This is going to be clearly an enormous task.’’

Ms Bligh refused to speculate if her deposed deputy Andrew Fraser, or dumped education minister Cameron Dick, would be put up by Labor in South Brisbane.   :-?

The country's first female premier to win an election, Ms Bligh said Labor must not tear itself apart, and must immediately begin to rebuild.

‘‘There is a very big challenge for Labor to be an effective opposition,’’ she said.

‘‘Frankly, they’re going to have to start the process of rebuilding almost immediately.

‘‘I do think it’s important the Queensland parliament has a balance of political view points.

‘‘We certainly don’t have that now.

‘‘I think Labor is challenged to recover the confidence of the electorate and to grow their ranks so they can become an effective opposition and try to rebuild to a point where it could again challenge for government in the future."

She said she had no idea what she would do next, but today closed the book on her time in Queensland politics.

Ms Bligh said she wanted to spend more time with her family, and would map out her future in coming months.

She announced her exit from parliament with her husband, Greg Withers, by her side.

Ms Bligh said she had given her all in the job of premier, and hoped Queenslanders could see that.

‘‘Every single minute I gave Queensland the best that I could give,’’ she said.

She accepted full responsibility for Labor’s loss, and apologised if her decision inconvenienced voters in her electorate.

Ms Bligh said she has suggested to the incoming government that the date of the upcoming Brisbane City Council elections - April 28 - be used for the South Brisbane by-election to minimise disruption to voters.

"But that is entirely a matter for the incoming government," she said.   ;)

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/state-election-2012/bligh-quits-parliament-20120325-1vs09.html#ixzz1q5eDVlAN

I'm not surprised..whats the point in hanging around after you've dealt your party the biggest blow in history.
Even if they lose the seat at a bye election its not going to make much difference.

adelcrow wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 12:11pm:

I'm not surprised..whats the point in hanging around after you've dealt your party the biggest blow in history. Even if they lose the seat at a bye election its not going to make much difference.

She should speak to Gillard on how and why to hang around

progressiveslol wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 12:12pm:

adelcrow wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 12:11pm: I'm not surprised..whats the point in hanging around after you've dealt your party the biggest blow in history. Even if they lose the seat at a bye election its not going to make much difference. She should speak to Gillard on how and why to hang around

Theres no room for Julia in Clivesland either?

Still not a lot of shift in Anna Blighs self deceit this morning, she has accepted that the verdict of the people was delivered with clarity, but still thinks she has done a wonderful job... ::)

We deserve the same right to deliver the verdict to Julia Gillard and the federal ALP at the next election. 8-)

adelcrow wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 12:17pm:

progressiveslol wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 12:12pm: adelcrow wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 12:11pm: I'm not surprised..whats the point in hanging around after you've dealt your party the biggest blow in history. Even if they lose the seat at a bye election its not going to make much difference. She should speak to Gillard on how and why to hang around Theres no room for Julia in Clivesland either?

Hell no, where ever that is. If it is in Australia and involves political power, then hell no.

The ALP have seen they have no base if they screw the working class - we can bury them - we are an effective, decisive factor in all election outcomes. 8-)

adelcrow wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 12:11pm:

I'm not surprised..whats the point in hanging around after you've dealt your party the biggest blow in history.

INTERESTINGLY ...


The DIRECT swing against Bligh ( ... in her own electorate) was WAY less than the state average

HOWEVER - in these circumstances - retiring is the accetped practice

SO - no surprise THERE

buzzanddidj wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 1:33pm:

adelcrow wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 12:11pm: I'm not surprised..whats the point in hanging around after you've dealt your party the biggest blow in history. INTERESTINGLY ... The DIRECT swing against Bligh ( ... in her own electorate) was WAY less than the state average HOWEVER - in these circumstances - retiring is the accetped practice SO - no surprise THERE

getting a 10% swing is hardly the stuff to be proud of.

Should an adult who believes in fairy tales be proud?

Okay, so Bligh is quitting - running off with her tail between her legs. Hardly a suprise, but given that she knew the ALP would lose, why not announce that she would not contest this election and save QLD and her electorate the expense of an unnecessary by-election? Talk about selfish!

It is abundantly clear that the ALP has not learned a single thing from this electoral massacre because they now want to parachute in an MP who has already been dumped by their own electorate. Front runners are either Andrew Fraser or Cameron Dick. Is the ALP clinically insane and that hard-up for candidates? They must be if they think it's a good idea to have a dumped MP as a candidate for the seat that has been (until now) occupied by one of QLD's worst-ever Premiers.

If this is the best the ALP can do, they'll be in political limbo for at least two decades.

corporate_whitey wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 12:38pm:

The ALP have seen they have no base if they screw the working class - we can bury them - we are an effective, decisive factor in all election outcomes. 8-)

Your not the working class your the welfare class.

What else was she to do? it was the only choice, had they won 20 odd seats she could have slipped to the back bench and hidden till the next election and then retired but now it is not possible. They now need to work hard as they are not even a party on the floor never mind an opposition. They should get together with the other minors and run opposition that way.

They should put Kate Jones from Ashgrove into South Brisbane. She deserves a second go.

It would be suicide for the ALP to put Kate Jones up, she is a liberal, progressive middle class, welfare and climate change advocate.  The Labour Party needs a seismic shift back to its working class roots if it is to survive. 8-)

I assume that she will be paying for the costs involved in the by-election. I mean, after swearing that she would remain in Parliament if she won her seat, regardless of the outcome, and then retiring less than 24 hours after losing, she will be, won't she?

muso wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 3:55pm:

They should put Kate Jones from Ashgrove into South Brisbane. She deserves a second go.

why do ANY of them deserve a second go? and if they could only BARELY win the seat with the premier in place, what are they going to do with someone less? they could lose the seat thus compounding their problem.

The ALP needs to ditch, the bitch, ditch the Liberal university intelligensia and rebuild from working class roots and values or it will never see the halls of power again.  Ditch the liberal progressive scum and put blue collar working class candidates in. ;)

corporate_whitey wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 5:56pm:

The ALP needs to ditch, the bitch, ditch the Liberal university intelligensia and rebuild from working class roots and values or it will never see the halls of power again.  Ditch the liberal progressive scum and put blue collar working class candidates in. ;)

They are such dull poll following cowards that if that would have worked they would have done it.

Lol, some of the suggestions are really funny. Dick, Jones, Fraser and Rudd. The last one is obviously just a baseless rumour, but the first three are real possibilities. The thing is, though, didn't Labor criticise Newman for not living in Ashgrove? If they put in any of those, then they are hypocrites of the highest order. Besides, it doesn't matter who stands, they will lose. The voters will resent having to go to an election so soon after Saturday. They can see that Bligh had/has no real regard for them, why would she stand  when she was just going to retire anyway? A total waste of time and money. The people of South Brisbane will crucify Labor for doing this, and rightly so. The LNP will romp in the by-election.

longweekend58 wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 5:29pm:

muso wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 3:55pm: They should put Kate Jones from Ashgrove into South Brisbane. She deserves a second go. why do ANY of them deserve a second go? and if they could only BARELY win the seat with the premier in place, what are they going to do with someone less? they could lose the seat thus compounding their problem.

Common sense and history tells us that Labor will claw back many of the seats they lost at the next election so I wouldn't get to excited about the creation of Clivesland. Many of the LNP members will be one term wonders and that will create tensions in the second term and possibly a Labor win by the third election.
You should probably look at past political cycles.
Clivesland will eventually become Queensland again.

adelcrow wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 6:31pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 5:29pm: muso wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 3:55pm: They should put Kate Jones from Ashgrove into South Brisbane. She deserves a second go. why do ANY of them deserve a second go? and if they could only BARELY win the seat with the premier in place, what are they going to do with someone less? they could lose the seat thus compounding their problem. Common sense and history tells us that Labor will claw back many of the seats they lost at the next election so I wouldn't get to excited about the creation of Clivesland. Many of the LNP members will be one term wonders and that will create tensions in the second term and possibly a Labor win by the third election. You should probably look at past political cycles. Clivesland will eventually become Queensland again.

Dont be too sure. the same logic applied to Whitlam didnt work. in 1977 Whitlam picked up just a couple seats after his 1975 belting.

But Im sure there are a few LNP candidates going "Crap! I won... now i have to quit my job and...." Im sure a lot of those who won seats that had 15+% margins didnt expect to win.

As far as I'm concerned Anna should have to foot the bill for a by election personally or the next highest vote getter should get the seat. I seen her myself say that she would stay on even if they lost.

This is another cost to the taxpayer because someone has a cry

During the campaign Ms Bligh had said she would stay as the Member for South Brisbane no matter the final result, but she now says the scale of the defeat meant she did not feel she could continue in Parliament.

"I apologise to the people for South Brisbane for any inconvenience and difficulty that my decision today will cause them," she said.

A by-election costs anywhere between $600 to $900k.

Why does QLD have to pay for this, its been a day since polling.

The ALP or Bligh should be forced to pay for it.

Verge wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 8:26pm:

As far as I'm concerned Anna should have to foot the bill for a by election personally or the next highest vote getter should get the seat. I seen her myself say that she would stay on even if they lost. This is another cost to the taxpayer because someone has a cry

Typical of Bligh make a mess and leave it for someone else to clean it up. She would have had a fair crack at retaining the leadership, all she had to do is get 3 others to vote for her...provided she voted for herself. A shadow ministry in any case would be a certainty...possibly 2 given their expanse of candidates. :)
She's just a big gutless sook. :'(
She should not only have to pay for the by election she should lose her super...
No doubt to sod that gets to stand after her will get a whack for her petulence...which will take them down to 6.
Which is more than they deserve for treating the electorate with utter contempt.

Bligh = Scapegoat.

Just like any other losing leader.

They carry the can for their underlings' stuff-ups.

And so they should, it's part of the job.

I don't think the Goanna should resign, tho.

Anna Bligh was infecting the wrong party.  She is a liberal fascist and thats why the working class turned on them. 8-) 8-) 8-)

Verge wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 8:36pm:

A by-election costs anywhere between $600 to $900k. Why does QLD have to pay for this, its been a day since polling. The ALP or Bligh should be forced to pay for it.

maybe if a member leaves in the first 6 months after an election for any reason other than death, then the seat should go to the second candidate? that might prompt them to hang around a bit longer!

longweekend58 wrote on Mar 26^th, 2012 at 7:37am:

Verge wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 8:36pm: A by-election costs anywhere between $600 to $900k. Why does QLD have to pay for this, its been a day since polling. The ALP or Bligh should be forced to pay for it. maybe if a member leaves in the first 6 months after an election for any reason other than death, then the seat should go to the second candidate? that might prompt them to hang around a bit longer!

To quit the day after should have her stricken from the remainder of the count and the next person in.

Its a joke, a very expensive one.

Verge wrote on Mar 26^th, 2012 at 8:52am:

longweekend58 wrote on Mar 26th, 2012 at 7:37am: Verge wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 8:36pm: A by-election costs anywhere between $600 to $900k. Why does QLD have to pay for this, its been a day since polling. The ALP or Bligh should be forced to pay for it. maybe if a member leaves in the first 6 months after an election for any reason other than death, then the seat should go to the second candidate? that might prompt them to hang around a bit longer! To quit the day after should have her stricken from the remainder of the count and the next person in. Its a joke, a very expensive one.

Lets not forget that she promised to stay on for the full term no matter what the result. She's a liar (like Gillard) and a sore loser (like Greens_Liquidated).

I pity the people of her electorate - not just for having a by-election forced upon them but also the fact that Labor thinks it's a good idea to parachute in a person who has been dumped by his own electorate to take over Bligh's so he can be Opposition Leader!

Verge wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 8:26pm:

As far as I'm concerned Anna should have to foot the bill for a by election personally or the next highest vote getter should get the seat. I seen her myself say that she would stay on even if they lost. This is another cost to the taxpayer because someone has a cry

thats right she did.,... I agree she should stay and wear it..they walk away as and when it suits them.. its not right.stand down as Leader thats for sure.. but not walk out on the people that just voted for you thats bloody rude.

cods wrote on Mar 26^th, 2012 at 8:59am:

Verge wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 8:26pm: As far as I'm concerned Anna should have to foot the bill for a by election personally or the next highest vote getter should get the seat. I seen her myself say that she would stay on even if they lost. This is another cost to the taxpayer because someone has a cry thats right she did.,... I agree she should stay and wear it..they walk away as and when it suits them.. its not right.stand down as Leader thats for sure.. but not walk out on the people that just voted for you thats bloody rude.

Should be a rule that says if someone like her quits because she lost the election but retained her seat, she is not entitled to any taxpayer-funded pension. The only circumstances that she should be entitled to it is if she either loses her seat or retires after having served at least three-quarters of her term.

I hate tax and welfare cheats and big taxing liberal fascist Governments are tax and welfare cheating can do Governments... 8-)

corporate_whitey wrote on Mar 26^th, 2012 at 9:08am:

I hate tax and welfare cheats and big taxing liberal fascist Governments are tax and welfare cheating can do Governments... 8-)

Cambell Newman has that radical can do reformist drive that is going to upset a very angry volatile electorate very quickly.  If he wants to stay in power he needs to adopt a prime directive of non interference like the Victorian and NSW Liberal Government and learn how to mind his own business and not interfere in the market. 8-)

Armchair_Politician wrote on Mar 26^th, 2012 at 9:01am:

cods wrote on Mar 26th, 2012 at 8:59am: Verge wrote on Mar 25th, 2012 at 8:26pm: As far as I'm concerned Anna should have to foot the bill for a by election personally or the next highest vote getter should get the seat. I seen her myself say that she would stay on even if they lost. This is another cost to the taxpayer because someone has a cry thats right she did.,... I agree she should stay and wear it..they walk away as and when it suits them.. its not right.stand down as Leader thats for sure.. but not walk out on the people that just voted for you thats bloody rude. Should be a rule that says if someone like her quits because she lost the election but retained her seat, she is not entitled to any taxpayer-funded pension. The only circumstances that she should be entitled to it is if she either loses her seat or retires after having served at least three-quarters of her term.

she has inconvenienced that electorate and made us all pay more for her selfish decision.

btw, I heard of a job offer in Milan for her before the weekend started.