The comment that cost Labor the election: Maverick MP Bob Katter reveals how Tanya Plibersek and ‘loud-mouthed party extremists’ blew their chances in six must-win seats
- Queensland MP Bob Katter launched a blistering attack against Tanya Plibersek
- He says her comments on Adani coal mine cost Labor the ‘unloseable’ election
- Ms Plibersek has been vocal in her opposition to the Adani coal mine
Bob Katter has launched a blistering attack against deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek, claiming her comments cost Labor the ‘unloseable’ election.
The maverick MP said the potential future leader of the Labor party was out of touch with Queensland voters, and that her stance against coal mines alienated constituents in the regions.
‘Tanya Plibersek ran amok,’ the MP for the seat of Kennedy in north Queensland told Sky News.
‘She was out there denigrating the coal industry and saying it will phase out. To say that on the eve of an election in which there are six marginal seats in north Queensland in the coal belt is absolutely disastrous.’
Ms Plibersek has been vocal in her opposition to the Adani coal mine in Queensland
The seats in question include Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s northern Brisbane seat of Dickson and the Townsville-based seat of Herbert.
George Christensen is expected to return to his marginal seat of Dawson while the Coalition also managed to retain the seats of Flynn, Capricornia and Leichhardt.
‘The ALP were certain on the polls to take all six seats, but she and a bunch of loud mouthed extremists that have an immense amount of power in the Labor movement… they blew it to smithereens,’ Mr Katter said.
Ms Plibersek has been vocal in her opposition to the Adani coal mine in Queensland.
She previously said Australians “can’t rely on an Indian mining company to bring jobs to central and north Queensland.’
Mr Katter said the potential future leader of the Labor party was out of touch with Queensland voters
Scott Morrison will remain as prime minister of Australia after he beat Bill Shorten’s Labor party
She also said she was skeptical Adani would bring as many jobs to the region as it had promised, and believed backers may have underestimated the impact it could have on the environment.
Labor was accused of alienating their core electorate with policies that were too progressive and divisive on climate change and negative gearing.
Older Australians in particular appeared to turn on Labor over the controversial plan to scrap franking credits for self-funded retirees.
Their climate change policy and stance on Adani was at odds with many voters who wanted the new coal mine, which has promised to provide hundreds of jobs in regions struggling against drought and high levels of unemployment.
Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos said the result could be partially explained by those opposing the Adani project being seen as anti-jobs.
‘Adani became about jobs. It became emblematic of “we want jobs” and the Bob Brown caravan which went up there to talk about stopping Adani had locals thinking, ‘hang on, you are not going to tell us how to live’,’ he said.
Bob Katter has launched a blistering attack against deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek, claiming her comments cost Labor the ‘unloseable’ election