The 4350water Blog highlights some of the issues relating to proposals for potable reuse in Toowoomba and South East Qld. 4350water blog looks at related political issues as well.
This time it's the seat of Gaven on the Gold Coast, with the sitting Labor member (dubbed "the invisible man") resigning.
posted by Concerned Ratepayer at 1:02 PM
For many years, the 4350water blog has informed readers of plans by the Toowoomba City Council (now Toowoomba Regional Council) and the Qld government to introduce recycled water for drinking in Toowoomba. It has also looked at the issue from a State and Federal perspective and dealt with related State and Federal political issues. There continues to be a need for the Toowoomba Regional Council to be completely transparent in its dealings with the ratepayers and residents of Toowoomba. There also continues to be a need for open debate on the benefits and risks of potable reuse and long-term studies on the effects on humans of drinking recycled water. Coal seam gas water is emerging as a possible alternate water source for some uses for the region. The 4350water blog is a collective effort and thanks go to its many contributors.
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Couriter Mail
Poole quits after mate's visit
01mar06
PREMIER Peter Beattie's authority over his own Caucus has been questioned after it was revealed another Labor MP travelled to Thailand without his knowledge to visit absent MP Robert Poole.
Ipswich West MP Don Livingstone spent last week in Thailand staying with his "good mate" Mr Poole, who resigned as the Member for Gaven yesterday.
His resignation will force a by-election in the Gold Coast seat, expected next month, in what will be the second electoral test in eight months for the struggling Beattie Government.
Mr Beattie said he expected the by-election would be a "bloodbath" for Labor.
"It will be an absolute disaster for us. We couldn't have a by-election in worse possible circumstances than these," he said.
Mr Livingstone delivered Mr Poole's hand-written resignation letter to the Premier yesterday, ending the often-absent MP's short but controversial political career.
But it also brought further embarrassment to Mr Beattie who it was revealed had been unaware Mr Livingstone had flown out to Thailand at his own expense on February 17.
His left the same day the Premier announced he would become the de facto MP for Gaven in his friend and colleague's absence.
Mr Beattie became aware of Mr Livingstone's whereabouts only when he called the MP on Saturday as he tried to obtain a phone number for Mr Poole in Thailand.
Mr Livingstone returned to Australia on Sunday, and yesterday defended his trip.
"I knew the approximate date of when Robert was going to have his operation. I put it in place some weeks ago to travel so he had a mate there," he said. "It was a private matter, it had nothing to do with Parliament."
Mr Livingstone rejected suggestions he should have told the Premier of his departure. He said other MPs were also responsible for servicing the Gaven electorate.
Acting Opposition Leader Bob Quinn said the saga showed Mr Beattie had lost control over his own MPs.
"Quite obviously the Premier doesn't know what's going on within his own political party," Mr Quinn said.
"If he can't govern his own political party then he can't govern Queensland."
Mr Beattie yesterday hit back at Mr Poole, saying he would have preferred Mr Poole to serve out his full term.
"I feel betrayed because I worked very hard to get him elected," he said. "I think he could have handled this a lot better ."
However, Mr Beattie admitted he may be partly to blame for the resignation after he indicated Mr Poole was unlikely to receive early access to his superannuation payment and demanded he return from Thailand by April 1 or face a by-election.
In the handwritten letter addressed to the Premier, Mr Poole said he decided to resign because his health and the media attention on his private life had made his position increasingly difficult to continue.
He said he chose to have knee reconstruction surgery in Thailand to be closer to his son Connor in case the young boy's health deteriorated.
"I am filled with many regrets to end my political career this way, but in reflection I think I have made a difference to the Gaven electorate since the February 2001 election," he wrote.
Mr Livingstone said Mr Poole had handed him the undated letter in Thailand on Sunday "in case his health situation remained unresolved or deteriorated further".
He said Mr Poole phoned him on Monday evening and again yesterday morning to advise him to hand the letter over to the Premier.
Mr Beattie spent last week defending Mr Poole against Opposition calls for a by-election in Gaven but rapidly changed tack at the weekend, phoning the MP in Thailand to tell him he would not be the party's candidate for Gaven at the next election.
2:49 AM, March 01, 2006
By-election is set for 1 April.
1:33 PM, March 07, 2006
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