Borbidge seeks deal with Hanson
By Bill Mason
BRISBANE — The National-Liberal Coalition is desperately seeking to cling to power in Queensland, despite almost universal condemnation from every direction.
Even the head of the Queensland Confederation of Industry, Clive Bubb, an ardent supporter of the Borbidge regime, has urged the Coalition to step aside in favour of a Peter Beattie-led Labor government in the interests of "political stability".
The final result of the June 13 poll now seems likely to be ALP 44 seats, one short of an absolute majority; the Nationals 23; Pauline Hanson's One Nation 11; the Liberals 9; and two independents, Liz Cunningham and Peter Wellington.
One Nation has offered to support a Borbidge government in return for an abrogation of national gun legislation; formation of a Queensland Trust to offer farmers loans at 2% interest; abolition of the so-called "Aboriginal industry"; and implementation of its apprenticeship scheme.
Borbidge is reported to be seeking support from One Nation, as well as from the two independents, to form a shaky "coalition" — a prospect described by Bubb as "laughable, if it were not so serious".
Labor is attempting to win the backing of at least one of the independents to form a minority government.
Liberal leader Joan Sheldon has been forced to resign in the aftermath of the electoral massacre in Brisbane, which reduced the Liberals to nine seats, below One Nation's tally.
"The formation of a Coalition government, backed by Pauline Hanson's racist One Nation, would be a disaster for the people of Queensland, especially Aborigines and non-Anglo migrants", Graham Matthews, Democratic Socialist candidate for the federal seat of Brisbane in the federal election, said on June 20.
"The rise of One Nation has thrown down an urgent challenge to the progressive movement, in Queensland and nationally. We need to mobilise in the streets, and in every way possible, to fight this racist cancer, before it takes even greater hold of the political agenda."