Departing One Nation MP praises Labor's native title bill

Departing One Nation MP praises Labor's native title bill

Departing One Nation MP praises Labor's native title bill

By Graham Matthews

BRISBANE — One Nation state MP Charles Rappolt resigned from parliament and One Nation on November 4.

Rappolt, who vacates the seat of Mulgrave outside Cairns, claimed his decision was due to poor health, brought on by the stress of public life and 15 (unreported) death threats in the last month.

Rappolt was elected on June 13, along with 10 other One Nation MPs, on a platform of abolition of native title, scrapping all affirmative action programs for indigenous people and the forced repatriation of refugees.

Along with the majority of One Nation MPs, Rappolt was elected as the result of a preference swap between One Nation and the Coalition parties.

Rappolt's resignation is the latest in a series of scandals that have beset One Nation MPs in Queensland, including accusations of sexual harassment, corrupt practices and nepotism.

In his letter of resignation, Rappolt praised the Queensland Labor government's native title legislation. Queensland's is the first state government to use the Howard government's Wik legislation to extinguish native title on mining leases.

Should it win the by-election for Mulgrave, Labor will be able to govern in its own right. At present, Labor relies on the support of independent MP Peter Wellington to govern.