Qld: Abbott gives blessing to troubled state Liberal leader

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2006
Qld: Abbott gives blessing to troubled state Liberal leader

By Paul Osborne, Daniel Pace and Evan Schwarten

BRISBANE, Aug 25 AAP - Federal Liberals have come to the rescue of the party's embattled
Queensland leader Bruce Flegg, saying voters preferred an ordinary bloke over "plastic
politicians".

The intervention came as Dr Flegg, arguably the richest MP in the Queensland parliament,
was quizzed over whether his large shareholdings would be too much of a conflict of interest
if he won government.

As a swag of federal political heavyweights swept through the state, Coalition leader
Lawrence Springborg outlined his plans for education in his own south-western seat of
Southern Downs and Premier Peter Beattie announced extra funding for police stations in
Brisbane.

Health Minister Tony Abbott today used a visit to the Gold Coast to back Dr Flegg,
who has been dogged by questions about the coalition leadership, thrown out of a shopping
centre and embarrassed by claims that he has sought the advice of a stylist.

"Bruce is a good bloke and he's a real human being," Mr Abbott told reporters after
opening the campaign office of Liberal candidate for Mudgeeraba Ros Bates.

"You don't get plastic politicians from the Coalition.

"You get real human beings who haven't been through a lifelong political finishing school."

However, Treasurer Peter Costello, visiting the Darling Downs town of Millmerran, declined
to offer Dr Flegg any advice.

"I don't give political advice - I'm too busy giving myself advice and making sure
things are going well at a federal level," Mr Costello said.

But he said the Coalition was doing a good job to highlight the government's failings
in the areas of health and water.

Mr Beattie said he had no problem with federal ministers playing a role in the campaign.

"Clearly the federal coalition is playing an increasing role in the state campaign
here for the Liberal Party and good luck to them," Mr Beattie said.

"But at the end of it this is a state election and that's why we need a balance between
a federal Liberal government and a state Labor government."

Dr Flegg was today forced to defend his financial interests, as Mr Beattie said MPs
should not hold shares in individual companies because many of them did business with
the government and raised potential conflicts of interest.

Dr Flegg's interests, which are publicly registered, include a large shareholding in
gambling giant Tattersall's and the south-west Queensland cotton farm Cubbie Station.

Gambling revenue and water are key issues for the government.

"In government there is a likelihood I would have to divest all or most of those holdings,"

Dr Flegg said.

Mr Springborg used a visit to his own seat of Southern Downs in the state's south-west
to outline a plan for simpler report cards, teacher aides for Prep year students and a
boost to non-state school funding.

Meanwhile, Mr Beattie visited Carseldine, in Brisbane's northern outskirts, to launch
a $260 million plan to provide more police stations across the state.

AAP pjo/sc/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: POLL QLD NIGHTLEAD

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