August 9, 2012
Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott and Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce have downplayed news reports today claiming Senator Joyce would try to oust Mr Scott from the seat in next month’s LNP preselections.
However Senator Joyce won’t rule out the option of standing for Maranoa in certain circumstances.
Mr Scott, 68, has held Maranoa for the Coalition since 1990 on a margin of 23 per cent, and has not announced any plans to retire at the next election.
He told southburnett.com.au today he would not give a running commentary on the preselection.
“I’m a team player in a strong Coalition team and I will be spending my time and energy talking about how we can defeat this dreadful Labor government at the next election,” Mr Scott said.
“I’m absolutely committed to getting the best for the electorate and do everything I can for a change in government in Canberra.
“I’m fit and healthy and I enjoy doing the job I was elected for at the last Federal Election.”
Mr Scott said he welcomed support from Nationals leader Warren Truss.
Senator Joyce has let it be known that he wants to move from the Senate to the House Of Represenatives at some point in the future. He’s also said his two preferred options for a Lower House seat were Maranoa and New England, the NSW seat held by Independent MP Tony Windsor.
“I’ve always tried to be consistent and I’ve always said the most logical place to stand is where you live, the next obvious place for you to stand is where you grew up,” he said.
“You’ve got to think where is the place where the locals will have a sense of affinity with you.”
Senator Joyce currently lives in St George but was born in Tamworth, in NSW, and brought up at Woolbrook before graduating from the University of New England at Armidale.
Senator Joyce said today he would definitely run if Mr Scott retired or if another LNP member decided to challenge Mr Scott for the seat.
But if Mr Scott decided to run again for preselection and no other LNP candidate emerged, Senator Joyce said he would “consult with Maranoa voters” before deciding whether to throw his hat in the ring.
“I’ve had a lot of support and I’m not going to disclose who they are, [but the supporters are] both in the seat and around the place,” he said.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott told reporters at Brisbane’s Ekka today that both Senator Joyce and Mr Scott were skilled politicians.
“Bruce has been a terrific member for Maranoa, Barnaby Joyce has been a great frontbencher, and I’m looking forward to working with both of them for a very long time,” Mr Abbott said.
He said the preselection result was a “hypothetical question” and the processes were a matter for the Liberal National Party in Queensland.
The seat of Maranoa covers 731,297 sq km and takes in the towns of Kingaroy, Charleville, Chinchilla, Cunnamulla, Dalby, Goondiwindi, Miles, Roma, St George, Stanthorpe, Tara, Thargomindah and Warwick.
The Queensland Liberal National Party is set to open nominations for the seat in September.
