LNP Resignation 'Sad': Scott - southburnett.com.au

June 5, 2013

Federal LNP Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott said today he was saddened by the news John Bjelke-Petersen – son of iconic Queensland premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen – had resigned from the LNP.

“Bjelke-Petersen is a proud Queensland name,” Mr Scott said.

“I worked closely with John during his State election campaigns where he was very close to returning the seat of Nanango to the National Party in 2006 and to the Liberal National Party in 2009.

“He was a great support during my election campaigns when parts of the South Burnett were redistributed into the Maranoa electorate.

“I have also worked with John’s parents, former Senator Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen and former Queensland Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

“The Bjelke-Petersen name is synonymous with Queensland’s growth and prosperity and it was with great sadness I received John’s resignation news today.”

John Bjelke-Petersen announced in a media statement this morning that he had resigned from the LNP “effective immediately”.

“I have decided that the LNP no longer supports or cares about regional Queensland, there is no priority given to regional or country people at all,” Mr Bjelke-Petersen said.

“The current LNP policies only pay lip service to help get the government re-elected.”

Mr Bjelke-Petersen said he could no longer morally remain a member of the LNP, saying he was “disgusted” at the way regional Queensland was being treated.

“For this reason, I have decided to resign from the LNP effective immediately.”

There have been rumours Mr Bjelke-Petersen could stand for the seat of Maranoa under the banner of Clive Palmer’s party but when southburnett.com.au raised this with him in early February he was non-committal.

Mr Bjelke-Petersen’s disenchantment with the LNP became apparent during the 2012 State Election campaign during a public spat between Bob Katter and now-Premier Campbell Newman over a claim that Newman had “spat upon Bjelke-Petersen’s grave” during the campaign (SBBiz, March 8, 2012)

Later that year, Mr Bjelke-Petersen threatened to stand against sitting LNP State Member Jeff Seeney in Callide.

Mr Bjelke-Petersen said last night’s Budget had helped him to make up his mind.

“With the electricity prices and the extra charges that have been put on everyone, a lot of people out there are hurting,” he said.

“A lot of things have helped to bring me to this decision.

“We hear on the one hand that things are tough, that we have to tighten down and be frugal, yet one of the decisions these fellows have taken is to start the process of building a new building for themselves down in Brisbane.

“Rural and regional Queensland are the financial mainstay of the State yet we continue to struggle to get funding to build a hospital or to upgrade a hospital; we have to put it off; but in south-east Queensland it doesn’t matter, it can happen there.

“We are made to feel like we are unimportant. We get the crumbs.”