John Brent has entered a wider political fray as a part of Campbell Newman's new look LNP. While Mr Brent is lobbying furiously for pre-selection for the LNP in Beaudesert, he has decided to stay in his job as Mayor of Scenic Rim.
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| Mayor of the Scenic Rim Regional Council John Brent |
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Mayor Brent has been pictured with the new LNP leader Campbell Newman on polo fields and at social events around the shire. There are persistent reports that John Brent is one of those pulling the strings behind the scenes as an advisor to Campbell Newman.
Mr Newman rocketed to national prominence with his strong media performance during the Brisbane floods. Newman pulled off one of the political coups of the century by deposing John Paul Langbroek as LNP leader and seeking to direct the LNP's State Parliamentary team when not actually in parliament.
The probity of a person not in Parliament actually calling the shots to sitting members is yet to be tested.
There is a general concept of "undue influence" where it is illegal for someone not in Parliament to effectively influence the behaviour of those in Parliament. This is to ensure that someone who was not elected by the people does not end up with effective power over our democratic institutions.
In Queensland, some of these provisions are enshrined in Section 37 of the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001 which deals with Contempt of the Legislative Assembly.
A State member of Parliament seeking a Federal seat must resign before seeking election but the standards required for local governement officials are somewhat lower. However, unlike Mayor Brent, Mr Newman decided to resign as Lord Mayor of Brisbane in order to devote the time to making a clear run at State Parliament.
John Brent's decision to retain his Mayoral duties indicates he believes that he has the capabilities and wide experience to do justice to both jobs at the same time. The Queensland State election is not required to be held before 16 June 2012, so Mayor Brent may be multi-tasking until then.
In an associated story, sitting member for Beaudesert, Mr Aidan McLindon said today that the Premier has assured him that there is no early State election on the cards.
Premier Anna Bligh tabled a written statement to Mr McLindon - who is leader of the emerging Queensland Party - that her government is focused on rebuilding Queensland in 2011.
In reply to a parliamentary question on notice from McLindon, calling on the Premier to give an iron-clad guarantee to the public that the state election would be held in 2012, the Premier’s response was short and clear:
“I am on the public record stating it is not my intention to call an election this year. The government is focused very much on rebuilding and getting Queensland back on its feet.”
In a media statement the Member for Beaudesert Aidan McLindon said, “I would like to thank the Premier for honouring her previous commitment, despite the LNP pre-empting an early election.”
“Like most Queenslanders, I too believe that 2011 should be dedicated to rebuilding this great state and will continue to offer bipartisan support in this massive task ahead of all of us.”