Jacqui Lambie has warned the Albanian government is in “serious trouble” after the Labor vote collapsed in the Queensland election – and called for the resignation of a senior minister.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles delivered a sad tally yesterday after Labor lost a previously safe seat to the Liberal National Party in the state government by-election and suffered a bloodbath in the city council elections.
Mr Miles admitted his party needed to do more on “the cost of living, community safety, healthcare and housing”.
But Ms Lambie has warned the electoral shockwaves will reach far beyond Queensland and predicted voters will abandon Labor en masse at the next federal election.
“If I were the federal Labor Party I would be watching very, very carefully what they do over the next 12 months,” Ms Lambie told Sunrise.
“Because if this is any indication of what things will look like next May, they are in serious trouble.”
The Tasmania senator also demanded the resignation of Immigration Minister Andrew Giles over the detention fiasco, which saw dozens of people, including murderers and rapists, released onto Australia’s streets following a controversial Supreme Court ruling.
“He (Mr Giles) has got to go,” Ms Lambie told the programme.
“I’m tired of watching ministers sitting there, making a fuss and not having any consequences for them.
“That’s why you’ll never get change in politics until people are held responsible or accountable for their actions.”
In November last year, a landmark Supreme Court ruling that overturned indefinite detention led to the release of more than 150 detainees into the community.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles (pictured) posted a dismal figure yesterday after the Labor Party lost votes in the state’s municipal elections and lost a previously safe seat to the LNP
Jacqui Lambie has warned the electoral shockwaves will be felt far beyond Queensland, predicting voters will abandon Labor in droves at the next federal election (Photo: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese)
Among them were convicted murderers, rapists and human traffickers.
The fallout prompted the passage of emergency legislation that allowed courts to re-detain the worst offenders.
Mr Albanese’s government does not support the Supreme Court’s decision but has come under heavy criticism for its handling of the aftermath.
Ms Lambie said the issue would turn voters away from Labour.
‘I’m terribly concerned about the fact that these people are walking around on the streets. It is a real problem and something needs to be done about it,” she said.
“And I suggest they fix the problem, because I’m telling you, the votes will go down if they can’t fix this.”
Mr Albanese told reporters on Saturday that the government’s hands were tied over the Supreme Court issue.
“The Supreme Court made a decision last year, which was not supported by the government, but we have to follow the law and we did that,” he said.
“The priority we have is the safety of the community and we will continue to ensure that is the case.”
Next month, the government will defend a new Supreme Court appeal filed by an Iranian man seeking to overturn a Federal Court ruling that will see him deported to Iran, where he fears persecution because of his sexuality.
