Peter Wellington, currently the Speaker of the House in the Qld Parliament.  Ex copper, also practised as a Solicitor.  Contemporay of mine, and my local independant Member.

He has ALP leanings, but also courted PUP.

The bloke reads political tea leaves very well.  Very well.

Link.

There is no doubt he would have held his seat of Nicklin in the next election, but after the election, there is no way he would have been able to retain the Speakership.

So....he's not gonna run.  Oh dear.  Does anyone suspect it may have anything to do with the Parliamentary Pension he gets to pocket on departure.

As Speaker, he gets $???????.  As a mere Member, he would be paid $151,425.00 pa.

Now, I really don't know, but I reckon the Parliamentary Pension scheme is based on what you were earning when you leave the Parliament.

Wellington, as Speaker, is on much more than a mere Member (stuffed if I can find the amount) so the bugger is cutting and running, going out on the Speaker's salary, not a mere Member's.

Cynical much, or am I over-reading that?

He's getting out while he is on top as he knows that Pauline is going to slaughter everything in her path.

juliar wrote on Feb 16^th, 2017 at 7:39pm:

He's getting out while he is on top as he knows that Pauline is going to slaughter everything in her path.

sounds about right ..

am I cynical regarding his mum and dad...

well why wouldnt I be?..

at the end of the day we spend a fortune on these people

we believe in them give them our vote/trust.... and once elected they basically do as they like..

I honest do not believe there is such a thing as a true  independent..... cynical .. sure am!

as a legal I would trust him even less...cynical you bet!

have I lost the faith............almost.

Most on this forum thought you had lost it years ago. ;D ;D ;D

macman wrote on Feb 17^th, 2017 at 7:16am:

Most on this forum thought you had lost it years ago. ;D ;D ;D

shows how ignorant they are.. ;) ;)

whats your contribution to this scintillating topic?

I am sure if you stop and think! you could find you have one!

huhummmm !!!!!!!!a contribution ::)