They are stagnated in a parliamentary system that is neither accountable or is justified in how they create and execute legislation in this state. And this is a derivative and a direct ... We are seeing now ... We are absolutely reaping what was sowed in 1922 with the abolition of the upper house.
In other words, the system is broke, mate.
McLindon's post-announcement press conference was held in his local office, the journos pressed together in the small space. Some fired questions at the defector in an attempt to rile him. It didn't work. McLindon has passion and won't be swayed.
The presser started with his denunciation of the sale of state assets, which seems to be a big issue for a lot of Queenslanders.
But the malaise he has been feeling lies deeper than this, as the quote shows. He's not concerned about going it alone. Answering a question as to whether, as an independent, he would become "irrelevant", McLindon said that "It's people power that will change the political spectrum."
He's quite confident of this power, saying that it is his "strong opinion that neither of the major parties will win at the next election".
We've seen over the course of months issue after issue and I cannot sit on the sideline and watch these issues unfold under a complacent major political party.
McLindon sits for the seat of Beaudesert, which borders Brisbane on its southern extremities and extends as far as the NSW border. His fellow defector is Bob Messenger of Burnett - a seat in the area of Bundaberg north of Brisbane. Both are largely rural seats.
Griffith University political expert Paul Williams says that it is "not out of the question" for an independent to retain a seat, but that "it's still a greater than 50 per cent chance that at least one, if not both, will lose at the next election".
McLindon's swipe at the abolition of the upper house is interesting, as is a lot of the talk surrounding the defection. It's interesting because McLindon has stuck a flag in the ground and the flag is emblazoned with the word 'liberal'. He's articulated a set of guiding principles, which were published by The Courier-Mail today:
1. Protect and care for all our children
2. Protect and care for all our sick, disabled and elderly
3. Help empower First Queenslanders to live stronger, longer and healthier.
4. Advance social and economic policy which will help our families thrive and flourish
5. To act as responsible guardians of the environment
6. People always come before party policy
7. To give and serve without a thought of receiving.
Both parliamentarians have said that they might, in future, support the Labor Party over the LNP but not with the current leadership.
Messenger called them "horrible".
Good - both parties ain't workin for us.
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