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Mr Lucas will retire at the next election, but stay on as Attorney General and Local Government Minister until then.
Video: Lucas announces retirement from Qld politics
(7pm TV News Qld)
Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser is expected to be sworn in as the state’s new deputy premier today to replace the outgoing Labor MP Paul Lucas.
Mr Fraser, the 35-year-old Member for Mount Coot-tha in Brisbane, will be Queensland’s next deputy premier.
Mr Lucas, the Member for Lytton in Brisbane, will retire at the next election due by March 2012, but stay on as Attorney General and Local Government Minister until then.
Mr Fraser has been part of the senior leadership group with Premier Anna Bligh and Mr Lucas since 2007.
It is understood he will be the only nominee to replace Mr Lucas as deputy leader when the Labor caucus meets today.
Mr Lucas has praised Mr Fraser.
“He certainly is one of the most intelligent people in politics that I ever have met,” Mr Lucas said.
“He is one of the most assiduous workers in politics – I’m an enormous fan of Andrew Fraser.”
Mr Fraser helped drive the Queensland Government’s asset sales.
Liberal National Party (LNP) leader Campbell Newman says Mr Fraser has overseen growing state debt.
“He’s been a lousy treasurer and I don’t believe he will do a good job as deputy premier,” Mr Newman said.
Health payroll row
Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney says Mr Lucas will be remembered for presiding over scandals like the health payroll crisis.
Mr Lucas held the health portfolio when a new software system caused widespread payroll errors and the problem will cost almost $220 million to fix.
“Paul Lucas personifies the failure of this state Labor Government,” Mr Seeney said.
However, Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) secretary Beth Mohle has thanked Mr Lucas for his service during his time as health minister.
Ms Mohle says Mr Lucas had faced many challenges in the role and it had been not an easy job.
“It certainly is a very big disaster – the payroll disaster – and it certainly was unforeseen and unprecedented,” she said.
“Certainly hope that it wouldn’t be the case that would define a political career, because I know that Mr Lucas has made many other contributions in the other portfolio areas that he’s worked in.
“There’s certainly been a lot of challenges that have confronted Mr Lucas in his position as health minister and he’s held other portfolio positions as well.
“The QNU would thank Mr Lucas for the assistance that he gave us during his time as health minister and we certainly wish him and his family all the best for the future.”
Topics:
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political-parties,
government-and-politics,
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qld
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