One Nation will not run a candidate against Cleveland MP Mark Robinson

Sarah Vogler, The Courier-Mail
September 12, 2017 12:00am
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/one-nation-will-not-run-a-candidate-against-cleveland-mp-mark-robinson/news-story/4dcff2d58aa0cc80f4cc76598a23cecf

THE LNP’s Cleveland MP Mark Robinson will be spared an election fight against One Nation with the resurgent party announcing it will not run a candidate against him.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Mr Robinson, who was forced to rule out a switch to One Nation after he attended a dinner with Pauline Hanson late last year – is expected to be one of a handful of LNP MPs not to be challenged by the minor party.

Cleveland MP Mark Robinson. Picture: Supplied

One Nation has already announced it will not challenge Katter Party MPs Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth and would leave Jo-Ann Miller alone in the seat of Bundamba as well.

One Nation State Leader Steve Dickson told The Courier-Mail he had decided not to run a candidate against Mr Robinson either.

Mr Robinson holds the electorate – which will be renamed Oodgeroo at the next election following the redistribution – with a margin of just under 6 per cent.

“We’re not going to be running against Mark and it is very, very similar to Jo-Ann Miller,” Mr Dickson said. “Mark is a very honourable MP. He has always carried himself with distinction within Parliament.

“When the chips were down when I left the party, he was the only guy who really came out and said ‘I am going treat Steve as a person’. That demonstrates the human quality of people.

“If we end up with a Queensland Parliament full of Jo-Ann Millers and Mark Robinsons then I don’t think it is going to be bad for Queensland.”

Just which other LNP MPs will be spared a One Nation challenge is yet to be determined.

One Nation is still in the process of preselecting candidates and is yet to name challengers for LNP-held seats such as the electorate of Currumbin held by Opposition backbencher Jann Stuckey, Gaven held by Sid Cramp, Moggill held by Christian Rowan, Everton held by Tim Mander and Chatsworth held by Steve Minnikin.