Queensland Election 2017: Six MPs leaving Queensland Parliament

Trenton Akers, The Courier-Mail

October 30, 2017 12:00am

WITH the dissolution of the 55th Queensland Parliament, there are six members that are set to bid farewell to politics in the state.


With differing reasons from retirement to ill health and even losing preselection – despite being a sitting member – Queensland will lose some of its most distinguished political figures.

Lawrence Springborg. Picture: Jono Searle.

Jeff Seeney. Picture: Darren England.

Lawrence Springborg, Jeff Seeney, Ian Rickuss and Speaker Peter Wellington have all announced they will retire after lengthy careers in politics while former Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne has quit citing ill health.


LNP MP Verity Barton was forced to make way in her seat of Broadwater for returning candidate David Crisafulli.

Mick de Brenni. Picture: Supplied

Outgoing Speaker Peter Wellington. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Mr Wellington was able to leave the Parliament on the back of a fiery speech he made in relation to a security of payment bill for subcontractors just last week.


The long-time independent MP hit out at Master Builders for their attack on Housing Minister Mick de Brenni and praised the Palaszczuk Government for their persistence in passing the bill.

Retiring Lockyer MP Ian Rickuss. Picture: Jono Searle.

“Thankfully, we have a minister and a government that have shown, when evidence is produced of the failure of our current laws, they will take action and they will not cower and look the other way or allow themselves to be bought off by unscrupulous construction companies that want to continue to operate unfettered in Queensland and continue to use, for their own


purposes, money owing to subcontractors and small businesses,” he said.