Goss resigns as Labor falls in Queensland

By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Queensland Premier Wayne Goss will resign on February 19, opening the way for a new ALP leader as the Labor government's six-year reign ends. A new Coalition government under National Party leader Rob Borbidge will take over the following day. With the Coalition and Labor locked on 44 seats each, the new government will survive with the support of conservative independent for Gladstone Liz Cunningham. Current health minister Peter Beattie is generally tipped to take over as ALP leader when parliament resumes. Ministers were reported to be in tears when Goss announced his resignation. Infighting within the Labor Party, which is sure to follow this debacle, will no doubt be delayed until after the federal poll. However, many ALP members and supporters are sure to ask how it was possible for the Queensland ALP to plummet from power, to be replaced by a coalition of parties which were totally discredited and disgraced only six years ago. "The advent of the Nationals again is an absolute disaster for Queensland working people", Coral Wynter, Democratic Socialist candidate for Griffith in the federal election, said on February 17. "Some deep soul-searching must be done by the ALP. How could they become so alienated from the people to allow this to happen?", she asked. "With the threat of a federal Coalition win as well, the danger of a complete return to the bad old days is very real. "The unions and the social movements will need to move quickly to mobilise their forces for a big struggle to defend the gains we have made in the past decade or so."