COMMENT: Gordon makes right call to quit politics
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BILLY Gordon has made the most sensible decision of his political career by deciding not to run for re-election in the Far North Queensland seat of Cook.
Gordon has instead endorsed the Labor party's candidate for Cook, Cynthia Lui, and said in a statement that only Annastacia Palaszczuk has the courage, belief and vision needed to lead this great state into the next term of government.
Queenslanders go to the polls on November 25.
All of the major parties will be contesting Cook, which is a hotly-contested seat.
Along with Tui, Penny Johson, a former Cook Shire Council deputy mayor, will represent the LNP; One Nation has put forward Jen Stackley, Nathan Hunt is the Greens candidate, while Gordon Rassmussen is running for the Katter Australia Party.
The controversial Gordon was elected as a Labor member for Cook in the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the 2015 election before becoming an independent two months later.
Since entering politics, he has led a chequered career plagued by scandal and has basically been ‘missing in action’ in his large electorate, which includes the Douglas Shire, during his tenure.
Two high profile politicians, Bob Katter and Warren Entsch, both criticised Gordon for neglecting his electorate and both agreed Cook desperately needed someone who is prepared to put in the hard yards.
Mr Gordon said he was extremely proud of what he had achieved in the three years he was in Parliament.
"It has been a great privilege and honour to represent the good people of the great electorate of Cook," the ABC reported.