MP’s Halloween costume meme sets a rat among the parliamentarians

A Queensland government minister has been told to take down a meme that breached parliamentary rules,as MPs continue to bicker at the halfway point of their term.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey shared the mock Halloween costume package describing Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie as the state’s “worst attorney-general” last week.

But the image of Bleijie had been taken during a session of parliament,which comes under rules restricting the use of photos or footage for satire or anything other than a factual representation of what occurred.

The parliamentary week descended intoone of the rowdiest this year amid the federal budget fallout,health-related issues drivingcalls for resignations from both sides,and the removal of several politicians because of their interjections.

On Wednesday,Bailey said he would remove the original post “due to a complaint” to parliamentary clerk Neil Laurie — which he suggested came from Bleijie — about a breach of the rules.

Bailey also labelled these “antiquated” and said they should be “scrapped”. “However I am happy to comply in the meantime,” he said.

A government spokesperson said the rules were a matter for the committee of the Legislative Assembly,which decides on parliamentary practices.

The original tweet,posted to mark the “6.5 year anniversary of[Bleijie]wearing a stuffed rat in parliament” was still online almost five hours after Bailey provided the update.

However,the tweet attributing the complaint to Bleijie had been removed. The pair engaged in regular public spats on the platform before Bleijie blocked Bailey in early October — a fact Bailey also shared in a post.

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Jeers and rancour mark halfway point in Qld’s parliamentary term

Bleijie shared his own flashback post last week,marking 11 years since now-Treasurer Cameron Dick was referred to the ethics committee — and cleared — for misleading parliament. “Happy Anniversary Dick”,he said.

The LNP wasasked to take down posts featuring parliamentary footage in November for misrepresenting comments and using images for political means,after the matter was raised by Labor MPs.

Amiddeclining political trust over the past decade,many — includingformer Labor premier Peter Beattie — have suggested major parties take note of the message sent by a surge of support for independents positioning themselvesbeyond the usual political fray.

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