MP Steve Dickson has defected to One Nation, saying it was due to medicinal cannabis. Credit:www.stevedicksonmp.com.au "This has nothing to do with medicinal cannabis. I feel absolutely gutted for the parents and the kids who are suffering and who have been used as a pawn by Pauline Hanson and Steve Dickson in this political game," Mr Nicholls said. "This has nothing to do with the LNP. "This is simply about Steve's own political self-interest. "Steve spouted one set of values and now he reckons he can change to another."

Mr Nicholls, who came back from holidays early to address media on Friday afternoon, said it broke his heart to see how much Queenslanders were hurting and he did not blame them for looking for a quick fix, alluding to the appeal of One Nation and Trump-style politics. "The stark truth is, though, there are no quick fixes," he said. "Thought bubbles don't help people, fear and whinging doesn't create jobs. "Rebranding the police with a new name doesn't give our hardworking officers more teeth. "Taking a good selfie doesn't make a good government."

Mr Nicholls almost pulled a Meryl Streep manoeuvre, in speaking about Pauline Hanson without uttering her name, but a few minutes into his prepared statement, the redhead's name finally popped up. Mr Nicholls said he only received a phone call from Mr Dickson about 15 minutes before the former LNP member's press conference. But Mr Nicholls left an olive branch for Mr Dickson, saying, "we'll always deal with MPs and respect the fact that they're members of Parliament". Mr Nicholls said he was not worried about other defections from the LNP to One Nation, and said nominations would soon open for the seat of Buderim. He claimed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk would rather "let Rome burn" than return from holidays to deal with difficult issue, such as the recent troubles plaguing Queensland Rail.

But acting Premier Jackie Trad returned serve: "I don't think Rome is burning, I think the LNP is burning." "And I think it's a reflection on Tim Nicholls and his confidence in his own leadership that he wants Annastacia Palaszczuk to come back from holidays to fix up the mess in his own party room." Ms Trad said Mr Dickson jumping ship to One Nation was a vote of no confidence in Mr Nicholls' leadership and the LNP. When asked if she would negotiate with Mr Dickson as a member of the crossbench, Ms Trad said the government had "not needed Steve Dickson or his vote to pass any legislation in the Parliament and we won't need it in the future". Ms Trad said One Nation did not offer any solution to complex problems facing the nation.

"Whether they're blaming Muslims, or whether they're blaming Asians or whether they're blaming gays, or whether they're saying the Port Arthur massacre was a lie and a fabrication, all of this stuff has no place in a modern Australia, quite frankly." LNP president Gary Spence labelled Mr Dickson's decision a "betrayal about self-interest". "Steve Dickson's announcement that he has left the LNP and joined One Nation is a breach of trust with the people of Buderim, his parliamentary colleagues and the local members of the LNP, whose support he sought to represent them," Mr Spence said. "Steve Dickson has broken his word and the personal assurances that he made to the LNP that he would not be leaving the party." Mr Spence claimed Mr Dickson had accessed "valuable intellectual property" developed for LNP MPs and candidates in relation to the election.

Former LNP member for Beaudesert Aidan McLindon - and fellow LNP deserter - described Mr Dickson's move as "gutsy". Mr McLindon, who said Mr Dickson was a friend, resigned from the LNP to become an independent in 2010, establishing The Queensland Party, which he then merged with Katter's Australian Party. He lost his seat to the LNP at the 2012 election and joined Family First in June 2013. "Many of the major party MPs pack hunt like wolves and can be extremely cruel to people who stand up for what they believe in but I know Steve has the courage to forge forth," Mr McLindon said. Loading

Mr McLindon also said an LNP split was not only inevitable, it was critical if it wanted to become a credible party in the future. Queensland Greens convenor Andrew Bartlett said Mr Dickson's defection was a huge blow to the LNP's credibility and showed the difference between One Nation and the LNP was smaller than ever.