Labor brings back Peter Beattie to contest seat of Forde, dumps pre-selected candidate Des Hardman

Updated

Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie will make a sensational return to politics to contest the Queensland seat of Forde for Labor.

Mr Beattie will replace Des Hardman, the pre-selected candidate for the marginal seat south of Brisbane.

Forde is held by the Liberal National Party's Bert van Manen by less than 2 per cent.

The ABC understands Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has diverted his campaign from Sydney to Brisbane, and is likely to join his new recruit on the campaign trail today

Mr Beattie's return will intensify the focus on Queensland, where Labor is hoping to win seats to counter expected Coalition wins, including the seats held by former independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.

Trade Minister Richard Marles says the new recruit could be a game changer for Labor, not only in Queensland but across the country.

"Peter Beattie is one of the most formidable politicians that Labor has in this country," he told Sky News.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: See what Forde voters think of Beattie running in their electorate (ABC News)

"If you look at Peter Beattie's record in politics it is unparalleled. In a seat like Forde he's going to make a real difference."

Former Queensland treasurer Terry Mackenroth agrees Mr Beattie will boost Labor's chances of re-election.

"I think people still respect Peter. He did a very good job as premier of Queensland and I'm certain that when people decide who they're going to vote for, they'll look at the job that he did and that will help him," he said.

Treasurer Chris Bowen says Mr Beattie brings experience and energy to Labor's re-election campaign.

He would not be drawn on whether Mr Beattie has rank and file support or whether he has been parachuted in.

"We will leave others to talk on the details of his position," he said.

But Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has rubbished Mr Beattie's return to politics.

"Another flim flam man who hit people with record debt and deficit, who's just going to add to the leadership instability within the Labor party," he told a press conference in Launceston.

He added that while he is not worried about Mr Beattie, "Kevin Rudd should be".

The Queensland State Government has also criticised Mr Beattie's return.

Forde: Electorate guide Location : Outer southern Brisbane

: Outer southern Brisbane Held by : Bert Van Manen (LNP)

: Bert Van Manen (LNP) Margin : 1.6%

: 1.6% Antony Green's full guide to Forde

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney took to his feet in parliament to attack the former premier's record .

"He's getting the old band back together. I bet you that colleagues Merri Rose and Liddy Clark are printing T-shirts as we speak," he said.

"I bet that those ministerial stalwarts, Bill D'Arcy and Gordon Nuttall, that used to sit there are applying for day leave to hand out how to vote cards."

A popular premier

Mr Beattie, 60, served as Queensland premier for nine years, and lead the Labor Party in the state for eleven-and-a-half years.

He was one of the state's most popular premiers, and his leadership largely withstood controversies over electoral fraud and the health system.

The self-confessed media "tart" was never far from the spotlight; he once swam in a shark tank in the lead up to a state election campaign.

After quitting as premier six years ago, Mr Beattie's successor Anna Bligh appointed him to the post of Queensland's Trade and Investment Commissioner in Los Angeles.

He left that job three years ago, and has since been a frequent commentator on the leadership tensions within the federal Labor party.

In June, he called on Bob Hawke to sort out Labor's leadership crisis.

Mr Beattie, who follows Bob Carr as a former state premier entering federal politics, has previously said he did not aspire to federal politics as he loves Queensland and Canberra is "too cold".

Until around 10.00 AEST today, Labor's website still listed Mr Hardman as the candidate for Forde.

He was described as a father and radiographer who "decided it was time to join the fight to protect Queensland from the LNP's cuts"

The seat of Forde has regularly switched between the major parties since it was created in 1984.

Labor last won the seat in 2007, with candidate Brett Raguse. But he lost to the Liberal National Party in 2010.

Topics: alp, political-parties, government-and-politics, federal-government, federal-elections, qld, southport-4215, logan-central-4114, australia

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