Joh ‘told to fight on’

Press, 30 November 1987, Page 1

Joh ‘told to fight on’

NZPA-AAP Brisbane Queensland’s Premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, was probably being advised by "fruity loops" to fight on, said the sacked Mines and Energy Minister, Brian Austin, yesterday. Speaking on the Channel 9 programme yesterday, Mr Austin said Sir Joh had sought support from the Labour and Liberal parties in the event of any Parliamentary no-confidence motion, but would be humiliated in such a move. Talk of Sir Joh calling an early election was simply a threat trying to Intimidate backbenchers into supporting him. The Premier-elect, Mike Ahern, had shown he was tough by his "brilliant” performance in the last few days, Mr Austin said. , Mr Austin said he believed Sir Joh had tried to persuade Labour and Liberal leaders to support him in any no-confidence motion in Parliament, Mr Austin said. "I think that it would be a shame to see him humiliated on the floor of the Chamber.” To survive a no-confidence motion. Sir Joh would need' the support of four National Party members plus the Labour and Liberal parties. Mr Austin said he feared “fruity loops,” extreme Right-wing groups, were encouraging the Premier to fight on.' “Every time the Premier gets in some sort of difficulty in the past couple of years the people that I call the fruity loops, the extreme Right-wing, come out of the woodwork everywhere. “I understand there have been some fruity loops visiting him In the last few days and I am a bit concerned that those sorts of people and that group may have some Influenceon the Premier.