Ahern survives again

Press, 6 September 1989, Page 10

Ahern survives again

NZPA-AAP Brisbane The embattled Queensland Premier, Mr Mike Ahern, yesterday survived a move by the Labour leader, Wayne Goss, to bring a motion of “no confidence” against him. The tactic, which would have forced the Nationals to resign from the Treasury benches if successful, was put forward by Mr Goss when the state parliament resumed sitting yesterday afternoon.

It failed because Liberal members refused to back it. Debate on the no-confidence motion lapsed after 222y 2 hours without it being put to the vote.

At a packed news conference later Mr Ahern dodged questions about his leadership and refused to be drawn on questions about a new challenge to his position. “I don’t intend to answer any of those negative questions,” he said. Mr Goss had used the move in >■ an attempt to exploit the split in I Government ranks revealed in v last week’s narrowly defeated leadership coup, when the former Police Minister, Russell Cooper, failed by three votes to win a motion against Mr Ahern. - Mr Goss had hoped to snare support from the Liberals and dissatisfied National Party back-

benchers to defeat the Government. But Sir William Knox told the House the decision not to back the motion was responsible. If the motion was carried it would have meant no Budget and a delay in vital legislation that was important to Queenslanders, he said. If Mr Goss* move had worked and the vote of no confidence in the Ahern Government was carried, the Nationals would have been forced to resign from the Treasury benches and a caretaker government would have then been appointed by the Governor, Sir Walter Campbell.