The Greens will eye new state seats in the next Queensland poll — still some two years away — as the third-term Labor government seeks to sell itsclimate and energy transition credentials to voters.
But after Extinction Rebellion protesterssnuck through security to derail parliament this week,Labor MP and Speaker Curtis Pitt has asked the ethics committee to probe a Facebook post from Maiwar Greens MP Michael Berkman.
Berkman had pointed to the state government’s support fornew coal and gas projects despite the International Energy Agency warning theseshould have stopped last year to help slow global warming.
“So to those who took a stand today,I just want to say:you are absolutely right,” Berkman wrote on Wednesday.
Speaking in parliament on the second-last sitting day of 2022 on Thursday,Pitt said the comments could breach rules banning MPs from “inciting or encouraging disruption” of proceedings.
“I’ll also be asking the ethics committee to review the entire incident to ensure that the protesters were not aided or abetted by any members of staff,” Pitt said.