MOVES are afoot which could see Member for Waterford Shannon Fentiman named state premier by the end of the week.
If the chess pieces move that way and the Queensland Labor Party opts for a fresh leadership start, it would be likely that Woodridge MP Cameron Dick would be her deputy.
That scenario would see the City of Logan with the highest density of power brokers in the country – the state premier, her deputy, two other ministers (Springwood MP Mick de Brenni and Algester MP Leeanne Enoch), and federal treasurer (Rankin MP Jim Chalmers).
State politicians will have a week of jostling for position before a caucus meeting scheduled for Friday will elect a new premier.
Annastacia Palaszczuk resigned from politics on Sunday, announcing her last day as state leader would be this Friday.
On Monday afternoon Ms Fentiman declared her candidacy for the top position, kicking off the contest against current deputy Steven Miles.
“Now is the time for renewal,” she said.
“The next election is going to be tough, but I am the right person to lead us.”
Labor Party insiders told MyCity Logan on Sunday that they thought Ms Fentiman would have the numbers to win a vote against Mr Miles
However, they said negotiations were ongoing and would develop as the week progressed.
Mr Dick had been deemed an early challenger for the top job, but it was believed he wouldn’t have enough numbers to topple Mr Miles.
Mr Dick is a member of Labor’s right faction, the same as Ms Palaszczuk who has been reported as backing Mr Miles.
“This doesn’t look great for unity, but many will be looking for a fresh start,” the Labor insider said.
Ms Fentiman was called upon to help tackle one of the state’s most complex problems, stepping in as health minister in May this
year following heavy criticism of emergency times, and ramping in particular.
She was previously attorney-general and has been annointed as a future leader by many in the party.
There are two distinct factions within Labor’s left, one which is likely to support Mr Miles and one which is likely to support Ms Fentiman.
The right however, is said to be split, which rests the contest on a knife’s edge.
Labor’s numbers crunchers are saying there needs to be a gender balance, which means Mr Dick would unlikely to be named deputy to Mr Miles.
He would however, be the obvious choice to support Ms Fentiman.
