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Qld premier denies Labor disharmony

Queensland's premier has rejected speculation more of her backbenchers could follow Rob Pyne's lead and quit Labor, insisting they are all happy.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
The Queensland premier's threat of an early election doesn't appear to be supported by her cabinet. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Queensland's premier insists her backbenchers are happy, amid speculation more MPs are on the verge of fleeing her minority Labor government.

Annastacia Palaszczuk's reassurances come as Cairns MP Rob Pyne this week resigned from Labor after speaking out against party policies and claiming he'd been intimidated and bullied by government ministers.

The premier was asked on Wednesday whether she was confident her backbenchers were happy.

"Yes, I am," she replied, but refused to elaborate further.

There's speculation former police minister Jo-Ann Miller, who was dumped from the ministry after various bungles, could seek revenge by also quitting the party.

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Instead of rejecting the allegations on Wednesday, Ms Miller refused to comment to AAP at all.

A cloud also remains over first-term Labor MP Rick Williams, who has been investigated over alleged intimidation and unscrupulous conduct before he entered parliament.

The police probe has been completed, but is being reviewed.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said Mr Pyne's resignation publicly revealed the extent of division within Labor.

"The fact now that it's ignited to the extent where other members are openly speculating to the media, I think it gives real cause for concern over the long-term stability of this government," Mr Springborg said.

He also labelled a joint funding announcement on Wednesday between Ms Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad as a "false show of unity".

"I think the danger for the premier of course, when you look at Jackie Trad, is you can still stab somebody in the back while standing beside them," he said.

Mr Pyne has only offered support for the minority government with Ms Palaszczuk at the helm, saying he feared Ms Trad could be plotting a leadership coup.

Ms Trad on Wednesday vowed she was "100 per cent loyal" to the premier.

"Whatever is speculating around the media today is fanciful and it doesn't belong in reality," she said.

Ms Palaszczuk reiterated her intention to call an early election if job-creating legislation was blocked in parliament following Mr Pyne's move to the cross benches.

However, she conceded she hadn't yet sought advice on an early election, nor could she say when contentious legislation would be debated in parliament.

At least one member of her cabinet is against the idea, with State Development Minister Anthony Lynham saying an early poll would hurt jobs growth.

"I do not want an early election; I want jobs, I know the premier wants jobs," he said.

Mr Pyne won't contest the next election.

His resignation gives Labor an even more tenuous grip on power by leaving the government and the Liberal National Party opposition both with 42 MPs in the state's 89-seat parliament.


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