MANY critics will rush to condemn Campbell Newman for failing to act fast enough against Redcliffe MP Scott Driscoll.
However, the Queensland Premier should get some credit for acting at all.
Standing by embattled MPs - regardless of the nature of the accusations they face or the weight of evidence against them - has long been standard practice among political leaders.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard changed the rules somewhat last year, suspending Labor MP Craig Thomson from the party before any formal finding against him for the "good of the Parliament".
In reality it was for the good of the Government, which had been bleeding for months over the whole union credit card affair.
Newman put the spin aside yesterday by simply admitting Driscoll's membership in the LNP was being suspended for the good of the Government.
The Premier said he acted after realising the Government's message was being drowned out by all the allegations swirling around his MP.
If the same standard had been applied in Queensland over the years, many Labor MPs would have spent time on the sidelines. Some would have returned. Others would not.
The trouble Newman now faces is trying to apply the same standard to different situations. Given the difficulties the Premier has had over the future of ministers, it is easy to see why decisions over whether to sideline an MP are going to be vexed.
But at least now there is a standard for voters to judge Newman against. Previously there was no standard at all.
Steven Wardill is The Courier-Mail's state political editor
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