Peter Beattie says federal Labor's internal war has sucked the oxygen out of Queensland Premier Anna Bligh's uphill battle to retain power.
Mr Beattie says federal Labor's internal war has sucked the oxygen out of Premier Anna Bligh's uphill battle to retain power.
He says she may as well surrender, and go home and put her feet up, unless the matter is resolved immediately.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is expected to call a ballot to resolve the leadership stoush with her predecessor Kevin Rudd by early next week.
Mr Beattie said that had better happen fast, if Ms Bligh was to stand any chance at Queensland's March 24 election.
'I just know if this continues we are going to bleed to death (in Queensland),' he told Macquarie radio on Thursday.
'As it is Anna Bligh is behind in the polls. If the oxygen keeps getting sucked out like this she may as well go home and put her feet up because she won't win and she will lose a heck of a lot of seats.'
Mr Beattie said the party's rank and file had had a gutful of the division and Mr Rudd, if he lost the ballot, must quietly retreat to the backbench and stay there.
'If Kevin loses ... and continues to do it his popularity will disappear up his own bum,' he said.
'That will happen because Australians are sick of it to.'
Mr Rudd quit as foreign minister on Wednesday, and said he was considering his next move.
Ms Bligh told reporters the federal dispute was damaging her chances in the March election, which the polls suggest will see a decisive Liberal National Party win.
'This is not good for a state election campaign,' she said on Wednesday.
Mr Beattie said he still believed Ms Bligh had a chance of winning, albeit a slim one.
'I believe she can (win the election), I believe it's very difficult, I believe it's very tough,' Mr Beattie earlier told the ABC.
'This is the most difficult position the party has been in for some time.'
Mr Beattie said the federal stoush was a gift to LNP leader Campbell Newman.
'I guess Campbell Newman will be surprised that there are some members of the federal caucus who have been campaigning for him in effect.'
Mr Newman said the federal Labor war was proof the party wasn't in a position to govern Queensland.
'Whatever leader, the problem is Labor - the distractions, the scandals, the waste, the taxes and the politics,' he said.
Mr Rudd used his resignation speech to acknowledge the leadership tensions were hurting the prospects of his 'good friend' Anna Bligh.
'And I believe the good people of Queensland deserve some clear space over the coming month, as they make up their minds on a very important decision on the future of Queensland - my home state; a state I'm very proud to be from.'
Ms Bligh will campaign in Cairns on Thursday. Mr Newman is on another mystery tour. He's leaving Townsville bound for an undisclosed destination.
