"[1][3] In November 1996, it emerged in parliament that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority had decided not to prosecute the newly-elected Marek for unauthorised and substandard plane maintenance, leading to opposition allegations of "special treatment".
[4][5] Marek became one of three outspoken right-wing Queensland Nationals MPs (along with De-Anne Kelly and Bob Katter) who broke with their own government's line on numerous occasions.
The Labor opposition attacked the remarks in parliament as "disgraceful" and "appalling and contemptible" and called for an apology, but senior colleagues Ron Boswell and John Herron refused to criticise him.
[15] He stated that there was "no guarantee" that he would support his government's flagship goods and services tax proposal, noting that he believed "about 40 percent" of Australians opposed the GST altogether.
[23][24] The Sydney Morning Herald suggested during the campaign that Marek had "managed to neutralise much of the One Nation" insurrection" through his renegade policy stances and preference decisions.