This was published 2 years ago
Palaszczuk says she won’t become a Beattie
By Cloe Read
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has given party elder Peter Beattie a playful slapdown for his 70th birthday, after he made comments about the succession of the next state leader.
Beattie last week wrote a column in which he spoke of a premier’s legacy and Queensland’s future, including who would next run the state.
Annastacia Palaszczuk fended off questions about who her successor would be at a press conference on Wednesday.
By May 2024, Palaszczuk, considered one of state’s most popular Labor premiers, will surpass Beattie’s record as the longest-serving Labor premier since World War II.
Beattie asserted in his column, marking his 70th birthday, that performance and results were more important than time served, adding leaders should “groom a successor and then hand over the baton”.
On Wednesday, at a press conference at a school south-west of Brisbane, Palaszczuk fended off questions about who her successor would be.
“To Peter Beattie, can I say, happy 70th birthday,” Palaszczuk smiled. “When I turn 70, I hope to be spending it with family and friends and I won’t be writing columns.”
When pressed further about her plans to continue to run, and whether Deputy Premier Steven Miles and Treasurer Cameron Dick were potential successors, Palaszczuk remained vague.
“There is a lot of talent in the government, a lot of talent, and they’re working very hard for Queensland,” she said.
However, Palaszczuk said she was “determined to continue doing my job for the people of the state”.
“Everywhere I go, Queenslanders are encouraging me and supporting me in the job I’m doing,” she said.