As the US President ramped up his global trade war, Annastacia Palaszczuk chose not to talk about it

ON a day when US President Donald Trump ramped up his mad global trade war, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk chose not to talk about it.

Illustration of annastacia palaszczuk by Brett Lethbridge.

ON a day when US President Donald Trump ramped up his mad global trade war, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk chose not to talk about it.

She was supposed to, since it featured as the final part of her draft speech to a packed American Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Brisbane yesterday.

Instead, whether pressed for time or not, Palaszczuk left the podium for some softball Q&A after talking up the state’s economic outlook and Australia’s ties to America.

So the bits she left out? Here’s what she was going to say:

“Despite fears of a return to more rigid tariff protection and growing threats of a looming trade war – we will remain an unashamedly outward-looking government. We can’t retreat from engaging with the rest of the world – and we won’t.’’

Elsewhere, Palaszczuk revealed that she was just given a sneak peak of the looming Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

Sworn to secrecy, she wouldn’t divulge any details but she gushed that it was “incredible’’ and “world class’’.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,’’ she told nearly 200 attendees at the Stamford Plaza, including plenty of bigshot bizoids.

Among those spied in the crowd were ConocoPhillips top guns Bill Bullock and Wendy King, Sunsuper boss Scott Hartley, Mater Foundation chief Dr Shane Kelly, McCullough Robertston chair Dominic McGann and QPAC supremo John Kotzas.

CHANGE AFOOT

ARE the days of Diabetes Queensland numbered?

City Beat spies report that there’s talk of folding the venerable charity and allowing the national body to take over its valuable work.

But a spin doctor for the state group, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, did his best to hose down the speculation this week.

He told us that discussions have been under way for quite a few months to reduce duplication with other state groups in a bid to ramp up efficiency.

“There’s a dialogue going on about what’s the best arrangement because they’re changing big time all the time,’’ he said.

“There will be a series of changes to the way we deliver our services and that will be a matter of working between the states to determine what is the best source of content and how to keep that as efficient as we can.’’ Given the alarming spike in cases of diabetes, the need for the association to deliver its education-focused campaign “has never been more acute’’.

But so-called compassion fatigue may be exacting a cost, drying up donations. The group’s most recent annual report reveals the Queensland group continues to operate at a loss, with $40,286 of red ink last year and $216,317 in 2016.

DQ boss Michelle Trute later told us, through her media handler, that there are “no current plans’’ for the group to cease operation and allow the national body to fill the void.

Your diarist couldn’t help noticing the use of the word “current,’’ which leaves wide open the possibility of change in the future.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

FROM single working mum in Russia to award-winning Australian entrepreneur, Elena Gosse could well be the poster woman for immigrant success.

After moving to Brisbane in 1994, Gosse launched Australian Innovative Systems, an outfit focused on disinfecting pool water.

To celebrate 25 years in the game, she’s throwing an anniversary party tonight at the BEMAC arts centre in Kangaroo Point.

More than 100 of her nearest and dearest are expected to rock up, including MPs Andrew Laming and Joan Pease, as well as ex-pollies John Mickel and Teresa Gambaro.

We hear Gosse is planning to bust a few moves to entertain the crowd.

She’s got form in that department, after taking part in the Dancing CEOs charity event in 2016.