Editorial: Next premier faces test of their political life

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s successor must focus on the things holding Queensland back, not just the election, writes the editor.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has done the right thing for Queensland and for Labor Party by accepting the inevitable and resigning as premier. The critical thing now is that her successor focuses on the things holding Queensland back rather than on just winning the election.

After a long eight years and nine months, Ms Palaszczuk’s tired and often confused administration has been letting Queensland down.

Her decision to value loyalty over renewal had led to a cabinet full of ministers who knew their job was safe, and a backbench that knew there would be no opportunities for promotion.

The processes around cabinet had broken down, with the way decisions were being debated and advice taken a source of frustration among ministers – even if never expressed publicly.

The result was ministers who administered rather than led, and who opted for the path of least resistance rather than challenging their colleagues and departments.

The result was twofold: Labor was creaking towards an election in which it was likely to be destroyed, and the people of Queensland were suffering.

The Premier can claim all she likes that the state’s economy has never been stronger, but if she ever bothered to look down from her office in the clouds at the top of the gigantic 1 William Street she would see at least two nearby parks bulging with tents – “homes” to Queenslanders who can’t find one.

It is her Labor government that has let these people down.

Nowhere was the chaos in Palaszczuk’s government more obvious than in the recent debacle over the RNA stadium upgrade.

Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe could only get cabinet to sign off on funding one-third of the almost $150m needed for a facility that was only required because the same cabinet – just weeks earlier – had decided to demolish and rebuild the Gabba.

The clumsy and disrespectful way he handled the negotiations had the exact opposite impact of what had been hoped – that there would be as little chatter about funding stadiums in Brisbane as possible. It led to open warfare between the Premier on one side and Queensland Cricket, the AFL, the Brisbane Lions, the RNA and the Lord Mayor on the other.

It wasn’t a one-off. However, the timing could not have been worse, with the whole sorry mess falling right at the moment Ms Palaszczuk was facing a calculated putsch.

In the wake of that coup, our thoughts now turn to the MPs who think they have what it takes to fill Ms Palaszczuk’s shoes: Steven Miles and Shannon Fentiman.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (right) and leadership rivals Shannon Fentiman and Steven Miles

While we understand their focus in coming days will be on doing the numbers within caucus to support their candidacies, once the ballot is over they will face the biggest tests of their political careers.

The loser will need to quickly and decisively fall in behind their new leader. Disunity is, of course, death in politics. The winner will need to focus not on wargaming and strategising for the election but on delivering outcomes that prove they are up to the job of leading Queensland.

They will have a fleeting chance for a major political reset and must not squander it.

We would firstly suggest a major reshuffle of cabinet where both trouble-prone Transport Minister Mark Bailey and the retiring Mr Hinchliffe – at the very least – are punted to the backbench. This will not only show the new leader has the courage Ms Palaszczuk lacked on making such big calls but will reintroduce the critical notion of accountability to the job of ministers. It will also allow a new generation of talent to be promoted well ahead of the election.

Secondly, we suggest the new leader prove they actually believe in Labor values and clean up the tent cities. As the most visible evidence of the housing affordability crisis that is bedevilling our state, finding a proper solution would send a strong message that the state’s new Premier is serious about tackling it.

Thirdly, the incoming Premier must undo perhaps the cockiest decision made by Ms Palaszczuk and make the body responsible for the infrastructure for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games an independent one – as was the case for Sydney 2000. Ms Palaszczuk’s determination to have it inside her own department was always wrong. We must give the Games the best possible chance of success. This will be a good start.

Fourthly, we suggest the new Premier undertake what Ms Palaszczuk was always so reluctant to do – spend time with youth crime victims, experts and advocates to develop some fresh ideas on how to properly combat this scourge.

Like the housing affordability challenge, the fears Queenslanders have over youth crime undermine our relaxed way of life. It must be properly addressed – and soon.

Finally, we would suggest that if the new Premier is to remain committed to the so-called “Big Build” program for hospitals and schools and so on, they should first renegotiate the best practice industry conditions – the CFMEU tax – on government construction projects. The BPICs system will soon lead to a 30 per cent increase in costs, and a similar slide in productivity.

If this isn’t done, the new leader will be sending a message to the militant unions that they can continue their standover tactics.

Again, this would be bad for Queensland – and this leadership change should be all about what is best for our great state.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here