Annastacia Palaszczuk’s reference to partner in recent speech raises eyebrows
A comment made by Premier Annastacia Palasczuk about her doctor beau at a recent opening shows she’s not listening to advice, writes Kylie Lang.
Kylie Lang
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This column is quite often critical of Annastacia Palaszczuk – and with good reason; we all want a premier who is switched-on and successful because it makes for a better Queensland – but as her government lurches from crisis to crisis, here is some advice as we head into 2023.
First up, listen to Peter Beattie. He’s right when he says leaders should groom a successor.
Mr Beattie wrote a comment piece for The Courier-Mail on November 18, saying turning 70 allowed him a “final foray into the political cesspit”.
The state’s 36th premier, who served from 1998 to 2007, groomed his own successor (in Anna Bligh) – and advised Ms Palaszczuk to do the same.
“Performance and results means more than time served,” he wrote, after congratulating Ms Palaszczuk on breaking his record of time in office, which she will do if she leads Labor to the 2024 election.
“I retired at a time of my own choosing because I believe leaders should implement their policy agenda, groom a successor and then hand over the baton,” Mr Beattie said. “Government should always be about what’s good for the people and the nation, not the leader.”
These statements are eminently sensible. Premiers should serve others, rather than be self-serving.
But Ms Palaszczuk’s response to Mr Beattie’s remarks signalled she didn’t want to listen.
That’s a pity because even though she might not like what she hears, there’s merit in acknowledging that someone who has been where you are before might have some wisdom to impart, regardless of any perceived agendas.
“I’m very determined to continue doing my job for the people of this state,” she said five days later. “And everywhere I go Queenslanders are encouraging me and supporting me.
“To Peter Beattie, can I say, happy 70th birthday. When I turn 70, I hope to be spending it with family and friends and I won’t be writing columns.”
Who knows what lies ahead for Ms Palaszczuk – who will be 70 in 17 years’ time – but speaking of friends, herein lies another piece of advice: keep perspective in your personal life as well.
Those close to the Premier say they are delighted she has met someone to love, in weight-loss surgeon Reza Adib. She is no longer going home to an empty house but instead enjoying the company of a man she says makes her happy. This is something to celebrate – and good on them – but it should not affect her professional judgment.
In August, the Premier cancelled cabinet and took three days’ leave to attend a luxury yacht getaway with Dr Adib on Hamilton Island.
The move sparked observations, once again, that she had “checked out” from her job and was more interested in rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous. It followed a disturbing decision in May by the Premier to take Dr Adib to an Olympics meeting in Sydney, giving her beau a coveted seat at the table with esteemed officials including Brisbane 2032 OCOG president Andrew Liveris and IOC vice-president John Coates.
After deserved scrutiny – and her spin doctors initially defending the move – Ms Palaszczuk fronted the media to apologise.
“It was a mistake, it shouldn’t have happened,” she said. “It is a big role to run this state and my partner will be coming with me to different functions but he will not be coming to any meetings or catch-ups,” she said.
But just last Friday, at one of those many functions, the Premier made another questionable call that sent tongues wagging. One observer described it as “a huge clanger”.
In a speech to a packed house at the Gallery of Modern Art for the opening of the Air exhibition, Ms Palaszczuk began by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, the Governor and then “my partner Dr Reza Adib”, before rattling off other names. Hang on a minute … is Dr Adib now a dignitary?
Wasn’t that idea quashed after the Olympics meeting fiasco? With all due respect, and as someone said to me after the GOMA event, Dr Adib is not the First Man of Queensland.
It’s one thing to be in a love bubble, but when you are in a position of leadership I reckon you also want to be seen as a strong, independent individual. You want to be seen as grounded, in touch with everyday people, and open to advice.
After the rolling circus of problems plaguing her government – from integrity scandals to inaction on youth crime and grave public health mistakes – Ms Palaszczuk might benefit from considering what Peter Beattie has to say, instead of shutting him down. “It is not the time you serve that matters,” Mr Beattie wrote this month, “but what you do with that time that is important.”
LOVE: Support for a critical message, this week from Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner. After seeing his daughter subjected to coercive control by a former partner, Mr Furner said more men needed to “stand up and speak out” against domestic violence so others didn’t think it was OK.
LOATHE: Former PM Scott Morrison’s ridiculous statement in parliament when he defended his decision to secretly appoint himself to five ministerial portfolios. He said if he had been asked about it in a press conference he would have “responded truthfully”. How was any journalist expected to have known?
Kylie Lang is associate editor of The Courier-Mail
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