Opinion: As Qld burns, ‘Red Carpet Premier’ lives it up in Naples

Fancy that, Annastacia Palaszczuk who has so gleefully saddled up beside celebrities for photo opportunities, is now “upset” that she’s been approached by journalists while on holidays, writes Kylie Lang.

Fancy that – the Red Carpet Premier who has so gleefully saddled up beside celebrities for photo opportunities is now “upset” that she’s been approached by journalists while on holidays.

As Rome burns, Annastacia Palaszczuk is in Naples.

And it’s not just any trip. She and her surgeon partner are staying in one of the finest luxury hotels, enjoying views over the stunning bay of Naples.

Meanwhile, Queenslanders are sleeping in their cars as the housing crisis bites.

Everyone is entitled to a holiday.

Annastacia Palaszczuk and Dr Reza Abib snapped during their Italian holiday. Picture: Victor Sokolowicz

But when you’re in a position of leadership – charged with running a state of more than five million people – and hit rough seas, you don’t abandon ship.

Ms Palaszczuk’s partner is speaking at an obesity conference in Naples. She is his plus one.

She could very easily have cancelled her trip as she was not performing any official duties.

But instead, after one of the worst weeks in her tired government’s history, Ms Palaszczuk apparently thought, “Stuff it, I’m outta here, see ya suckers”.

Annastacia Palaszczuk and Dr Reza Abib snapped during their Italian holiday. Picture: Victor Sokolowicz

Three of her senior ministers were quick to jump on the opportunity to not-so-quietly throw their hats in the leadership ring should the Premier read the room for once and step aside before Christmas.

Cameron Dick, Steven Miles and Shannon Fentiman all delivered quasi-impressive performances trying to pretend they supported Ms Palaszczuk while smiling like Cheshire cats.

But when confronted in Naples by News Corp reporters, the Premier denied there were any issues at home.

She said she found the attention upsetting because she was on holidays, and then on Wednesday morning she took to Twitter to ask for privacy, saying Mr Miles was acting premier and she’d be back on September 11.

The Royal Continental Hotel where the Premier is holidaying. Picture: Victor Sokolowicz

It is hard to believe that among her army of overpaid advisors that not one of them clued her in that she might be approached, leaving her looking bewildered and unprepared or unwilling to offer any meaningful comment.

The Premier should bear in mind that although she is on leave, her responsibilities at home don’t miraculously vanish.

Those who have called her out for taking leave at this tumultuous time are spot on.

Kylie Lang is associate editor of The Courier-Mail

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