Opinion: Palaszczuk must dump Trad before trip to Switzerland

There’s one thing Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk must do before she heads to Switzerland on an Olympics fact-finding mission. But does she have the authority to do it, asks Steven Wardill.

SWITZERLAND must be looming like an irresistible safe haven right now for poor Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Perhaps the Premier has already pondered the prospect of drowning her sorrows over a lukewarm pond of raclette fondue while contemplating what might have been, had she dipped into the Jackie Trad integrity scandal earlier.

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But before Palaszczuk jets out on her Olympics fact-finding mission and the sanctuary of the Alps on Saturday, her own penchant for neutrality will be sorely tested.

Jackie Trad has become a liability for the Labor Party. Picture: Alix Sweeney

The Crime and Corruption Commission is set to resolve by Friday the matter concerning Trad and her errant property purchase along the route of her pet project, the $7 billion Cross River Rail.

But can Palaszczuk overlook her powerful deputy and make someone else acting premier in her absence?

And does anyone have a number for Roger Federer so the Premier can set up a photo op?

None of these questions, except for the one concerning the Swiss tennis great of course, would be relevant right now had Palaszczuk and Trad come to the obvious conclusion weeks ago that this situation was untenable.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone who has been around the Queensland political scene for a while that the good folk down at the CCC tend to be rather diligent about matters concerning MPs.

Instead, the Government has hoisted a flag of neutrality, seemingly oblivious to the war that’s raged around it and the clear incursions into its territory.

Labor has slipped in the polls and Palaszczuk’s popularity has plummeted like an Alps climber without a rope, while she’s refused to send Trad to the backbench to cool her heels for a while.

In the interim, Queenslanders have already decided to take up arms against their own Government.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk needs more than a hard hat at the moment. Picture: Matt Taylor

Regardless of the CCC’s decision, there’s also the matter of Trad’s alleged multiple breaches of the ministerial code of conduct.

Does Palaszczuk have the power to do what her predecessors have done and sack a minister in breach of the code? Or will she just take away some of Trad’s responsibilities, like Cross River Rail?

And if this all happens before Palaszczuk’s timely Swiss sojourn, is it really right for someone stripped of responsibilities over integrity incursions to run the state?

Trad yesterday bemoaned about not having the opportunity to tell her side of the story while skipping out quickly from a press conference that produced more questions than answers.

Hours later Palaszczuk intimated that leaving Trad in charge might not be the best idea just a day after shrugging off the same issue.

This is a mess born out of indecision and obstinance and all the chocolate in Switzerland couldn’t make it sweet.