LETTERS: Palaszczuk leaves a legacy of divisive leadership

While the Labor faithful, comrades-in-arms and other hangers-on will laud departing Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (C-M, Dec 11), for the rest of us there will be little fanfare for a career politician who divided many in the last years of her leadership.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces her resignation. Picture: YouTube

It will be the job of future historians to sum up whether Palaszczuk’s legacy will be remembered more in the positive column than the negative.

Arguably Palaszczuk will be most likely remembered by most Queenslanders for the way she managed the Covid pandemic while Premier.

The questionably long and severe border lockdown tested many and her insistence that it was not her decision, but that of the chief health bureaucrat, did not win her many friends, even though she won an election during that difficult time.

Palaszczuk was an “accidental premier”, but she will undoubtedly go down in Labor history as one of their favoured few – lauded, deified and seen as a hero by the ALP faithful.

But for many other Queenslanders she will not be remembered fondly.

A controversial premier who could not take criticism of any kind, she would sometimes sheet blame on others, and her penchant for the red carpet in her last year was another poorly thought-out choice that served her credibility as leader poorly.

Paul Henderson, Manly

As rightly stated in your Editorial (C-M, Dec 11), Annastacia Palaszczuk’s tired and often confused administration has been letting Queensland down.

The continuing litany of crises such as failing systems within health, education, housing, youth crime and homelessness has eroded any confidence or support from the people of Queensland.

Added to these failures is the state government’s lack of transparency, consultation and reluctance to listen to the people and adjust major decisions accordingly.

Palaszczuk’s cocky decision to scrap the independent overseeing body which would be responsible for all infrastructure projects for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and place it within her own department, only served to consolidate the autocratic, secretive style of this state government.

The current controversial topic of the demolition and rebuild of the Gabba and its inherent cost blowouts, disruption to the community, traffic chaos, loss of a heritage school and the decimation of Raymond Park to make way for a temporary warm up track, no doubt has added fuel to the fire.

Spending upwards of $2.7bn on a new stadium which will incur such devastating repercussions is not a good look.

The Premier’s resignation was the right thing to do.

Let’s hope that her successor focuses on the big issues and starts listening to the people of Queensland.

Marcia Pavlos, Kangaroo Point

It is patently obvious where the real power lies when a Labor government is in power.

Given it seems a union powerbroker can move a long-term premier on with ease, there is no doubt that authority carries over to directing what legislation is appropriate for the people.

All politics is chaotic, however the electors are entitled to some say in the chaos and do not have to accept union dictatorship.

Brice Kaddatz, Araluen

It’s harsh, but I don’t think Annastacia Palaszczuk was ever any good as Premier.

She was plunged in way above her depth from the beginning, although she had enough street cunning to get rid of her only rival, Jackie Trad.

After that she still looked over her shoulder and surrounded herself with mediocrity, which posed no threat.

Now Labor finds itself in a leadership vacuum.

And just to illustrate the hypocrisy of MPs, tributes will pour in from all sides of politics, even if they don’t mean a word of it.

Richard Marman, Meridan Plains

Australians demand a lot from their politicians, and at times their blood.

Annastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland’s Premier for nearly nine years, walked a veritable tightrope from the advent of the Covid pandemic up to the present time.

Beset by problems that would rest the wisest of politicians she tried to walk that tightrope being pushed by the hospital crisis, ambulance ramping problems, the Olympic Games venue, juvenile crime, and police recruitment difficulties.

Tearily she resigned.

Good luck to the next would-be premier. It’s not going to be easy.

Stephen Kazoullis, South Brisbane

There are many criticisms to be tabled against Annastacia Palaszczuk, but I think many people more qualified than me will table them in the near future.

What I want to do is thank her for her final farewell gift to us, the people – an unnecessary by-election at a cost to the taxpayer of millions of dollars, when we are struggling with cost of living expenses.

This is because she could not, or would not, remain in parliament for a period of mere months until the next state election.

I think she was forced out and clearly she did not want to remain in Parliament unless she was Premier.

Do we therefore really want to trust her personal choice of successor?

Kelvin Brown, Redbank

I just cannot feel sad to farewell Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

That would be so hypocritical.

A cat has nine lives; she had nine years. When it’s time it’s time.

But then she’s anointed her deputy Steven Miles to take over.

Will he fit the grin on his face? Will he win the race to lead the state?

I certainly don’t want Shannon Fentiman or Yvette D’Ath. Cameron Dick is certainly ahead of those two.

So much for Palaszczuk leading Labor to the next election.

However, I will wish her all the best and her successor as well.

One wonders if boxes of tissues instead of toilet tissue will run out now in the supermarkets, but then I mustn’t labour the issue.

Ken Johnston, Rochedale South

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The Queensland Parliament building. Picture: NCA NewsWire/John Gass

THE VALUE OF DEMOCRACY

Premiers and politicians come and go. We thank them for their community service.

Their salaries keep going up.

What remains is the parliament, government and public service. Their costs also continue to rise.

The question is whether the public is getting value for their money from these institutions and their practices.

For example, how often does parliament meet?

How efficient is it in the scrutiny and holding of governments and the public sector to account?

How democratic are parliament and government in their full openness to the public, including television and online coverage?

How can accountability bodies and whistleblowers be strengthened?

Does democracy mean representing the whole of Queensland and not giving priority to particular economic and political groups?

Similar questions to these can be applied to the federal parliament and government and to Brisbane City Council and other councils.

Jim Elliott, St Lucia

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TOUGHEN UP, REFS

I have the greatest respect for NBL referees boss Scott Butler (C-M,

Dec 11), having coached him as a junior player and watched his rise to the top of the ladder as a referee.

He enjoyed a great deal of respect from players and coaches.

He had a way about him that encouraged confidence in his decisions.

Not all referees have that ability, but they have the whistle after all.

Either they are in control or they aren’t.

Nowadays we see too much backchat from players and coaches.

Toughen up refs. Most fans will thank you for it.

Frank Haack, Rockhampton

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