Peter Gleeson’s crystal-ball predictions for 2019

A Brisbane move for newlyweds Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough leads our bold predictions for 2019 in entertainment, politics, sport and business.

AS THE curtain comes down on 2018 and we welcome in the new year, it’s important that we take stock and ponder what 2019 might look like for the Sunshine State.

With tongue firmly ensconced in cheek, here’s how I see it playing out.

Beware climate change cultists

War among LNP heavyweights

2018’s most joyful moments

Now you might think some of these predictions are a bit far-fetched, or that maybe I’ve been hanging around Nimbin over the holidays, but, hey — I like a crystal ball as much as anybody.

So here goes.

Entertainment

Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine will adopt a Somali baby and move to Brisbane where Karl will attempt to repair his brand and image by hosting the 4BC breakfast show. He will still do TV for Nine (which now owns 4BC), but the breakfast show is worth millions in revenue and Stefanovic would nail it. My tip is he’d win the radio breakfast ratings easily because he remains Australia’s best broadcaster.

Annastacia Palaszczuk celebrates the new year, but Jackie Trad has her own plans. Illustration: Brett Lethbridge

Queensland politics

Annastacia Palaszczuk will continue to soar in the polls, frustrating her loyal deputy Jackie Trad from assuming the top job, despite having the numbers to roll the Premier.

Trad will be regularly sighted out around Sunnybank, the heart of Toohey, now regarded as a safe Labor seat.

Incumbent Peter Russo, a former barrister, is unlikely to contest the next election and Trad holds South Brisbane by a wafer-thin margin, ironically beating the Greens off the back of LNP preferences. The LNP says it won’t direct its preferences to Trad next time. Trad has consistently and publicly denied she will run for Toohey.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington will face internal pressure as the year progresses as her polling numbers stagnate. She is a very capable politician but the LNP brand is shot in this country and the combined strength of Labor, the Greens, Getup, the Sunrise Project and the ballooning public service makes winning key Brisbane marginals almost impossible.

Federal politics

Baseball bats. Especially in Queensland. The voters have made up their minds on the May federal election. Up to 10 LNP seats could go in Queensland alone. The Victorian result for Labor was just the entree. Labor is too big, too strong, too clever for the conservatives right now, and the disunity over Malcolm Turnbull’s dumping has backfired, albeit there’s a good chance Turnbull would have done worse than Scott Morrison.

This will be a two-term win for Labor. Expect the debt to balloon, the housing market to slump and unions to have a field day – and the dole to go up significantly. Bill Shorten will be the new prime minister and Twitter will die because the lefty luvvies who use it for bullying and intimidation will have nothing to moan about.

Anthony Seibold may not find his magic touch at the Broncos.

Rugby league

The Titans will make the eight, under the care of Garth Brennan and Mal Meninga, and a new administration. So too the Cowboys. Not so sure about the Broncos. They will miss Josh McGuire in the middle. South Sydney will struggle under new coach Wayne Bennett. NSW have momentum in the Origin and they may be too good again. Jason Taumalolo for the Dally M.

Adani

The State Government will find a rare species of mosquito at the Carmichael mine site and Adani will be asked to provide a million hectares of land to offset the environmental catastrophe this will wreak. By the time they deal with that, Bill Shorten will be prime minister and he will put the pen through the project on the grounds that .. err … well.. “I’ve got all these greenies on my back’’ and we can’t upset them too much.

Economy

The only way is up for Queensland. The economic performance of the Palaszczuk Government has been moribund, despite mining royalties providing $5 billion in extra revenue each year. The Premier must rein in the ever-expanding public service. Moody’s recently identified the public sector wage bill as a key negative for the state’s economy.

There is much to look forward to with Queen’s Wharf, the Brisbane Live! project, a second airport runway, new cruise ship terminal and Cross River Rail. But the big test for the Premier and her closest advisers is to stop thinking about the ballot box and put the state first. Fiscal restraint is imperative. Arrogance will also do them in at some point. There are several Cabinet Ministers who think they are untouchable, a sure-fire recipe for disaster.

Opening and closing ceremonies aside, the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games showed southeast Queensland is ready to host the Olympics.

Tourism

Such an important part of the state’s ongoing prosperity yet the Dreamworld tragedy and shark attacks have hurt. Tourism Minister Kate Jones is a go-getter and she will have to really crack the whip, especially on the Gold Coast where lack of new products is hurting our tourism capital. The Greens remain the greatest single threat to the Gold Coast and North Queensland’s tourism prosperity.

Olympics

We’ve had them in Sydney and Melbourne, and 2032 beckons for a southeast Queensland bid. The Gold Coast showed it could put on a wonderful event with the Commonwealth Games. The key is not to overspend on facilities and that puts us in a strong position because the Gold Coast spent up big on venues and accommodation. My tip is that John Coates, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and the Premier will commit to the next stage of the bid process.

Germany and a combined North and South Korea are our main dangers but the safety of Australia in a dangerous world will help. Of course, the vote will be influenced by not just which country has the superior bid. If we lose 2032 we should have a crack at 2036.

The rest

Queensland continues to represent all that is great about Australia. We have a pioneering spirit and a “can do’’ attitude to private enterprise. We also punch above our weight when it comes to science and research and development.

The biggest challenge we face is the perception in NSW and Victoria, especially in the business community, that we lack substance. The Blue Sky share price meltdown confirmed that stereotype. It is incumbent upon our senior business leaders to change that perception. Having a reputation for a place where the sun shines on the shady is not the template for a serious business and investment climate.

Rumours about Bob Katter...

...and Pauline Hanson just won’t go away.

Heat stops dogs on track

GREYHOUND stewards are clamping down on the hot weather rule. NSW’s Wauchope Cup meeting was abandoned on Saturday night because stewards had fears for the dogs’ safety after the temperature hit 30C.

Queensland trainers who travelled six hours for the meeting were not impressed. The same hot weather rules apply in Queensland. Still no word from RQ on a new greyhound track for southeast Queensland.

No easy task ticking off list

MANY people will be nursing a hangover this morning, vowing to give up the drink as one of their New Year’s resolutions. The most common NY’s resolution shouldn’t be a surprise – it’s lose weight and get fit.

Spending more time with family is right up there, as is travel.

It’s tough though. Less than half of those surveyed in a study said they had given up their NY’s resolutions within a month.

Support for double act

THERE’S continuing speculation that Bob Katter and Pauline Hanson are talking about a possible merger. Early days but it would be a formidable combination as both have strong grassroots support, particularly in the bush.

Card to control spending

THE cashless welfare card will be rolled out in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay within weeks. They will be the first towns outside of indigenous communities to trial the card, which is designed to prevent welfare recipients using their handouts on gambling, alcohol and drugs.

Cool moves on the field

THE Magic Millions polo event takes place this Sunday, and there’s speculation a famous fresh face may be making a guest appearance.

The world’s most handsome man, Nachos Figueras, according to Vogue magazine, will be there. The Argentinian polo player has many famous friends and he’s invited one of them out for the event.