Premier plays the Campbell Newman card a tactic to avoid scrutiny

The political hatred of former LNP premier Campbell Newman is still very real among Queensland voters. But it’s time that Premier Annastacia found some new material when dealing with the Opposition, writes The Editor.

We do understand that the hatred – politically of course – of former LNP premier Campbell Newman is still very real among Queensland voters, more than seven years after he left the job he held for less than three. But seriously, surely it is time that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk got some new material.

We saw the ghost of Newman summoned again yesterday by the Premier as she appeared before her Estimates Committee hearing in parliament. Instead of having to actually deal with substantive matters relating to the detail of her portfolio, she just reached for the Newman card and played it – over and over again.

In fact, Ms Palaszczuk said the word “Newman” a total of 12 times in the committee hearing yesterday. She said “Covid” 15 times. It is actually laughable. But, like we said, it works. Focus group after focus group have convinced Labor strategists that the former premier’s name is still such political poison that every time they say it their own hold on power is strengthened.

And look, the Premier is a politician – and a very successful one at that – so in many respects it is fair play. However, the problem is that playing the Newman card has become a strategy for evading the questions she should actually answer. But no, just throw in a “but we are not as bad as the Newman government” and the Premier seems to get away with anything.

One example from yesterday was when the Premier was trying to explain why it is that the state government has managed to find itself paying an eye-watering $62.6m in rent every single year for its luxurious riverfront digs at 1 William St. Now, she is the Premier and so could surely order the lease agreement be canned early if she actually wanted that. We also note she often posts pictures to her social media accounts of the views from her level 40 office. But still, it’s all the Newman government’s fault – according to the Premier: “I think taxpayers should be very well aware of what the Newman government committed us to.”

Later, she railed against the Newman government’s “sacking of health staff”, its “savage cuts to public servants”, its apparent lack of spending on capital infrastructure during its short time in office, and a bizarre accusation that the Crime and Corruption Commission had failed to investigate matters during that time because “they hand-selected the chair”. Give us a break.

To the Premier we say: Yes, sure, raising the spectre of Campbell Newman might be a useful political trick. But you have been there now for seven and a half years. He was there for two and a half. You beat him fair and square. It is surely well past time you moved on.

Meanwhile, the following exchange between the Premier and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli actually happened during the parliamentary hearing yesterday:

PREMIER: I sit here and it is like Campbell Newman all over again.

CRISAFULLI: Red carpet, glitz, glamour, no vision.

PREMIER: Chair, I find his comments offensive and I ask him to withdraw.

CRISAFULLI: I withdraw and I would ask the same.

PREMIER: I say to the Leader of the Opposition: Do not come up to me at social events and be nice and then come in here and put on a turn.

CRISAFULLI: Really?

PREMIER: Yes.

PREMIER: You come up and be nice. I take your photo with Peter Beattie ...

WE’LL GET THROUGH THIS WAVE

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk’s stark admission yesterday that the state is heading towards a peak of 1660 Covid hospitalisations a day by the end of August was shocking.

If such numbers prove correct, we are in for a tough month, and not just those of us who work in the health sector. Many businesses will be groaning due to lack of staff, but that is something we are all getting used to.

Although the hospitalisation figures make tough reading, the Premier added a caveat about the new modelling.

“Thankfully, it does not predict an increase in patients in intensive care,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Hopefully, this will mean the death toll stays low. The new Omicron variants are incredibly contagious, and although they are less lethal than earlier variants, they are still killers.

Do what you can to protect yourself. And if you haven’t had a booster yet, book one in.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details are available at www.couriermail.com.au/help/contact-us