Acting Premier Steven Miles has not spoken with Annastacia Palaszczuk since she jetted to Italy

In a break from convention not seen for six years, the state government held a cabinet meeting without the Premier, as she continues her Italian holiday.

In a break from convention not seen for six years, the state government held a cabinet meeting without the Premier, as she continues her Italian holiday.

All ministers expressed “strength of their support” for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during the first cabinet meeting without her, according to Acting Premier Steven Miles.

Mr Miles chaired Monday’s meeting amid the second week of Ms Palaszczuk’s Italian sojourn—the first time cabinet had gone ahead without her in six years.

He declined to reveal what had been discussed in cabinet, but affirmed all frontbenchers wanted to express “their unity and their belief in the team that we have”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on holidays in Italy with partner Dr Reza Adib. Photo: Victor Sokolowicz

Gambling outfit SportsBet has a special market going for the leadership speculation in Queensland, with Ms Palaszczuk at $1.70 to lead Labor to the next election with the odds of her being disposed before then at $2.05 as of Monday afternoon.

Mr Miles said if he were allowed to bet on it his money would be on Ms Palaszczuk.

“She’s come through every time against the odds, written off halfway through the race, but she’s always there at the end because she is the best leader for Queensland.”

It comes after several members of parliament last week privately voiced concerns about the Premier’s leadership ability, sparking speculation over possible new contenders for the top role ahead of the state election next October.

One minister told The Sunday Mail the fortnight’s turmoil highlighted the need to turn things around.

Deputy Premier of Queensland Steven Miles speaking after cabinet. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

“The status quo will kill us,” they said. “It does feel like we are at a precipice … I think it’s become obvious this can’t drag on.”

And at least a dozen Labor MPs have shared their private concerns about Ms Palaszczuk’s waning passion to be Premier.

However, one minister, putting it bluntly, said she remained the golden goose for most MPs.

“What a ratf----r you’d be to knife the person responsible for your election,” they said.

Acting Premier Steven Miles has not spoken with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in more than a week since she went on a surprise holiday to Italy, saying it would take “an emergency” for him to contact her.

Despite the week-long drama, Mr Miles still hasn’t spoken with the Premier.

“I always do my very best not to interrupt holidays,” he said.

“It would take an emergency for me to do that.

“I look forward to seeing her back at work in a week’s time.”

Acting Premier Steven Miles has not spoken to the Premier since she went to Italy.

Mr Miles also denied knowledge of a split in the Labor Party, inviting disgruntled MPs to speak to him personally about their Palaszczuk-related concerns.

“None of the anonymous quotes that you’ve seen in the media, none of those people have said those things to me,” he said.

“So if people do hold those concerns, they all have my number, they’re welcome to contact me … or any of the ministers.

“We are strongly united as a team.”

Mr Miles was joined on Sunday by Treasurer Cameron Dick, who revealed he last spoke with the Premier “at parliament”.

Asked what his message was to the MPs who had lost confidence in Ms Palaszczuk, Mr Dick denied having such conversations and said MPs were mainly concerned about Opposition Leader David Crisafulli.

“Their greatest concern is David Crisafulli, that’s the reality,” he said.

“The next election is a choice between Annastacia Palaszczuk and David Crisafulli.”

The United Workers Union boss Gary “Blocker” Bullock, president of the caucus’s powerful Left faction, has so far remained silent on the party tensions.

Meanwhile, Mr Miles continually insisted the union still supported Ms Palaszczuk, before conceding he had not spoken with the union about the leadership speculation.

When asked how he could possibly know of the union’s support without speaking to them, he simply said: “I’m part of the union movement and I support her.”

Acting Premier Steven Miles (L) and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman at a press conference the day after the Premier went on leave.