Annastacia Palaszczuk becomes longest serving current premier as Andrews exits

The Queensland Premier dismissed links between her Victorian counterpart’s resignation and her own potential exit from the top job, declaring she still has more to do for Queensland.

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Annastacia Palaszczuk dismissed links between a Daniel Andrews’ resignation and her own potential exit from the top job, declaring she still has more to do as Queensland Premier.

Ms Palaszczuk will become the state’s longest currently serving premier later today when Mr Andrews hands over the leadership following his abrupt resignation.

Only ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has served as a first minister longer than Ms Palaszczuk among active leaders across the country.

When asked if she had ever contemplated life after politics, the Premier snapped back: “No. Because I love my job.”

In announcing his resignation, Mr Andrews cited a political cliche that leaders should resign “when they’re asking you to stay”.

The sudden exit from politics has drawn comparisons with Ms Palaszczuk given persistent rumblings over the future of her reign and as Labor colleagues quietly expressed fears of a potential election wipe-out with the premier remaining in charge.

But when Ms Palaszczuk was asked if she agreed with the sentiment shared by Mr Andrews in his resignation announcement, she said: “That’s a matter for him”.

“I love this state,” the Premier said. “I’ve just been here opening this brand new convention centre (in Cairns), talking to the business community, talking to community groups, meeting people.

“I love this state, I love the people, I’m absolutely committed and I’m determined that Queensland’s best days are ahead of us.

“There’s a lot more I want to do.”

The Premier wished Mr Andrews “all the very best” as the polarising figure embarked on the next phase of his career.

“I very much enjoyed working with Daniel Andrews but, as you know, these are very heavy jobs, they require your full attention and I wish him all the very best,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

PALASZCZUK COULD BECOME STATE’S LONGEST SERVING LABOR PREMIER

Queensland’s Annastacia Palaszczuk will today become the ­nation’s longest serving current premier following the shock resignation of Victorian leader Dan Andrews.

Mr Andrews will call time on his 3220-day reign as premier from 5pm on Wednesday, making Ms Palaszczuk – who assumed office 3147 days ago on February 14, 2015 – the most enduring state leader.

Should she remain premier, by December 10 Ms Palaszczuk will pass his time in office.

Mr Andrews, Victoria’s longest-serving Labor premier, was elected just a few months before Ms Palaszczuk’s 2015 victory over the LNP’s Campbell Newman.

If she still holds the leadership through to May 10 ahead of the election next year, she will pass Peter Beattie to become Queensland’s longest-serving Labor premier since World War II.

Mr Andrews’ snap press conference on Tuesday was marked by pointed comments about leaving the high-profile gig “when it’s time”.

“There’s an old saying in politics: ‘Go when they’re asking you to stay.’

“That is really important,” he said, adding he had only made the decision to quit “fairly recently”.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

“(This is) not an easy decision because, as much as we have achieved together, there is so much more to do,” he said.

“But when it’s time, it’s time.”

Mr Andrews said thoughts about like after politics had “started to creep in”, prompting the shock call.

“I have always known that the moment that happens, it is time to give this privilege, this amazing responsibility, to someone else,” he said.

“It’s not an easy job being premier of our state. It requires 100 per cent from you and your family.

“The only way I know how to do this job is to have it consume me, to have it define me. Every waking moment is about the work, and that takes a toll.”

Ms Palaszczuk is one of just two leaders who remain in office since the outbreak of the pandemic, alongside ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

She took to social media to pay tribute to Mr Andrews, writing: “It has been a pleasure to work alongside Dan Andrews. I wish him and his family the best in the future.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also heaped praise on Mr Andrews, saying he was “a person of deep conviction, great compassion and fierce determination”.

“As Prime Minister, it was a pleasure for me to work alongside an old friend,” he said.