Annastacia Palaszczuk dares leadership critics to reveal themselves

A defiant Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has dared party colleagues to own their leadership rumblings, vowing to lead Labor to the next election.

• Editor’s view: Was it enough?

A defiant Annastacia Palaszczuk has dared party colleagues to put a name to criticism of her leadership, as she declared she would lead Labor to the next election and more “good people” were needed in Queensland politics.

Hours after returning to Queensland, Ms Palaszczuk explained her European sojourn came on the back of a medical episode during Labor’s state conference in June that resulted in her being rushed to hospital.

But she also said the impending bushfire season was a factor in her getaway with partner Reza Adib.

Ms Palaszczuk admitted she needed to “explain things better to the caucus, and better to Queenslanders” – and in a thinly veiled swipe at her likely successors she observed Queensland politics could do without “selfish”, “ruthless” and “ambitious” people.

Ms Palaszczuk boldly claimed she would lead the government to the 2024 election during the at-times-bizarre 35-minute press conference – but cabinet ministers, Labor MPs and party members insist her leadership remains in turmoil.

“I feel refreshed, I feel energised and I’m absolutely determined to lead this government to the next election,” she said, after spending two weeks in Italy where Dr Adib attended a medical conference.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk addresses a media conference on Monday following her return from Europe. Picture: Tertius Pickard/NCA NewsWire

Ms Palaszczuk had revealed last month that she was suffering from health issues when The Courier-Mail spoke to her in Naples, and on Monday further explained there had been a “medical episode” in June at the Labor state conference.

She declined to elaborate, but revealed she spent five hours in Mackay Hospital and was “fine now” following tests taken before she travelled to Europe.

Later, the upcoming bushfire season was also cited as a reason for the holiday.

“We’ve got the impending fire season coming up, which meant I’m going to have little or any (leave) over that period,” she said.

“This was seen as my last decent break, that got interrupted, before a state election.”

Ms Palaszczuk said it was healthy for all decision-makers to have a holiday.

She also delivered a thinly veiled slapdown of her likely successors, Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman and Treasurer Cameron Dick – who jostled for the leadership in her absence.

“And you know what politics needs? Good people. Politics needs people who care,” she said. “What you see is what you get – I’m passionate about this state and, yes, it is hurtful when you see people become victims of crime or you see people not getting the care that they expect in hospitals.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk addresses a media conference on Monday following her return from Europe. Picture: Liam Kidston

“But politics needs good people. Not selfish people. Not ruthless people. Not ambitious people.

“They need good, decent people.”

Ms Palaszczuk also revealed she had not fully read Mr Dick’s 579-word policy manifesto about how Labor could win the next election.

One senior MP acknowledged Ms Palaszczuk appeared energised on her return to work, but raised doubt about whether the government’s fortunes could be turned around.

Growing rumblings within the party about her leadership are unlikely to prompt Ms Palaszczuk to change her mind, but her fate rests with United Workers Union powerbroker Gary Bullock.

Ms Palaszczuk would not say whether she still had the support of Mr Bullock, declaring it was a question for him and at the same time revealing he had called to welcome her back.

Internal leadership rumblings were acknowledged, but she insisted “not one person has raised it with me”.

“If people have concerns, they know I have an open door and they know they can come and speak to me,” she said.

“I’m always consultative, that is my style. People know me, they know who I am, and I will continue to be consultative.”

In an awkward moment, a text message from a government member was revealed to Ms Palaszczuk which echoed concerns about Labor’s impending election loss if she clings to power. In response, she said: “Well, unless they’re gonna put their name to it …”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with deputy Steven Miles on Monday. Picture: Liam Kidston

When asked about her leadership style, Ms Palaszczuk conceded: “I’m always happy to improve, of course I am.

“It’s my job to explain things better – to explain things better to the caucus, and better to Queenslanders.”

A Labor backbencher said a leadership change “wouldn’t cause harm”, but that Ms Palaszczuk was unlikely to go while Peter Beattie’s record as Labor’s longest-serving premier was in reach. They agreed Ms Palaszczuk seemed energised, but questioned whether things would soon return to normal.

Ms Palaszczuk will reach Mr Beattie’s record in early May – when most acknowledge it will be too close until the next election, in late October, for the party to change leaders.

Another Labor backbencher insisted the “leadership wasn’t raised” at any of the almost dozen community events they attended over the weekend.

“There’s lots of support for the Premier,” they said.

Ms Palaszczuk promised to serve the full four-year term as the Member for Inala if the party loses the 2024 election, and gave her party colleagues a deadline to put their hands up for re-election.

“I can’t say whether there will be a cabinet reshuffle or not, but I will be speaking to caucus this afternoon and saying that members should be thinking seriously, with the election coming up, do they plan to recontest or not and if they can let me know by the end of October,” she said.