Annastacia Palaszczuk not seen at electorate’s main shopping centre in years

As Annastacia Palaszczuk holidays in Europe in the midst of a crime crisis, she hasn’t been seen at her local shopping centre for about two years.

Ondrea (right) and Connick King at Inala Plaza. Picture: Liam Kidston

The manager of the main shopping centre in Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Inala electorate says she has not seen her in the area for some time.

“I think it’s been about two years since I saw her here in person,” Inala Plaza manager Angela Russell said when The Courier-Mail visited on Monday – before saying there would be plenty to talk about with the Premier if she did show up.

For instance, Ms Russell said she had to show police footage of crime that had happened early on Monday: “They (shoppers) just walk out with shopping trolleys with about $1500 worth of shopping in them.”

Ms Palaszczuk does not live in her electorate, which is Labor’s safest in Queensland and was previously held by her father Henry since 1992.

Eileen McMahon with dog Treasure.

Centre manager Angela Russell and shop owner Minh Ly. Pictures: Liam Kidston

Shopper Michael Brydon compared Ms Palaszczuk’s European trip to that of former prime minister Scott Morrison’s December 2019 Hawaii holiday during one of the worst bushfire seasons.

“Maybe politically it might not be a good time, but I don’t judge her harshly on taking a holiday,” he said.

Eileen McMahon has lived in Inala for nearly 60 years and said she had seen Ms Palaszczuk only once.

“She does nothing around here,” she said, and also questioned the need for the Premier’s trip when the state was in a youth crime crisis.

Ondrea King said Ms Palaszczuk needed to be there “taking care of her people”.

“It’s kind of the worst time to actually go on a holiday. There’s a lot of responsibilities here.”

Son Connick King, 15, said: “It (her holiday) seems like an excuse.”