Annastacia Palaszczuk’s 18-person PR force appalling, says LNP

The Premier has 18 media spinners working for her and says she needs so many because of the pandemic. But the Opposition says the number is appalling. VOTE IN OUR POLL

The Premier has 18 media spinners working for her and says she needs so many because of the pandemic.

But the Opposition says Queenslanders will be appalled they’re paying so many people to filter her image.

New figures released to Parliament have finally revealed the size of Annastacia Palaszczuk’s media relations team, with 9.8 full-time-equivalent staff in her office and a further eight in her department.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at a press conference

However it is unclear whether these numbers include photographers and camera operators employed to feed her social media channels with curated images, with her answer failing to detail exactly what each person is employed to do.

In Parliament, Manager of Opposition Business Jarrod Bleijie asked the Premier in a question on notice how many people were employed in her office, and by the Department of Premier and Cabinet “with respect to media, public relations, and social media”.

He asked they be reported separately by employment position, role and responsibilities, salary level and whether they are employed in the Premier’s ministerial office or the department.

Deputy chief of staff (communications and engagement) Shane Doherty

Government media unit director Kerryn Manifold

While the answer details how many are employed by the Premier’s office and the department and notes they are a mixture of very senior and junior positions, it gives no further detail.

Ms Palaszczuk said her media staff were tasked with ensuring the media and public had access to “timely and accurate information both through mainstream media and social media”.

“This has never been more important than during the global coronavirus pandemic,” she said.

“Providing access to timely and accurate information continues to be important as we deliver Queensland’s plan for economic recovery.”

She said she conducted daily press conferences at the height of the pandemic with chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young – who has her own substantial Queensland Health media team to disseminate Covid and public health-related messaging.

Senior media adviser Spencer Jolly

“At the same time, media organisations and the public expected answers about the ongoing business of government and continue to expect that information,” Mr Palaszczuk said.

“Communication with Queenslanders is a core duty of any Queensland Government.”

Mr Bleijie said Queenslanders would be appalled to learn everything the Premier says was filtered through 18 “personal spin doctors”.

“On a scale of 1-10 for political spin, Annastacia Palaszczuk has scored 18,” he said.

“This is what happens in third-term governments, we’ve seen it before – leaders losing touch with everyday Queenslanders.”

He said Labor should be hiring real doctors instead of spin doctors.

“If Labor weren’t losing control of our health system and youth justice system, they wouldn’t need so many spin doctors,” he said.