George St Beat: Qld Government now an example of what not to do

A scathing report into grants awarded to a Labor-linked interstate union has used harsh examples from bombshell Queensland integrity findings to showcase what not to do.

More than 300 days since Professor Peter Coaldrake delivered his bombshell integrity findings, the landmark report is still causing Premier headaches – and not just for Annastacia Palaszczuk.

While she faced a barrage of questions this week about why the government has actioned only four of Professor Coaldrake’s 14 recommendations – which the Premier famously committed to introducing “lock, stock and barrel” – her Victorian counterpart Dan Andrews was also dealing with his own integrity woes.

A scathing report from the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission into grants awarded to the Labor-linked Health Workers Union referred to Professor Coaldrake’s assessment of Queensland’s integrity dramas at least 11 times.

The report notes the Queensland review uncovered systemic problems within the public service, particularly regarding ministerial staff overreach, and noting “many staffers are enthusiastic young loyalists with little other life experience aside from a university Labor or Liberal club or a trade union office”.

Sadly, while the Victorian watchdog has taken keen note of Professor Coaldrake’s findings, our government is a bit slower off the mark.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

WHO LET THE (UNDER) DOGS OUT

It’s not quite as poetic as hearing the first cuckoo of spring, but it’s always a delight to see which candidate will be the first to claim “underdog status”.

But the Premier was a bit slow off the mark if she thought she would have the upper hand by spruiking – off the back of some shocking polling numbers – that she will be the underdog in 2024.

Never mind that Labor have won the past three elections, or that a Labor government has held power in Queensland for 27 of the past 33 years.

Nope, 18 months from the state election, Ms Palaszczuk has told media the party was “definitely the underdog when it comes to the next election”.

“We have to fight every single day. The people of Queensland know me, they know that I care about them, they know that I’m absolutely focused,” she said.

She also said the same in 2020. And in 2017. And in 2015, then leading a tiny party of seven from Opposition, which probably was not a bad call.

LNP leader David Crisafulli. Picture: NCANewswire/Glenn Campbell

Unfortunately, LNP leader David Crisafulli has already attempted to claim that title himself back in January during an interview with The Courier-Mail, proclaiming the Premier is a formidable politician.

“And we are the underdogs – of course we are the underdogs. That’s an inevitability,” he insisted.

NO-SHOW JIM

Member for Ipswich West Jim Madden. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Beleaguered and retiring Ipswich West MP Jim Madden was conspicuously missing from a big press event out at Redbank this week, which included the Prime Minister and the Premier.

A cast of thousands were in tow to watch Anthony Albanese and Annastacia Palaszczuk cut the ribbon at a major automated Coles distribution centre on Thursday.

Federal MP Milton Dick was there, as was Bundamba’s Lance McCallum and Ipswich’s Jennifer Howard. But Mr Madden was nowhere to be seen.

The Premier, when asked where he was, said it was a matter for Mr Madden, before clarifying that he had been invited.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese eats a hotdog after the Citizenship ceremony to welcome New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in Brisbane on April 23, 2023. (Photo by Pat Hoelscher / AFP)

DAGWOOD DOG DAYS ARE OVER

Speaking of Albo, it appears he is on a mission to deny the fourth estate the opportunity to hold him to account on his sausage sandwich eating ways – but with minimal success.

The Prime Minister (pictured) was also in town this week giving NZ PM Chris Hipkins a tour of Brisbane, and attempted to warn the visiting leader of a pesky habit of the media anytime a sausage sizzle is in sight.

“I’ve also enjoyed … giving the media the opportunity to try and get a shot of myself and Prime Minister Hipkins eating a sausage sandwich, always something that contains a very high degree of difficulty going forward,” he said.

Its game on PM, and according to the pics we’ve dug up the score is: Media 1, Albo 0.

But the duo came off better than Opposition Leader Peter Dutton at last year’s Ekka, with that year’s dagwood dog debacle still fresh in our minds.

Federal Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton eats a Dagwood Dog as he visits the Ekka at the RNA Showgrounds in 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

While Mr Albanese doggedly denies the press of sausage-eating images, he has divulged many details about his dining ways, including that he’s a barbecue sauce, lots of onions, and optional mustard guy.

CASH CONVERTED

We love a good parliamentary petition, and while they are usually lucky to crack a few hundred signatures, one that attracted more than 10,000 caught our eye this week.

One Nation MP Stephen Andrew has called for the state government to introduce law changes after a number of services banned cash at places like tips, saying the “policy is discriminatory” and that it denies people the right to choose how they wish to pay for goods and services.

“Cash is legal tender. It is also safe, private, reliable, bank charge-free and a handy back-up for when other systems fail,” Mr Andrew said. “Banning its use is discriminatory and will adversely impact the many groups and individuals within society who still prefer to use it.”

A number of major venues including Suncorp Stadium have gone cashless, but it is a recent push by a number of councils which has really riled up the issue – and it appears thousands agree with him.

WINTON GOES GINGER

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's dog Winton on a bottle of Bundaberg ginger beer.

And in social media land, if there is one thing the Premier likes to post more than weird memes about government policy – it’s her pup Winton.

Winton made a surprise appearance during Ms Palaszczuk’s flying trip to Bundaberg this week, with the Premier coming home with a six-pack of ginger beer with her beloved pet’s face plastered all over them.

We’re told it was a promotion the famous drinks brand is currently running, with the Premier apparently planning to share her personalised haul with her nieces and nephew.