George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip

In a move worthy of classic sitcom Seinfeld, a civic leader has returned to a gig after quitting, as if nothing happened. THIS IS GEORGE ST BEAT

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner celebrating Magic Round remaining in Brisbane for three more years. Picture: David Clark

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has just pulled off a political somersault that would make even the most seasoned Olympic gymnast gasp. Remember when he dramatically declared his resignation from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Intergovernmental Leaders’ Forum?

Well, it turns out he never really left – because he never officially quit. And now, in a twist worthy of Seinfeld, he’s back, ready to re-attend meetings as if nothing ever happened.

This is despite his fiery proclamation to abandon ship, denouncing the forum as a “dysfunctional farce” and a “pointless talkfest”.

Jason Alexander as George Costanza on Seinfeld

The demolition and rebuilding of the Gabba which Mr Schrinner labelled a colossal mismanagement at the time, and the RNA stadium proposal which he called a “ham-fisted and foolish attempt to extort Brisbane ratepayers” were the final straw.

In a show of defiance in December, he vowed to never be bullied out of fighting for Brisbane residents.

And while he did send in his resignation via email, there were no official channels for him to quit the forum – we’re told because no one expected anyone to quit – and therefore he is free to waltz back in to the next meeting and face the members he said were only there to placate stakeholders – awkward.

HANSON STAFFER’S CHEEKY BID

Keppel candidate James Ashby is busy staffing Senator Pauline Hanson and attempting to strike “cheeky” political deals of his own.

GSB spies told us Senator Hanson’s chief of staff has approached the Labor Party about striking a possible preference deal in Keppel, which is held by Assistant Minister Brittany Lauga – in the event of a by-election.

The tale was doing the rounds at Rockhampton’s Beef 2024 and is understood to have been quickly laughed off by Labor’s powerbrokers.

So the story goes, Mr Ashby attempted to convince Labor to put him number two in Keppel above the LNP’s Nigel Hutton.

Pauline Hanson staffer and One Nation candidate for Keppel James Ashby

Any collapse in Labor’s vote would likely boost the LNP and Mr Ashby insists his offer was through the prism of helping the government avoid embarrassment by losing another seat before the October general election.

Mr Ashby said any talk of serious power-sharing deal between him and Labor was simply the government “clutching at straws”.

It might be wishful thinking, considering Labor’s historic hatred of One Nation – but in a tight election we’d bet politicians would do and say anything to survive.

Mr Ashby said his offer was tongue in cheek and declared One Nation would preference Labor and the Greens last.

GAMES BACKFLIP A GOLD MEDAL CONTENDER

PARLI BURNING THE CANDLE

Parliament is regressing to the bad old days as the state government rushes to get laws in place before the October election.

It can be revealed Premier Steven Miles informed Labor caucus on Friday that for the final four sitting weeks of the term, the days will end at 9pm instead of 7.30pm.

It comes as the multimillion-dollar refurbishment of the parliamentary annexe is finally completed, so it’s allegedly easier for MPs to be on campus later.

Who needs work life balance in an election year.

JETS WOULD HAVE HELPED

Premier Steven Miles had a rocky start to the week. Lyndon Mechielsen

Premier Steven Miles’ Bundaberg blitz got off to a rocky start this week after his frontbench was hit by the perils of commercial travel.

Cabinet was due to meet in Bundaberg on Wednesday morning after a sod-turning for the long-awaited construction of the region’s new hospital.

But a LINK flight set to depart from Brisbane that morning was delayed to the afternoon, with three ministers left in the lurch.

So in order for Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, Environment Minister Leanne Linard, and Tourism Minister Michael Healy to make to Bundaberg at all they had to jump on the next Qantas flight to Hervey Bay before driving another 1.5 hours.

It meant a 9.30am press conference was pushed back to 11am, with cabinet delayed till noon.

It would have been odd to start construction on a hospital without the Health Minister present.

On days like those we assume frontbenchers could have really used the double private jet convoy deployed by Mr Miles and Police Minister Mark Ryan to hop around the state.

It should be noted Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie’s travel plans to Bundaberg were also disrupted due to the flight delay.

He too deployed the Brisbane-Hervey Bay strategy.

LUNCHBOX CHATS TRUTH

Premier Steven Miles making lunch boxes for his kids Picture Supplied

There have been growing concerns about the gut health of Premier Steven Miles’ daughter amid his increasingly unhinged “lunchbox chats” segment on social media. For the uninitiated the Premier has taken to talking about his government’s agenda on social media while making alleged school lunches for his kids. And with ingredients like diced ham, food safety concerns have been front of mind if those kids have to eat those meals a whole 24 hours later. But Mr Miles has confirmed those sandwiches don’t last the afternoon before they’re eaten.

ROYAL BUGGER UP

First Tony Abbott knighted Prince Philip, now the LNP is recommitting to rename railway lines after the dearly departed Queen Elizabeth II.

First raised following the monarch’s death in 2022, the LNP this week again said it would apply the Elizabeth name to Cross River Rail if it wins government in October.

What part of the project, or line, it will name isn’t clear – and the opposition had little detail when asked about it this week.

Rail expert Robert Dow panned the move, declaring they “haven’t thought it through”.

Mr Dow also revealed he hadn’t spoken to the LNP about its proposal – strange considering the LNP was privately briefing people that he was supportive of the Elizabeth idea.