George Street Beat: Scathing Palaszczuk govt text messages exposed by secret documents
A secret documents release has exposed scathing text messages sent within a Palaszczuk government department. THIS IS GEORGE STREET BEAT
QLD Politics
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How many chances does this bloke get?
Queenslanders already know what Mark Bailey thinks about transparency and accountability – and now we know it’s a culture permeating throughout his office too.
According to a document uncovered as a result of a Right to Information application, Mr Bailey’s spinner Lesley Major and TMR staffer Nic Davis made disparaging comments about Seven journalist Alison Sandy – describing her as a “painful” and “horrible” person.
Ms Sandy’s crime?
The journalist said she’d merely requested information about whether cab drivers charged with serious crimes retained their cab licence.
While we’re here, self-appointed nicknames are usually pretty cringe-worthy.
Mr Bailey ensured that trend continued when he used another trainwreck press conference to describe himself as “Bailey the Builder”.
We think it’s an attempt to shake the nickname being pushed by the LNP: “Blowout Bailey”.
POWER DRINKS
Spies noticed a giggling Deputy Premier Steven Miles with some unusual company at the Queensland Hotels Association Christmas party on Wednesday afternoon.
Shortly after blessing the media gallery with his attendance at its annual party Mr Miles was spotted across the river sharing a jovial laugh and drink with United Workers’ Union powerbroker Gary Bullock, colleague Di Farmer, former colleague Kate Jones, and One Nation’s brains James Ashby.
Also in the group was influential Labor voice Robert Schwarten, whose op-ed in this paper barely 24 hours later calling for change caused quite a stir within the government.
HEIST STRIKES PARLIAMENT
The crime ‘crisis’ has struck the heart of Queensland democracy, with GSB able to reveal a potential Watergate-style heist on the parliament while hundreds of MPs partied on the Speaker’s Green below.
GSB heard two intruders jumped the QUT fence and were “sneaking” around the Hutchinson Building site.
We heard they soon realised they’d walked into a party while quick-thinking Parliamentary Security Officers rushed to the scene.
Police claim a security officer was assaulted by one of the intruders, who was captured. The second got away.
Police have charged a 21-year-old Acacia Ridge man with trespass, serious assault person because lawful duty performed, possess dangerous drugs and possess drug paraphernalia.
He will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today.
Not far from the scuffle MPs and ministers were sharing drinks and jokes – blissfully unaware of the unfolding incident.
Two police vehicles and two officers on bicycles were quickly on the scene to assist Parliamentary Security staff, who were reviewing CCTV late into the night.
GSB heard one officer acknowledge that if robbery was on their mind the intruders “wouldn’t have been able to carry much out”.
PARTY TIME
While alleged criminals were sneaking through the building exhausted politicians and their hardworking staff were enjoying annual drinks courtesy of Speaker Curtis Pitt.
To say the night didn’t go to plan is an understatement.
The symbolic lighting of the Christmas tree was moved from a balcony to street level, which Mr Pitt said would “enable as many visitors as possible to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere”.
What the parliament didn’t count on was the crashing of the party by pro-Palestine protesters, who started chanting the moment Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and LNP Leader David Crisafulli hit the button to light the tree.
As Labor and LNP MPs scurried back into the building for refreshments, the Greens moved outside to join the protesters – who had some inside knowledge of the parliament’s plans.
Inside the party, there was again a noticeable lack of LNP MPs, however, with an internal Christmas party scheduled at the same time.
We hear it wasn’t an oversight, with the idea of serving Labor staffers drinks all night – a tradition at the party – less than palatable.
The most valued player of the night was One Nation’s Stephen Andrew, who manned the bar for several hours.
KEEP IT SHORT
Annual valedictory speeches at the close of parliament offer much bonhomie and harmony – but they tend to drag on.
Independent MP Sandy Bolton, who gives the crossbench address each year, has a penchant for particularly lengthy speeches.
LNP water spokeswoman Deb Frecklington wasn’t having any of that this year.
GSB spies overheard her “politely” questioning Ms Bolton on Thursday about how long her speech would be.
We understand Ms Bolton had several versions prepared depending on how long Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s speech went for.
Ms Palaszczuk’s read more like a ministerial statement – about 17 minutes of trumpeting her government’s achievements and then offering thanks in the spirit of Christmas.
In the end, Ms Bolton lasted seven minutes, two minutes shorter than last year.
Thanks, Deb.
SPEAKER CONCERN
The health and welfare of Speaker Curtis Pitt was being discussed by members of parliament, who noticed the Labor MP appearing to struggle to stay awake during ministerial statements on Wednesday and mispronouncing a few words.
Drifting off in itself isn’t unusual in the Legislative Assembly, but many MPs on all sides of politics remarked about the Speaker’s apparent struggles on Wednesday.
Mr Pitt has previously taken leave to deal with mental health challenges.
Thankfully, his office insisted there was nothing of concern, and the Speaker was fighting fit.
He even issued a touching thank you for the support
“The year 2023 was a very challenging year for me on many fronts and I would like to say that the messages of support I received from all sides of the House were both welcome and appreciated,” he said.
Anyone struggling should contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
UNFORTUNATE TYPO
Only a handful of people in this state read the content of Bills tabled in the parliament – which is lucky considering the unfortunate typo GSB uncovered.
‘Buried’ on the third line of the notes accompanying a new law to prevent knives from being sold to minors is a reference to Jack’s Law – named after Jack Beasley who was stabbed and died on the Gold Coast in 2019.
It notes Jack’s Law now allows officers “to use handheld metal detectors to detect knives in safe knife precincts…”.
We know the government means safe night precincts and won’t throw too many stones in glass houses.
BATES BOOTED
Ros Bates is setting the standard for MPs being booted from parliament.
The alternative health minister was evicted for the 23rd time this term on Thursday for calling Health Minister Shannon Fentiman a “fool”.
Ms Bates scored an early mark at 11.19am and wasn’t seen again.
Editor’s view: This hatred doesn’t belong in Australia
Israel’s response to October 7 has been predictably ferocious and deadly, but that shouldn’t give a free pass to anti-Semites, writes the editor.
A hung parliament is inevitable – but who’ll be PM?
That the next federal parliament will be hung is a certainty. The only question is who will lead the minority government, writes Paul Williams.