George Street Beat: Former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s major perks for leaving office revealed
You won’t believe the perks awaiting former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as she transitions into civilian life following her shock resignation. This is George Street Beat.
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Former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has secured a temporary staffer to help her transition to civilian life, with a long-time employee within her office set to take up the role.
Under the rules, outlined in the Ministerial Handbook, former Premiers who served in the role for five years or longer get “reasonable office accommodation”, an executive assistant, $2000 worth of telecommunications costs, a car and driver on an “as needs” basis and home security if needed.
The perks last for an initial 12 months and can be reviewed then, though “generally” after the first 12 months the office, executive assistant and home security are no longer provided. The handbook noted the “Premier has discretion to alter these arrangements”.
There is no specific timeframe for Ms Palaszczuk to take up the entitlements according to a spokesman for the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
“The former Premier is entitled to office accommodation and engagement of an executive assistant for a period of 12 months,” he said.
PREMIER … STEPHEN ANDREW?
Queensland has its first One Nation-aligned Premier for the first time in history and the first since William Forgan Smith to be based north of Rockhampton, at least according to New South Wales Transport Minister Jo Haylen.
As all good comrades do, Ms Haylen penned a congratulatory card to the new Queensland Premier after the summer leadership coup.
But in a spectacular gaffe, the card was addressed to a one “Stephen Andrews” based in Sarina instead of a “Steven Miles” based in Mango Hill.
“Dear Steven, congratulations!” Ms Haylen wrote.
“What an incredible moment for you and your family – a real moment to savour and credit to so many years of hard work and loyalty. There are many comrades from NSW cheering you on Premier.
“All the very best, Jo.”
One Nation MP for Mirani Stephen Andrew (correct spelling) hardly cares about having many comrades in NSW and was understandably confused about receiving the letter.
Mr Miles’ office confirmed they hadn’t received any other cards from Ms Haylen’s office, indicating the NSW frontbencher is unaware of the error.
The Premier has also read the message after Mr Andrew showed it to him, but in a power move the One Nation MP has opted to keep the card for himself.
INALA REVOLT
A former Labor staffer once considered a serious contender to be preselected as the party’s candidate in the Inala by-election has opted to enter the race as an independent.
The decision by Nayda Hernandez to run as an independent is another marker of rumoured unrest among Inala branches, some of whom are incensed Labor’s official pick isn’t reflective of the area’s multicultural heft.
Ms Hernandez had been floated at the time as a potential alternative to the then-Premier’s chief of staff Jon Persley, whose ambitions were to be stymied by Labor’s affirmative action rules.
Whether or not Labor has a Kristina Keneally-esque problem in Inala will be seen when the results of the by-election flow in on March 16.
The end of the Palaszczuk’s family reign in the seat of Inala after 31 years has clearly galvanised the community, with a whopping eight candidates vying for the electorate.
This is the highest number of hopefuls in the seat ever in its history, with two — independent Linh Nguyen and the LNP’s Trang Yen — hailing from the tight-knit Vietnamese community.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, speaking to media on Friday, acknowledged by-elections were “always tough” for governments but was onfident the “right community champions” had been picked in Inala and Ipswich West.
“We’ll be throwing absolutely everything at it,” she said.
JIM’S CAMPAIGNING
Jim Madden may have resigned as the member for Ipswich West three weeks ago, but spies tell us he’s still beavering away in the taxpayer-funded state electorate office.
Mr Madden, who is running for Ipswich City Council, has been spotted inside the office in recent days.
We hear electorate staff have also been making calls on his behalf, leading to complaints being made to Clerk of the Parliament Neil Laurie.
Labor state secretary Kate Flanders is also understood to have called Mr Madden to question his use of the office.
Mr Madden said Mr Laurie had given him until February 27 to remove personal items from the office and said he would “return my keys to Ipswich Electorate Office to the Clerk in the next few days”.
IT’S ON IN STAFFORD
New assistant minister Jimmy Sullivan faces a nervous wait for preselection in Stafford to be confirmed after a fellow candidate refused to withdraw her nomination – triggering a preselection ballot in the safe northern Brisbane seat.
GSB reported back in December that Susan Lynch, a former staffer for the seat’s previous Labor minister Anthony Lynham, miffed party insiders by hanging on to the preselection nomination.
Ms Lynch has followed through on her bid, forcing a 10-day ballot to be opened last Saturday to decide if Mr Sullivan, the son of prominent long-serving MP Terry Sullivan, will defend his margin of more than 10 per cent in the October election.
A Labor insider said they were “fairly confident” the incumbent, who was promoted to Assistant Minister for Justice and Veterans’ Affairs amid the ascension of Mr Miles to Premier, will ultimately emerge victorious.
But the ballot has set up an awkward wait for the only sitting Labor MP facing a preselection challenge.
FORMER LEADER STEPS UP … AND BUSTS HEEL
Deb Frecklington returned to the front bench at the resumption of parliament this week and had a spring in her step with the enhanced responsibilities.
The former Opposition leader’s duties were significantly boosted at the shadow reshuffle late last year, taking on the responsibility of energy and cost of living and retaining previous portfolios water, construction of dams, regional development and manufacturing.
The promotion has kept the famously enthusiastic MP busy. Perhaps even a little too busy for the former party leader’s footwear which triggered a high heel malfunction.
George Street Beat spies spotted Ms Frecklington scurrying barefoot back to the Chamber floor for division on Wednesday, with snapped heels in hand.
But the former leader wasn’t caught flat-footed when contacted by GSB.
BY THE NUMBERS
A whopping six Opposition MPs were booted from parliament on Thursday, prompting speculation the Speaker may have achieved a new personal best. But the Speaker’s Office confirmed the record is eight MPs – a feat achieved twice since records began, once on June 17, 2020 and October 27, 2022.
Special mention to Gregory MP Lachlan Millar who was punted twice for an hour each time in June 2020.
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