George Street Beat: Premier’s media moan; youth crime push

A leading Queensland political figure has been sideswiped by a rival amid claims he spends too much time on social media. READ THE FULL REPORT

Fresh from the Labor caucus retreat on Fraser Island, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was not holding back against the Opposition … and the media.

She launched a pointed attack on Thursday against the LNP, branding them “lazy” and questioned what their policies were on youth justice.

Perhaps she hasn’t heard of their repeated (and repeated, and repeated) calls for breach of bail to be returned.

But Ms Palaszczuk also had some words for the media – complaining she was “hounded” by the fourth estate when she was opposition leader between 2012 and 2015.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk reveals her bickie preferences during a visit to an Arnott’s biscuit factory in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“When I was opposition leader many, many years ago, I was hounded by the media about ‘where is your policies’ and ‘where are your plans’,” the Premier bemoaned.

“And it doesn’t seem to have the same level of scrutiny on this opposition that I was held to all those years ago.”

Meanwhile the LNP called on the government this week to release their youth justice laws ahead of parliament resuming later this month.

GSB understands the laws will be rushed through parliament in a single week – but they will still go through the committee process.

We wonder if the committee process will be as thorough as the usual weeks-long scrutiny that legislation is normally subjected to when it is put before parliament.

WHO GETS THE BISCUIT?

In between taking jabs, the Premier also declared her biscuit allegiances while making a renewable energy announcement at Arnott’s factory in Virginia, pointing to two uncontroversial top picks.

“Before you ask me, my favourite (biscuits) are Monte Carlo and Kingstons,” she said, producing the most politically correct bickie answer possible.

Because bickie choice can say a lot about a person, and people may not have taken well to a more controversial option – like orange slice.

And noting Ms Palaszczuk’s gripes about the Opposition Leader allegedly being held to a lower level of scrutiny, David Crisafulli was also asked to reveal his top bickie pick.

He said it would be a “homemade Italian almond biscuit”, which is a good choice because something like a Scotch Finger is official grounds for a leadership spill.

PLAYING GAMES

Patience may be a virtue, but the Premier is still in holiday mode if she thinks the lack of traction on getting the Olympics funding deal out on the table is anything but a bad look.

Despite telling the press pack on Thursday “these Games are a long way away” Ms Palaszczuk seems to have completely forgotten (or, hoped we would forget) she told parliament way back in November (!) the Gabba plans at least would be revealed in a “couple of weeks or so”.

Instead she requested a “little bit of patience”, and said she expected next time Albo makes a trip to the Sunshine State an announcement will be made. Oh, but couldn’t/wouldn’t say when that would be.

Former PM Scott Morrison’s insight this week that the two Labor sides both have to bear blame for the dragging of heels is perhaps unsurprising – but also appears bang on the money.

Insiders say the state government is determined to wrestle the overarching control of the purse strings from the feds now Labor is back in office – a condition ScoMo refused to concede and led to a last-minute back down from the Premier, to get it over the line.

Which is an irony in itself, given the Queensland government only warmed to the idea months after the Commonwealth pledged their support – and years after the state’s mayors pitched the concept.

As one pollie said to us this week, “when you think of the Sydney Olympics, do you think of the state government’s involvement?”. Touche.

POLITICS CAN GET DIRTY

Sometimes in politics people need to get down into the trenches, though it seems there is just one Queensland MP who definitely has the equipment to physically break ground.

Member for Coomera Michael Crandon, in his register of interests, lists a “three-tonne excavator for private use” under assets worth more than $10,882.84.

It’s been on the list for a while, though it seems Mr Crandon has never been asked what the heavy machinery is for.

MP Michael Crandon in his electorate. Picture: Glenn Hampson

He confirmed he’d owned it for about a decade after buying it at an auction and used it around his hilly 1ha property, rather than doing tasks by hand.

Mr Crandon said he wasn’t sure it was worth anywhere close to $10,000 now considering how long it had been around — a reminder for all MPs to revisit their listings and make sure it’s up to date.

Other MPs declaring noteworthy assets worth more than the magic $10,882.84 threshold include Brittany Lauga with a boat; Michael Hart declaring a caravan, artworks and memorabilia; Stephen Andrew recording rifles; Ann Leahy’s part ownership of a Mooney M20 aircraft; and Andrew Powell also claiming art.

TO DO OR NOT TO DO

More memes from either side is not something we would ever encourage, but finally this week there was one which stirred a chuckle.

The parliament’s most prolific Twitterer (with 25,000 tweets and counting) Mark Bailey was having the usual stab at those from the other side, with Thursday’s target the LNP’s David Janetzki.

The LNP’s David Janetzki has hit back at Transport Minister Mark Bailey in a Twitter spat.

After accusing the LNP of “always cutting social housing”, Janetzki was quick to reply “how about getting off Twitter and working through your to-do list”.

Things “checked off” for the Transport Minister included “tweet about former government”, “delete emails”, “make Queenslanders pay 25 per cent more for car licence + rego” and “tweet about former government (again)”.

The items not checked off? “Build the Coomera Connector as promised (6 lanes not 4)” and “order trains (very important)”.

Of course the latter comes after the Premier, along with a host of cabinet ministers, travelled to Maryborough this week to announce 65 new trains – which won’t be ready until a year after the Cross River Rail is due to be completed.