George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip

Queensland’s Premier has been forced into an embarrassing backflip – but it was all done very quietly. FULL REPORT

The Wiggles have expanded their troupe in recent years – and last weekend the world-famous children’s entertainment group gained a new addition: Pink Wiggle Grace Grace.

The Education and Industrial Relations Minister – who is one of the government’s best parliamentary performers – put on quite the show on Saturday.

Ms Grace joined The Wiggles at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre to help unveil their new song Electricity, which will form part of a safety campaign by the state’s Electrical Safety Office.

The song’s lyrics carry messages about how children can keep safe from electricity, such as ensuring that they tell an adult when an electrical device is damaged.

In front of a large gathering of children and parents, Ms Grace danced along to and sang the catchy tune – and George Street Beat gives her top marks for the effort.

Maybe next time Ms Grace and deputy LNP leader (and avid dancer) Jarrod Bleijie spar in parliament, they can settle their political differences with a dance-off.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace with Lachie from The Wiggles. Picture: Liam Kidston

No podium finish for Paralympic inclusion time trial

It’s good to see Annastacia Palaszczuk has finally made good on her promise to include the Paralympic Games in her title.

The Premier and now-Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games made the journey to Government House on Monday where she was sworn in by Governor Jeannette Young.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles also added the Paralympic Games to his title, and will now officially be the Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympic and Paralympic Games Infrastructure.

Paralympics Australia president Jock O’Callaghan in December 12 said the absence of “Paralympics” from Ms Palaszczuk’s title was “at odds with everything we’ve committed to do with the 2032 Games”.

“As the leader of the Paralympic movement in this country I’m really quite dismayed that they need to speak out publicly to one of the most senior leaders in the country for recognition in such a simple but symbolic way,” he said at the time.

But, in quite different circumstances to when Ms Palaszczuk was sworn in as Minister for the Olympics last year, the media were not given an invite to this swearing-in ceremony.

Instead, it was a much quieter affair – with a press release issued at 2.42pm to inform the media of the news.

And, of course, Ms Palaszczuk let her social media followers know the news first (only just), with a post made to Twitter at 2.41pm.

In the lead-up to the swearing-in, the Premier and her staff had repeatedly refused to comment on when the ceremony would take place – except to say that it would be before the end of the year.

Ms Palaszczuk confirmed in September that she would add the Paralympic Games to her title after Paralympic athletes issued an open letter pleading for the change.

“Being Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games gives the recognition the Paralympic Games deserves,” she said in her media statement on Monday.

One notable absence from the swearing in was Stirling Hinchliffe, who, as the Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement, had recognised the Paralympic Games in his title from the beginning.

Governor Jeannette Young (centre) swears in Annastacia Palaszczuk and Steven Miles as Olympics and Paralympics Minister, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympic and Paralympic Games Infrastructure respectively.

Reeling report card back in over fish contest name

Fisheries Minister Mark Furner received a respectable C+ in the recent Palaszczuk government 2022 report card.

But this would have been different if the state government’s latest egregiously named fishing competition had been announced earlier.

The state government revealed on Wednesday that it had tagged and released 100 legal-size fish – including bass and barramundi – into five lakes in central and north Queensland.

There’s a total of $50,000 on the line, in a competition named Fish’n’SIP$.

This collection of letter and words has been put together seemingly because the competition involves fish, and the government’s Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme – SIPS – involves no drinking of any sort.

Someone also threw in a $ symbol like they’re an American rapper coming to fame in the noughties.

The Northern Territory has a similar fishing competition, where barramundi are tagged and released. There are fish worth up to $1m and the program drives significant tourism.

The competition’s name? Million Dollar Fish.

Makes far more sense.