George Street Beat: ‘Alternative’ premier steps in to save day after Palaszczuk drops out

The Opposition Leader has jumped in to headline a major media event after Annastacia Palaszczuk cancelled. THIS IS GEORGE STREET BEAT

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has jumped at the opportunity to headline the Queensland Media Club after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk cancelled the longstanding commitment due to apparent scheduling issues.

Ms Palaszczuk was due to front Media Club — the Brisbane version of the National Press Club — on November 21, where she would have made a keynote address before taking questions from the press gallery.

Late last week organisers were told she would no longer be coming.

There has been no official reason given, though scheduling issues have been floated as a factor.

It’s understood the date was confirmed in September.

But Mr Crisafulli has officially been locked in as a replacement, with the event now billed as an opportunity to hear from and interrogate the ideas of the “alternative Premier” a year out from the election.

Ms Palaszczuk has not fronted the Media Club in this term of government.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon, Treasurer Cameron Dick, Deputy Premier Steven Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman have all been previous guests.

Mr Crisafulli last headlined the event in July 2021.

RUMBLINGS OVER RENT-A-CROWD SPRAY

You would have thought the Labor machine would have drilled into the MPs that youth crime is not an issue to be toyed with.

After chief government whip Don Brown’s monumental screw-up calling youth crime a “media beat-up” on Facebook a few weeks back, Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper lost his head and went one step further – telling victims to their face they were a “rent-a-crowd”.

Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper addresses the youth crime rally in Townsville.

Harper’s brain fart was met with equal derision and perplexion from both sides this week, with one government insider bluntly telling us “what the f**k was he thinking”.

Another merely said “well it doesn’t help”.

What also doesn’t help is that Mr Harper’s political spray comes just as the ball started rolling on the Youth Justice Reform Select Committee on which he is a member – you know, the one that’s meant to be non-political.

We hear there was more than a rumble that Mr Harper should be booted immediately, but the rules mean that would have required the government to also back it – unless he went willingly, of course.

Neither have happened.

STRELOW PLOTS A COMEBACK

The state election might be 12 months away, but some more big names are hustling for support.

George Street Beat can reveal former Rockhampton mayor Margaret Strelow is considering rejoining the political ring and is understood to have approached both the LNP and One Nation seeking a preference deal to take on sitting Labor MP Barry O’Rourke.

Former Rockhampton mayor Margaret Strelow is considering a return to politics.

The 16-year local government veteran resigned in 2020 after being found guilty, perhaps questionably, of misconduct by the Office of the Independent Assessor over undeclared Adani hospitality.

She is still appealing the matter.

GSB reached a coy Ms Strelow this week, when after a brief chat she politely declined to reveal her plans.

Mr O’Rourke will take some beating.

He holds Rockhampton on an 8.6 per cent two-party margin.

We understand the former mayor will only decide to run if a preference deal with a conservative party can be struck.

MISREPRESENT ME, I’M NOT TALKING

While new faces are looking at running, older ones are considering retiring.

Speculation Labor MP Peter Russo would call it quits has been rife in party circles in recent weeks amid an internal Labor push to hit its gender targets at the next election.

Mr Russo has represented the southern outer Brisbane seat of Toohey since he rode the Palaszczuk wave to victory in 2015.

Speculation is rife Member for Toohey Peter Russo is going to call it quits.

The former lawyer, chair of the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee, didn’t mince his words when contacted by George Street Beat to ask whether he’d go around again.

“I’m not talking to the media,” he said.

“You can misrepresent me all you like, I’m not talking to you guys.”

Keep an eye out for Mr Russo to set the record straight.

QUESTIONABLE LOCATIONS

The locations of press conferences appear to be getting up the goat of LNP Leader David Crisafulli, who has twice fronted the media in less-than-desirable spots.

First, a wise head in the LNP decided a 30C October morning would be the perfect time to host a media conference at an unshaded Hamilton construction site.

Spare a thought for shadow Treasurer David Janetzki, whose head was cooked medium rare during the half-an-hour press conference under the blazing sun.

David Crisafulli has requested more shade at future press conferences.

On his way back to an airconditioned four-wheel-drive Mr Crisafulli threw a tongue-in-cheek jab at one of his senior media minders.

“Shade next time, Greg,” he quipped.

Earlier this week his media spinners again seemed to be putting their leader under pressure, with parliament’s porte cochere almost drowned out by music from an event nearby at QUT as the Opposition Leader attempted to wax lyrical about health data.

Pointing to another media minder, Mr Crisafulli – himself a former news man – jokingly told the TV crews “blame this guy for the location”.