Premier under fire over Olympic Games meeting

Commonwealth, Paralympic and Indigenous representatives weren’t invited to a high-level Olympics meeting at which the Premier’s boyfriend scored a prime seat, in a move slammed as “not appropriate”. But the Premier stands by his inclusion.

Commonwealth, Paralympic and Indigenous representatives weren’t invited to a high-level Brisbane Olympics meeting the Premier’s partner instead scored a prime seat at.

But Annastacia Palaszczuk’s office has defended the “strange” inclusion of surgeon partner Dr Reza Adib over other more worthy attendees, as a spokesman on Monday night suggested any snubs were the fault of the Australian and International Olympic committees.

On the left side of the table are the Premier’s Chief of Staff Jim Murphy, Dr Reza Adib, AOC CEO Matt Carroll, AOC President Ian Chesterman, OCOG President Andrew Liveris, Ms Palaszczuk, IOC Vice-President John Coates, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, BCC CEO Colin Jensen and Associate Director-General Kerry Petersen. Picture: 7 News

Ms Palaszczuk insisted it was entirely appropriate to bring Dr Adib to the meeting attended by IOC president Thomas Bach, IOC vice-president John Coates and 14 other Olympic VIPs because it was “an informal meeting”.

“We were down there for the weekend and I’m very lucky to have a partner that actually supports me in the job I do,” she said on Monday.

But the justification came as her office refused to reveal what exactly was discussed and said it didn’t have the clearance to release the ­agenda, which “belongs to the IOC/AOC”.

Her spokesman on Monday night suggested the guest list was the decision of the AOC and IOC despite initially insisting Dr Adib, whose position at the table relegated the Premier’s Chief of Staff Jim Murphy to the very outside, was above board because attendees were at the invitation of the Premier.

Taxpayers did not pay for Dr Adib’s trip.

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s partner Dr Reza Adib was also in a photo with the Olympics organisers. He is pictured second from the right. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Ms Palaszczuk attended with Brisbane Olympic Organising Committee president Andrew Liveris and vice-president, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, both on the official guest list, and her spokesman initially stated “attendees were at the invitation of the president and Premier”.

But asked on Monday why fellow vice-presidents federal Sports Minister Richard ­Colbeck and Paralympics Australia president Jock O’Callaghan weren’t invited, Ms Palaszczuk’s spokesman said: “AOC/IOC organised the meeting”.

He later added: “Who the IOC chooses to meet with is up to them.”

It’s understood that other attendees believed they were ­attending an official meeting when they arrived at Sydney’s Sofitel Hotel and were ­confused to see Dr Adib in attendance.

The agenda from the meeting, held at the Sofitel in Sydney.

The meeting, complete with a formal setting and name placards for each guest, including Dr Adib, followed a dinner in Sydney on Saturday night to pay tribute to outgoing AOC president John Coates, also attended by Indigenous representative Patrick Johnson and Queensland Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

Despite the trio’s attendance the night before, none were included in Sunday’s ­session.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie said Dr Adib’s attendance was “a bit weird” and “just not appropriate” as he suggested Ms Palaszczuk had questions to answer.

“I’ve just got to say, it’s just a bit weird, the whole thing is weird,” he said.

“No one else had their partners at the meeting.”

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach walks with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the Sofitel Hotel in Sydney, with the Premier’s partner Reza Adib seen standing in the background. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Mr Bleijie did not accept the Premier’s suggestion the meeting was informal, saying there was nothing informal about the IOC, the Brisbane Olympic Committee, the Brisbane Lord Mayor and government representatives meeting. He said it was “just not appropriate” to the significance of the event to take a spouse and seat him at the official table.

Meanwhile, of almost 4000 votes in a Courier-Mail online poll on Monday, 91 per cent said the Premier’s partner should not have been allowed to attend.

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Senator Colbeck claimed neither Mr O’Callaghan nor Mr Johnson were invited despite being in Sydney for the AOC annual general meeting.

The senator, who is an OCOG vice-president, said he also wasn’t invited.

It’s understood neither was OCOG director and Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien.

But an AOC spokesman ­insisted the meeting was ­informal and that it was “between the IOC members and the OCOG members who were in Sydney to attend John Coates’ dinner”.

It’s understood Senator Colbeck met with Mr Bach on Saturday afternoon.

“I think it (Sunday meeting) was an opportunity lost in showing what we were all about rather than just a photo op for the Premier,” Senator Colbeck said.

“I’ve spoken to Jock O’Callaghan and he wasn’t invited. I think it would’ve been pertinent to have one of the Indigenous representatives from the board there too.”