The Palaszczuk diary: Inside Stacia’s final days as premier

Annastacia Palaszczuk took just eight meetings in her final week as premier and two days off after a botched announcement. SEE HER DIARY

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Annastacia Palaszczuk took just eight meetings in her entire final week as premier, according to her diaries – which also reveal she took two days off in the aftermath of the botched RNA stadium announcement.

Ms Palaszczuk’s final diary, released this week, reveal the events leading up to her December 10 resignation and her five final official days in the top job – for which she was paid about $8000 – following almost nine years in office.

It reveals she did not meet with Mr Miles in the five days after she stepped down and endorsed him as her successor.

On the day of her resignation, Ms Palaszczuk held a teleconference with emergency services bosses, acting deputy premier Meaghan Scanlon and acting police minister Mark Furner as ex-tropical cyclone Jasper approached the Cairns coast.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced her resignation. Picture: YouTube

The premier was joined by senior ministerial staff for the Sunday morning media conference, where she revealed “Queensland is in good shape, which is why now it’s time for me to leave.”

While Ms Palaszczuk gave her “strong endorsement” to Mr Miles to be Queensland’s next premier, the diary reveals she did not meet with him between December 10 and his swearing-in at Government House on December 15.

Instead, the three-term premier spent her final days meeting close confidants, Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath, Treaty Minister Leeanne Enoch, Transport Minister Mark Bailey and then Education Minister Grace Grace.

She also met with Director-General Rachel Hunter, who would soon be ousted by Mr Miles in favour if Mike Kaiser.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announcing her retirement from politics, 1 William Street, Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms Palaszczuk’s final meeting as premier was on December 14 with Queensland Governor Jeannette Young, who stood alongside her almost daily during the Covid-19 pandemic.

From the start of December questions about Ms Palaszczuk’s leadership had been mounting, fuelled by the botched announcement of a $140m upgrade to the RNA Stadium.

On December 1, the day of the announcement, Ms Palaszczuk fronted the media at the opening of the Kallangur Satellite Hospital to defend the expenditure.

The state’s demand for Brisbane City Council, Queensland Cricket and the AFL to contribute to the stadium development prompted “extortion” claims by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

Ms Palaszczuk’s diary reveals, despite criticism of the stadium decision reaching fever-pitch over that weekend, she took no meetings until the following Monday.

Instead, Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe was left to front the press to attack Mr Schrinner and defend the state government’s decision.

The premier wouldn’t meet Mr Schrinner until December 7 and a day later spoke on the phone with AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, whose organisation the government had earlier suggested would contribute some $40m for the RNA Stadium.

Ms Palaszczuk’s final public meeting was with grand final winners the AFLW Brisbane Lions athletes on December 8 for a “photo and welcome”.