Annastacia Palaszczuk responds to ‘checked out’ reports from Logies red carpet
Annastacia Palaszczuk, flanked by her boyfriend Dr Reza Adib, has fired back at reports she “spends too much time at red carpet events” from where else but the Logies red carpet.
QLD Politics
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has used an interview on the Logies red carpet to reject claims she spends too much time on red carpets.
Ms Palaszczuk was flanked by her boyfriend Dr Reza Adib as she arrived at the TV Week Logie Awards on the Gold Coast on Sunday night.
The Premier was grilled about reports that she had “checked out” from her job.
“I work seven days a week,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I’ve got a budget coming down, I’m across that, and I’ll be back at my desk first thing tomorrow morning.
“And most of these events are on weekends so, we could be at home watching television but we’re out here doing the job Queenslanders expect me to be doing.”
Ms Palaszczuk also responded to advice from former premier Peter Beattie that it was time she and her team embraced an innovative new agenda.
“We‘ll always have fresh strategies,” she said.
“My team is absolutely committed to Queensland and creating jobs, and when we hand the budget down on Tuesday, watch this space – it’s all about health and families and Queensland.”
Ms Palaszczuk then turned around and walked off from the interview as she was asked if lobbyists had an unfair influence on her government.
It comes after Treasurer Cameron Dick earlier today insisted he had “zero interest” in becoming premier of Queensland.
As he prepares to hand down his third budget this week, Mr Dick said he was looking forward to delivering at least another six.
Amid a call from former premier Peter Beattie for the government to embrace an innovation agenda, Mr Dick said he had “zero interest” in taking on the state’s top job.
He rejected reports in the Weekend Australian that Ms Palaszczuk had checked-out from her job, saying he supported her “100 per cent”.
“I’m looking forward to delivering six budgets at least all the way through the next term and beyond,” he said.
“What we need to do is stop the LNP.”
Mr Dick wouldn’t articulate what the government’s vision was when asked on Saturday, instead saying: “You know very clearly … what this government is doing.”
He later insisted Queensland was the “big jobs generator of this country”, saying the state’s economic activity was leading the nation – setting up a pathway for the Olympics and beyond.
The Treasurer meanwhile talked up Labor’s record on transparency amid revelations last week that the state’s corruption watchdog was stepping up its probe into lobbying in Queensland.
The Crime and Corruption Commission released a discussion paper on Friday, revealing an intelligence investigation had found a small number of key groups and individuals appeared to have a “disproportionate” amount of access to government decision makers.
Mr Dick denied the government gave disproportionate access to a select group of lobbyists, and said he didn’t think it was easier for Labor-aligned lobbyists to secure meetings with the government.
“We’ll look at what the CCC comes up with,” Mr Dick said.
“We’ll also have a look at what Peter Coaldrake has to say and whatever recommendations they make we’ll consider those very carefully.
“Don’t forget this – we have the most transparent reporting of lobbying activity in the country. That is an initiative of a Labor government.
“We put that in place to ensure that people had the highest level of understanding and transparency of what happens.”
Ms Palaszczuk is expected to attend the Logie awards on the Gold Coast on Sunday night.
More Coverage
Hiding under the bed: Premier, you caused this mess, why don’t you fix it?
David Crisafulli was the presiding minister when the LNP let the loonies loose on water fluoridation, writes Robert Schwarten.
Editor’s view: Latest proof health portfolio is a poisoned chalice
While many of their problems may be inherited, Tim Nicholls and his director-general need to come to grips with the beast, and quickly, writes the editor.