Annastacia Palaszczuk defends Terry Mackenroth’s role in transition

HE’S a state Labor luminary who helped the minority Palaszczuk Government transition to power. Now the LNP has him in its sights.

Top Thinkers - Terry Mackenroth. Pic Peter Wallis

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended enlisting the help of former deputy premier Terry “The Fox” Mackenroth in Labor’s transition to government, accusing the Opposition of launching personal attacks.

The Beattie government figure assisted Labor on a voluntary basis, Ms Palaszczuk said. He was given neither a phone nor an office.

During an Estimates hearing today, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg had asked for a list of all businesses and non-government organisations Mr Mackenroth had made contact with while working from her office during that time.

Ms Palaszczuk responded: “Not in my office, you’ll have to ask him that, but not in my office.

“I am sick of these personal attacks.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Mackenroth was had not been paid “a cent” for assisting the transition to government.

“Let me just make it very clear that Terry Mackenroth is a well-respected, not only businessman, but he’s also a very well-respected former member of this House,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“And I find it quite surreal that you are almost implying that there is something wrong with a former member of Parliament, who has been the deputy premier and treasurer of this state, who actually helped my Government in the transition.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at Estimates hearings today. Pic: Annette Dew

“This is nothing new; when governments transition they rely on an array of people to come and help them.

“And from ... the reports I’m hearing from people around the state and in the public sector, it’s one of the smoothest transitions to government.”

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Mr Springborg asked whether Mr Mackenroth had been “sitting in (Ms Palaszczuk’s) front office”.

“He was not sitting there ...” she said.

“During the transition to government, he came into the leader of the opposition’s office when I was the leader of the opposition.

“And then he came in, I think he sat on a chair in the chief of staff’s office. He was not there full-time. I don’t know where you’re getting this ... no taxpayers’ money was spent.

“He did not have an office, he did not have a phone.”

The Premier said her Government was not the only one to enlist Mr Mackenroth’s help.

“I also want to point out that Campbell Newman, the former premier ... appointed Terry Mackenroth to a new committee to provide direction for flood donations — that was in January 30, 2013,” she said.

“So he’s OK to be a chair under your government, but he’s not OK to volunteer.”

Ms Palaszczuk accused Mr Springborg of launching an attack on Mr Mackenroth’s standing.

“I’m not going to indulge in these personal attacks today — it is a personal attack on someone’s reputation,” she said.

“Because you’re implying that he was in there getting access to information, which is simply not the case.

“Terry Mackenroth didn’t get paid anything; he volunteered his time to help me and my Government transition.”