Annastacia Palaszczuk sticks by decision to appoint deputy Jackie Trad as acting premier

Wanting to draw attention away from her decision to leave Jackie Trad in charge of Queensland next week, Annastacia Palaszczuk put in a call to one of the State’s favourite sons. Did the diversion work?

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has cemented her decision to leave Jackie Trad in charge of Queensland next week despite an integrity cloud hanging over her.

And she’s brushed away questions about the possibility the state’s corruption watchdog may find against Ms Trad while she’s in the top job.

The Premier unsuccessfuly tried to divert attention from the scandal by using North Queensland’s most populat JT - Cowboys legend Jonathan Thurston - in a staged photo opportunity at the club’s new stadium.

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Ministers arriving for Cabinet at the Townsville City Council Chambers yesterday ahead of this week’s sitting of regional state parliament publicly backed Ms Palaszczuk’s decision to follow convention.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visits the site of the new North Queensland stadium in Townsville with former North Queensland Cowboys player Johnathan Thurston (middle). Picture: Matt Taylor

But despite convention, it is open to the Premier to appoint whomever she wishes.

Former Premier Peter Beattie defied it when he side stepped his deputy Jim Elder for senior minister Paul Braddy ahead of the Shepherdson Inquiry.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington called on the Premier to “appoint anyone but Jackie Trad as the acting Premier”.

Ms Trad has already promised to stand down as Deputy if the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) launches a probe into the saga around her Woolloongabba investment property.

On a tour of the under-construction Townsville Stadium yesterday, Ms Palaszczuk would not be drawn on any alternative plans while she’s in Switzerland and France on an Olympics bid.

“It is customary practice that when the Premier is away the Deputy Premier acts,” she told reporters

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad. Picture: Annette Dew

Asked what might happen should the CCC report back during her absence, she insisted that was “hypothetical”.

“I don’t like dealing in hypotheticals,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“But as we all know we are waiting on the outcome of the CCC. That could be next week, it could be this week, it could be the week after.”

CCC Chair Alan MacSporran told a Parliamentary hearing nearly two weeks ago that he expected the assessment would be completed “in the next couple of weeks”.

CCC Chair Alan MacSporran. Picture: Annette Dew

It came as Katter’s Australian Party’s Robbie Katter suggested the Government “clear themselves of this and hit the reset button”, without outlining what that action should be.

“I don’t have an enormous amount of sympathy for things that don’t pass the pub test,” he said.

“But I still think the issue stinks … but the parliament seems to be more sympathetic the higher up the food chain you are, seems to extend you more latitude.”

Traeger MP Robbie Katter

Ministers Cameron Dick, Di Farmer and Mark Bailey publicly backed Ms Trad acting in the job while others insisted the Government was awaiting the CCC’s finding and it was business as usual until then.

Mr Dick, who has filled in as acting Premier when both of the leadership team have been out of the state, also called questions hypothetical.

“We’ve got a team, I support the team. I support the Premier and the Deputy Premier,” he said.