Malcolm Turnbull worse than Tony Abbott, says Queensland Premier

A DAY before they are due to meet, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has launched an extraordinary broadside against Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull — and delivered the ultimate insult. Interactive poll data tracker

Premier Annastacia Palazsczuk and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will meet at the Battle of the Coral Sea Memorial.

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PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has unleashed on a “gutless, arrogant and disrespectful” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, labelling him “worse than Tony Abbott”.

Ms Palaszczuk’s extraordinary broadside – a day before the pair are to meet in Townsville at a Battle of the Coral Sea Memorial – came as she outlined the state’s wishlist for the upcoming Federal Budget.

But she feared Queensland would miss out, saying relations between the pair were at an all-time low.

“I now believe Malcolm Turnbull is worse than Tony Abbott,” she told The Sunday Mail.

“When Tony Abbott was prime minister, I could get straight answers.

“I didn’t always like what he had to say, but he stuck to it.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the “fly-in, fly-out” Prime Minister had shown contempt for voters, herself and other state leaders.

“He is arrogant, he’s disrespectful,” she said.

“I don’t think he’s genuine and I think he has lost his way.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in friendlier times.

Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Turnbull did not even call last week when he came to Queensland to announce federal intervention to control surging gas prices.

“He announces a gas plan when he hasn’t had the common decency to talk to me when he wants to steal our (gas) royalties,’’ she said.

“He’s not acting in the best interests of this state.

“I’m sick of it, the public’s sick of it and it’s about time that he showed some leadership and was respectful, not just to me but to all the other premiers across the nation.”

Nominating Cross River Rail, housing affordability reform, a gas pipeline for the Galilee and Bowen basins, and full restoration of health and education funding as key Budget priorities, Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Turnbull “didn’t even have the guts” to hold a Council of Australian Governments meeting ahead of its release.

Ms Palaszczuk had suggested one be held in Rockhampton but leaders will next meet in Hobart in June – a month after the Budget.

“We have had to drag him kicking and screaming to support projects – M1 upgrades, new Townsville stadium and Cross River Rail,” she said.

“I fear we will miss out again in the Federal Budget.

“I need infrastructure, I need jobs, I need to rebuild this state after the cyclone (Debbie).”

Federal Budget wish list

■ Full restoration of health and education funding;

■ Housing affordability reform by removing capital gains tax and negative gearing;

■ Fund Cross River Rail;

■ A gas pipeline to facilitate new gas field developments in the Galilee and Bowen basins;

■ Expedited payments for the National Disability Insurance Scheme;

■ More defence spending through patrol boat and LAND 400 contracts;

■ Release of Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility funds;

■ Clarity on expiring agreements on early childhood education, skills reform and remote indigenous housing;

■ Biosecurity funding to respond to prawn white spot disease, red imported fire ants and yellow crazy ants;

■ Funding for water storage or pipeline for Maryborough cane farmers, a Queensland Mining Centre of Excellence in Mackay, and Mackay community centre and sporting precinct.