Only hours until Jackie Trad addresses crisis

Annastacia Palaszczuk has been slammed as the ‘weakest’ premier in Queensland history over integrity issues that have dogged the State Government for almost two months.

LEADER of Opposition Business Jarrod Bleijie says Jackie Trad must resign tomorrow regardless of the state’s corruption watchdog’s findings.

Speaking in Parliament this afternoon, Mr Bleijie said he had never seen an integrity crisis drag on for so long with no one taking responsibility.

“Never have I seen a premier so powerless to act against her deputy premier, never have I seen the infighting within Queensland Labor ranks that we have seen since the federal election in May,” he said.

“Never have I seen a premier set such a low standard for her ministers but take such a high moral ground.”

Mr Bleijie slammed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as being the “weakest” in Queensland’s history while claiming she was powerless to “stop the activist, green deputy premier”.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as parliament sits in Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“She (Trad) has failed, failed, failed,” he said.

“There is nothing right about this. There is a stench over this whole sordid affair over the last nine weeks. Even if the CCC come back tomorrow and say that there is no threshold of corruption, there is one only possible outcome from all of this, the deputy premier must resign.

“The premier must resign for failing to sack her deputy premier.”

Earlier today, Ms Palaszczuk reiterated that Queenslanders would know what action she may take against her deputy by the end of tomorrow.

But the Premier would not say whether Ms Trad would remain Deputy Premier and Treasurer following the handing down of the findings of the Crime and Corruption Commission’s assessment into the Woolloongabba investment home saga tomorrow.

Ms Trad has promised to stand aside should the CCC decide to investigate. But what action might be taken if it does not investigate is unclear, with the Premier refusing to say what options she is considering and whether a reshuffle could be on the cards.

“I am waiting for the advice that will handed down by the CCC tomorrow and I will be making comments after that,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I don’t know what the CCC is going to say. Let’s wait and see what happens.”

Ms Trad has already temporarily relinquished control of the Cross River Rail project while the CCC conducts its investigation.

Ms Palaszczuk said she would reveal her decision tomorrow before she flies to Switzerland on Saturday to meet with Olympics bosses.

Meanwhile, Jackie Trad says she will soon address questions over the controversial property purchase.

The Treasurer said she was looking forward to the release of the Crime and Corruption Commission’s findings tomorrow that would allow her to finally lay out what happened.

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Shadow treasurer Tim Mander last night tried to goad Ms Trad to “fill the void” at a special late-night Question Time at Townsville Parliament, attended by about 100 locals, after she earlier complained no one had heard her side of the story.

Mr Mander invited her to immediately release all Integrity Commissioner advice, text messages with her husband, proof that she declared a conflict to the Premier, proof she excused herself from decisions that would financially benefit her and the date that she will finally sell the property.

It followed Ms Trad complaining of “the void” of information and that the saga had taken a toll on her family.

“He only needs to wait a matter of hours before the CCC comes down with its finalisation,” Ms Trad told the House last night.

“Friday is only 48 hours away.

“It’s not as far away as Christmas is now, so can I suggest the Member for Everton and the Deputy Opposition Leader (Mr Mander) let the CCC do its job and allow them to proceed to finalise their assessment, and I look forward to it.”

The corruption watchdog confirmed yesterday it would release the findings of its assessment of the Woolloongabba property purchase and associated issues tomorrow.

The revelation will come a day before Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is due to fly to Switzerland to meet with Olympics bosses, and Ms Trad is due to be acting premier.

The door has been left open by Ms Palaszczuk for another minister to act instead, with State Development Minister Cameron Dick expected to step in if needed.