Analysis: Annastacia Palaszczuk and Peter Beattie’s Commonwealth Games cold war
THE cold war had been simmering for months, with Palaszczuk ministers convinced they were being tailed by Games foot soldiers. In such a climate of mistrust, even Borobi might have been a Peter Beattie mole, writes Steven Wardill.
Confidential
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THE cold war between Commonwealth Games boss Peter Beattie and the Palaszczuk Government had been simmering for months.
It only took a flicker — or Annastacia Palaszczuk being snubbed for a speaking spot — to ignite a bitter brawl.
Before the opening ceremony snub, ministers were already seething over what had been dubbed the “GOLDOC Gestapo”.
Resolutely loyal to Beattie, these Games foot soldiers were reticent about giving the Government any information.
Ministers thought they were being tailed around facilities. In such a climate of mistrust, even Borobi might have been a Beattie mole.
There are also stories of ministers finding out about Games announcements relevant to their portfolio through the media.
While Palaszczuk’s snub and her office’s ham-fisted handling of the affair seemed to erupt at the 11th hour, to-ing and fro-ing had been going on for weeks. Beattie is suspected of leaking Palaszczuk’s demands to speak.
It was a ploy, some suspect, to paint the Premier as a prima donna and force her to ditch her demands.
So, after Games organisers failed to properly include the athletes in Sunday’s closing ceremony, Palaszczuk had the ammunition she needed to pile in. They should “hang their heads in shame”, the Premier scolded in a direct pot shot at Beattie.
Wily Beattie fired first, saying sorry that the speeches were “too many and too long”.
It’s a bit rich to blame just Beattie. For the past fortnight, the Government suspended normal duties so they could spectate at the Games. How can they complain about speaking spots at the opening while claiming to be clueless about the closing ceremony?
This appears to be a gold medal effort for shooting yourself in the foot.
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