Qld politics: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk addresses media after Olympics invite backlash

The Premier has admitted she made a mistake to bring her boyfriend to an Olympics meeting even though Commonwealth, Paralympic and Indigenous representatives weren’t invited, following major backlash.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has apologised for taking her partner to an Olympics meeting in Sydney, conceding she made a mistake and felt guilty for having dragged him into it.

The Premier’s office had earlier defended the “strange” inclusion of her partner, surgeon Dr Reza Adib, over other more worthy attendees, with a spokesman on Monday night suggested any snubs were the fault of the Australian and International Olympic committees.

But on Tuesday morning she admitted she felt guilty over the saga.

“It was a mistake, it shouldn’t have happened, Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I can’t undo what has happened, I can only apologise and I sincerely do that.”

The Premier’s apology comes after her office defended the meeting on both Sunday and Monday, insisting it was an informal catch-up following a farewell dinner for outgoing AOC president John Coates.

Dr Reza Adib’s attendance on Sunday drew criticism, including from Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie who claimed it was “a bit weird” and not appropriate.

A Courier-Mail poll asking whether Ms Palaszczuk’s partner should have been allowed to attend the meeting attracted more than 5200 votes.

Only 8 per cent believed Dr Reza Adib should have attended.

Premier’s Chief of Staff Jim Murphy, Dr Reza Adib, AOC CEO Matt Carroll, AOC President Ian Chesterman, OCOG President Andrew Liveris, Ms Palaszczuk, IOC Vice-President John Coates, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, BCC CEO Colin Jensen and Associate Director-General Kerry Petersen. Picture: 7 News

Ms Palaszczuk, who invited her partner, said she felt guilty for having dragged Dr Adib into it as she insisted it was an informal catch-up and that she never intended to cause any distress.

The Premier said she spoke about things that she had previously publicly discussed, including the international broadcast centre in Southbank and the OCOG board’s recent first meeting.

Dr Adib made no contribution to the discussion at the meeting, she said.

Asked what benefit the meeting was to taxpayers given it was informal, the Premier said she had been invited to outgoing Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates’ farewell.

“There were a lot of Olympians in the room (at the farewell), there were a lot of politicians in the room,” she said.

“Senator Colbeck was there, the Lord Mayor was there.

“Because we were there we had a catch-up the next day.

“I understand that Senator Colbeck had a private meeting.

“In hindsight I should have just had a private meeting.”

Speaking about Dr Adib, Ms Palaszczuk said she was “very lucky and very blessed to have someone who supports my role”.

“It is a big role to run this state and my partner will be coming with me to different functions but he will not be coming to any meetings or catch-ups,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk also commented on Mr Coates being succeeded as AOC president by Ian Chesterman.

“It was great to be there with John Coates on Saturday night and President Thomas Bach to celebrate the enormous contribution that John Coates has made to the Olympic movement,” she said.

“Of course John Coates was absolutely influential in Brisbane being awarded the 2032 Olympic Games.”

The Premier said this week was very important for Queensland, with the IOC delegation to tour proposed sites for the 2032 Games.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will arrive on Saturday.

“We’ve got a 10 year runway here for the best Olympic games ever,” the Premier said.