Treasurer Cameron Dick in the dark over Premier’s leave

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hadn’t told her own Treasurer she was going on an overseas holiday, it has been revealed.

• Opinion: Vultures gather as Premier faces demise

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hadn’t told her own Treasurer she was going on an overseas holiday, with Acting Premier Steven Miles saying while the team work “very closely together” he wasn’t sure why that had happened.

The stability of Ms Palaszczuk’s spot in the top job and the harmony of the Labor government have been called into question in recent days after she jetted off to the Amalfi Coast on holiday immediately after one of the most damaging parliamentary weeks.

Mr Dick, speaking to press before heading off for a visit to the Aboriginal community of Coen, said he “wasn’t aware she was travelling overseas” but affirmed “everyone is entitled to a holiday”.

Mr Miles said he knew the Premier had planned to go on leave and the information was most relevant to him as the person who needs to fill the role while she’s gone.

“We have a strong team, we all work very closely together. The Premier had planned to go on leave,” he said.

“I don’t know why (Mr Dick wasn’t told). But I was certainly aware that leave was coming up.”

Treasurer Cameron Dick. Picture: Liam Kidston

It comes hours after Mr Dick penned a 576-word manifesto, released to The Courier-Mail, about how he believes the government can fight back and win the next election.

Mr Miles affirmed he “agreed” with Mr Dick’s opinion piece, confirming he had seen a “draft” earlier in the day.

“I appreciated his contribution because it really backed in what Shannon and I had said earlier in the day, that the key to Labor winning next year is our strong team and maintaining that strong united team behind Annastacia’s leadership,” he said.

Mr Miles said if there were rumbles from the backbench about the need for a more energetic leader, those concerns were not being voiced to him directly.

“I understand last week was a difficult week but I think in overall terms the government is continuing to deliver for Queensland and continuing to plan for the future,” he said.

“They haven’t been saying that (for Ms Palaszczuk to go and be replaced by a more energetic leader) to me.

“There will always be talk, sometimes that’ll ebb and flow, but I don’t think you could have got a clearer indication from the Treasurer and from myself that we remain steadfastly behind the Premier.”

Ms Palaszczuk’s controversial overseas holiday to the Amalfi Coast with partner Dr Reza Adib is meant to end on September 11, and four days in Mr Miles confirmed he hadn’t yet spoken to her.

“Hopefully if I do a good job she won’t need to talk to me, but certainly there are certainly ways of keeping in touch,” Mr Miles said.

Acting Premier Steven Miles at a press conference on Tuesday. Picture: Liam Kidston

This is her second vacation outside of Australia in less than a year.

Mr Miles, asked how many times he had done the same in this term of government, confirmed he had taken his family to the United States in July for two and a half weeks where they went to Disneyland and visited the White House.

Acting Premier Steven Miles has “disputed” criticism by a leading Queensland human rights lawyer that the government’s rushed youth crime laws were proof it had “no real plan”.

Mr Miles again reiterated the law changes, rammed through parliament last week and circumventing the normal scrutiny process, were necessary to ensure the status quo after a nearly successful Supreme Court challenge.

“All it does is continue our existing plan for youth justice, we made changes to that at the start of the year… and we are sticking with that course,” he said.