Berejiklian and Palaszczuk’s text messages reveal strained relationship
Text messages show NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian can’t get the Queensland Premier’s name correct, as their awkward relationship is revealed. Read the messages.
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The strained relationship between Gladys Berejiklian and Annastacia Palaszczuk has been revealed in the premiers’ text message exchanges.
The messages show Ms Berejiklian repeatedly misspelt Ms Palaszczuk’s first name, had typos in her messages, was short in response to the border reopening in February and the leaders rarely spoke over a year which saw devastating bushfires and the COVID pandemic.
The Daily Telegraph acquired the messages through a Right to Information request in a bid to explore the working relationship between the only female state leaders.
The messages stretch from January 1 2020 to 18 March 2021 and reveal the premiers exchanged about 20 messages, 11 of which were released while others were redacted for containing private information or being out-of-scope.
Of those 11 messages, Ms Berejiklian misspelt Ms Palaszcuk’s first name four times and got it right only once, usually writing “Anastasia” or “Anastacia”, not “Annastacia”.
“Hi Anastasia. Congratulations on your election election (sic) win. I can imagine how difficult that was during the pandemic! Hope we can work together to get our border open. Regards Gladys” she wrote November.
It was after that message which caused an uproar between the premiers after Ms Palaszczuk reportedly responded by saying “Queenslander, great game” - following Queensland’s State of Origin win in the first match last year.
The details of that exchange were redacted by the Right to Information office for being out-of-scope.
However, at the time Ms Berejiklian complained about the response, suggested Ms Palaszcuk was gloating about the State of Origin win and didn’t address the border closure.
“She didn’t mention borders or thanks for the congratulations,” Ms Berejiklian said at the time.
“I didn’t know whether to be shocked or bemused frankly.”
After three months fighting over Queensland’s hard border closure, Ms Palaszcuk told Ms Berejiklian the blockade would be lifted - just half-an-hour before announcing it in a press conference.
“We are happy to reopen to all of nsw (sic) on feb1 (sic). I will be doing a press conference in 30 mins.” Ms Palaszczuk messaged Ms Berejiklian on January 28.
Despite months of campaigning for this outcome Ms Berejiklian didn’t waste many words in response.
“Thx” she wrote back.
Ms Berejiklian also made a typo when she declined additional help from Ms Palaszczuk ahead of a day which had a “catastrophic” fire forecast and after the New Year’s Eve fire in 2019 ripped through the south coast.
“Anything more we can do to help please let me know. annastacia (sic),” Ms Palaszczuk wrote.
In response Ms Berejiklian replied: “Thanks Anastasia. Much Appreciated. We are as well prepared for tomorrow as we can be. Victoria also I’m (sic) very bad shape. Take care and stay in touch”.
The Daily Telegraph asked Ms Palaszczuk how she felt about Ms Berejiklian constantly spelling her name incorrectly, but she did not answer that question
“The Premier has a good working relationship with all Premiers,” said a QLD Premier’s office spokesperson.
“They are all focused on the serious COVID situation and keeping their state’s safe.”
Ms Berejiklian was contacted for comment.
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