Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk forced to withdraw remark after being accused of sexist stereotyping by Queensland LNP
A Gold Coast MP has told Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to “practice what you preach” after she apologised for a contentious “late night rendezvous” remark.
Gold Coast
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John-Paul Langbroek has told Annastacia Palaszczuk to “practice what you preach” about good ethics after the Premier apologised for her “late-night rendezvous” remark.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor has also reignited the debate, sparked by photographs around the Speaker’s chair, writing on Facebook about his “disgust” with the Premier’s comments.
The political row marks a low point in relations between the Premier and the Opposition with LNP insiders saying “it was just nasty” and “I think it upset both MPs”.
Mr Langbroek had hosted Gold Coast real estate titans, a restaurateur couple and 2021 Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year “Entrepreneur” winner Tamika Smith in the last session of state parliament, and posted their selfies around the Speaker’s chair.
When Mr Langbroek was later grilling Ms Palaszczuk about social housing in Question Time, she replied: “I enjoyed looking at the member’s photos he posted of his late-night rendezvous”. She promptly withdrew it but was accused of “sexism writ large”.
On his Facebook page, Mr Langbroek revealed the comments had hurt he and his wife, Stacey.
“Finally. Five days after making snide comments about Sam O’Connor and as well as being cheered on by Cameron Dick, Annastacia Palaszczuk has had to finally apologise for her sexist remarks and imputations,” he wrote.
“I’ve known her since she came to Parliament in 2006. Stacey and I have driven her back to Parliament from a function in the past.”
Mr Langbroek said the Premier had a verbal shot at Opposition leader David Crisafulli in late July about “double standards”.
She had told the Broadwater MP: “Don’t come up to me at social events and be nice and then come into the Queensland Parliament and put on a turn.”
Mr Langbroek wrote in his post: “How about you practice what you preach.”
Supporters on his Facebook page, including a major Surfers Paradise restaurant owner, wrote in response: “Good on you. Bloody ridiculous attack.”
A spokesman for the Premier said Ms Palaszczuk’s comments were about the lack of respect for the Speaker’s chair – where the photographs were taken – by a Member of parliament.
Mr O’Connor said he had been making a speech and hosting a visit from Ms Smith who drove a campaign to get a house for Kelly Wilkinson’s children after their mother was killed at Arundel in 2021.
“It was the day of the slab pouring and I made a speech about her which she came up to see,” he said.
“This also has nothing to do with the Speaker’s speech as the Premier claimed. MPs from across the Parliament get photos in this spot when they give people a tour. I’ve had photos with many locals there.
“I’ll keep taking as many people as I can through Parliament because it’s so important to show this place to people. I feel for Tamika who got dragged into the spotlight in this way by having the top politician in our state say what she did.”
Mr O’Connor said Ms Smith had “copped many disgusting and derogatory comments” on social media since the publicity.
Surfers MP to Premier: ‘Sexism writ large’
August 18: A Gold Coast state MP has hit back at the Premier for “sexism writ large” after she described him hosting female friends in the House as a “late night rendezvous”.
John-Paul Langbroek, the flamboyant Member for Surfers Paradise, hosted multiple Gold Coasters including real estate titans, a restaurateur couple and 2021 Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year ‘Entrepreneurs’ winner Tamika Smith in parliament after hours this week.
He has now posted a photo of himself in the House during the same selfie session with three Gold Coast men posing around the Speaker’s chair.
Ms Palaszczuk had called his photos a “late night rendezvous” before withdrawing the remark amid a storm of criticism – including from the women being hosted.
Mr Langbroek posted a selfie with the men, noting: “Isn’t it funny, this isn’t a ‘late night rendezvous’?”
“Only if it’s with the ladies according to @annastaciamp. Same night. Same place. Same group. The partners. Sexism writ large.”
Earlier, Ms Palaszczuk was accused of sexist stereotyping after the remarks about the photo tweeted of Mr Langbroek and Bonney MP Sam O’Connor with guests in the parliamentary chamber.
Ms Palaszczuk made the comment in Question Time on Thursday after Mr Langbroek asked her about social housing applications during the accommodation crisis.
“I enjoyed looking at the member’s photos he posted this morning of his late-night rendezvous,” the Premier replied.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor was also in the photograph which included business couples being hosted by Mr Langbroek after receiving a visit and dinner to the House as part of charity donation. He later asked for an apology.
Mr O’Connor told the parliament one of the guests had been Tamika Smith who arrived to listen to a speech he was giving about her efforts to build a house for the children of Kelly Wilkinson, the young mother killed in his electorate.
Ms Smith has been the driving force behind unification of the Gold Coast construction industry to build a new free home for the children of Ms Wilkinson, taken on by her sister Danielle and partner Rhys.
Ms Smith, who is behind My Bella Casa providing affordable homes, told the Bulletin on Thursday night: “I was there to attend Sam’s speech. My intent is to deliver affordable housing to those that need it most and I look forward to working with both sides of parliament to see this through.”
The other people in the photos with Mr Langbroek and Mr O’Connor included respected Mamasan restaurateur Lauren Duitsch, her husband JP Duitsch, respected real estate industry brothers Luke and Andrew Henderson and fellow real estate professional Brooke Henley-Smith.
Mr Duitsch declined to comment, saying “the girls would rather this just go away really”.
The Premier immediately withdrew her comments about the pictures.
Currumbin MP Laura Gerber in the House later said the Premier could also benefit from a committee’s recommendation on more education in order to combat hate and vilification.
“Having sat on the Committee conducting the Inquiry into Serious Vilification and Hate Crimes I was disgusted to hear the Premier judge women based on their looks in this chamber. Likening a visit to parliament from Tamika, Brooke and Lauren with the Members for Surfers Paradise and Bonney to a late night rendezvous – outrageous sexist stereotyping,” she said.
“Tamika is a fierce advocate for women and children fleeing domestic violence, and her work in this space was acknowledged last year when she was named the 2021 Gold Coast Entrepreneur of the Year.
“The premier passed this judgment on these women, using the protection of privilege in this chamber.”
Ms Smith also won the Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year by Harvey Norman ‘Entrepreneur’s’ category in 2021.
But a spokesman for the Premier said Ms Palaszczuk’s comments were about the lack of respect for the Speaker’s chair — where the photograph was taken — by a Member of parliament.
“The Premier did not mean any offence and is astonished anyone would interpret what she said as referring to anything other than respect for the Chamber,” the spokesman said.
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