George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip

The first week of Queensland Parliament for 2023 delivered high drama, including a dramatic chase through the hallowed halls.

Fake news, fake laws and even a fake Elvis – the F-word was getting thrown around a bunch during this week’s sitting of Parliament, the first for 2023.

First the government performed a sensational Olympics-worthy backflip on breach of bail – a favourite LNP policy they’ve repeatedly shot down – then Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisted it was done in the spirit of bipartisanship, then it was several breathless days of declaring it was a whole new policy anyway.

Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard in Question Time on Thursday. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

It turned a straightforward pre-caucus doorstop with Ms Palaszczuk on Monday afternoon into a debacle as the two most vocal opponents on breach of bail Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman and Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard did their best to avoid the cameras.

With a gaggle of reporters waiting to quiz them, there was no sight of the two until one eagled-eyed journo spotted the pair attempting to exit through the back door.

The quick escape prompted a mad dash through the corridors and stairs of Parliament, with the mess of reporters trailed by camera and lighting crews.

Perhaps the best example of the absurd nature of the whole thing was a “fact sheet” passed around the press gallery intended to show the Labor policy and the LNP’s under Campbell Newman – with one of the four points being that this law “is fair dinkum”.

Fake news indeed.

OLYMPICS JUICE

After what seemed like an absolute age, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ms Palaszczuk finally signed on the dotted line over the funding arrangement for the 2032 Games.

But we hear the Premier and her office was none too pleased with juicy details of how the $7bn would be carved up appearing in The Courier-Mail before she got to make the announcement last Friday, which was finally made with fanfare.

No fewer than a dozen state and federal ministers, plus multiple former and current Olympians – including Dawn Fraser – made the vertigo-inducing trip to level 41 of the Tower of Power to watch the leaders finally sign on the dotted line.

We reported several weeks ago that former Nine journalist turned government spinner Shane Doherty had shifted roles to become Ms Palaszczuk’s speechwriter. It’s clear that change hasn’t translated into giving up control of the Olympics portfolio – the details of which he still controls with an iron fist.

The offending tram image

GETTING TRAMMED

An image used on the front cover of a parliamentary committee report has raised eyebrows and smeared Queensland’s good name as the leader of parochialism in this country.

The Community Support and Services Committee tabled its report into Jack’s Law on February 17, featuring on its front cover a night time scene of a tram on a street.

Or as the caption on stock image website Shutterstock described it; “Sydney, Australia – July 22, 2022: A tram stopping at Queen Victoria Building (QVB) at night”.

It’s understood the committee was trying to find an image as vague as possible so as not to besmirch any particular place in Queensland, but in that process an unfortunate error was made.

CRISAFULLI’S MELONS

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has dismissed allegations he pulled out of a hotly contested melon eating contest at the Chinchilla Melon Festival on the weekend.

George St Beat spies on the ground at the major regional event said Crisafulli had signed up for the melon eating contest but pulled out at the last minute.

But his office said these were “rumours” which gathered steam due to his “reputation garnered during spaghetti eating competitions” during his time in Ingham.

“On this occasion the rumours were unfounded,” a spokesman said.

Archival footage dating back to 1999 confirmed a young Crisafulli was the noted “king” of the annual spaghetti-eating challenge held as part of the Australian-Italian Festival in Ingham.

Crisafulli’s office noted they were in “full support of any campaign” to get him to compete next year.

Former opposition leader and LNP Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington shows her dart skills at Parliament House. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

DEB ON THE DARTS

We couldn’t help notice Deb Frecklington with a spring in her step as she strolled the corridors of Parliament this week.

The former opposition leader emerged victorious from a more than two year campaign to have darts recognised as an official sport in Queensland.

Now, we all love a round of darts over a few beers at the pub, but the Member for Nanango, who campaigned alongside fellow LNP members Jim McDonald and Mr Stephen Bennett, said the “bullseye” victory would open doors for future stars.

“This is a huge win for the darts community across Queensland,” Ms Frecklington said.

LONG LIVE LAURIE

A shout out to Clerk of the Parliament Neil Laurie, who marked 20 years this week in the crucial parliamentary role.

It’s a remarkable achievement.

But we also spare a thought for him given he has now had to sit through an extraordinary 800 screaming matches (which we also call Question Time).

That’s a long time to keep a straight face, as Speaker Curtis Pitt observed this week.

In fact, Mr Laurie has been in the role longer than any of our current crop of MPs have served in Parliament – except for Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson, who has been in Parliament since 1992.

And he is now the third-longest-serving clerk in the Parliament’s history.

Originally published as George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip