Premier’s major call to ‘devastated’ Labor MPs with treaty on life support

Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Path to Treaty is now unlikely to happen without bipartisan support, and she will instead focus on “the issues that really matter” such as cost of living.

Queensland’s landmark Path to Treaty is on life support and the state government in turmoil with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealing the major reform would struggle without the LNP’s support.

In a stunning reversal, Ms Palaszczuk said the Path to Treaty she previously championed with First Nations people was now unlikely to happen without bipartisan support and declared she would instead focus on “the issues that really matter” such as cost of living.

Her comments – the first significant policy reaction by a government since the referendum defeat – shocked ministers, created confusion and left some Labor MPs “devastated”.

It prompted Ms Palaszczuk to hold an extraordinary phone call with her Caucus members on Thursday afternoon to explain the decision.

Queensland’s landmark Path to Treaty legislation was first put on shaky ground when Opposition Leader David Crisafulli revealed he would withdraw the LNP’s support for the reform Path to Treaty legislation following the “divisive” Voice referendum.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk picture promoting the YES23 Voice referendum. Picture: Supplied

Ms Palaszczuk, repeatedly on Thursday asked to guarantee treaty would happen without the LNP, instead said it would “need bipartisan support”.

It left some Labor MPs privately “devastated” and others questioning the government’s position.

Cooper MP Jonty Bush called reports of Ms Palaszczuk’s reversal “entirely untrue” and insisted the government was “committed to treaty”.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey labelled Mr Crisafulli “weak and unprincipled” for withdrawing support for treaty just hours before Ms Palaszczuk hinted at the same move.

“He has abandoned his principles in a naked grab for popularity at the expense of the most disadvantaged part of our community,” Mr Bailey said of the LNP leader.

Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Leeanne Enoch did not respond to questions.

Ms Palaszczuk also declined to say whether she would tinker the legislation to appease the LNP and rescue Path to Treaty.

“It’s obvious these laws were put in place with bipartisan support, and they are now walking away from that bipartisan support,” she said.

The Premier still believed Queenslanders wanted reconciliation and said the next stage was a three or four-year truth-telling process.

“We heard very loud and clear on the about the referendum,” she said.

“No ifs and buts. We accept that.”

“We need unity in this state and we need to be talking about the issues that really matter out there amongst Queenslanders – and it is cost of living”.

Craig Crawford, who led the treaty process as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, said the premier’s comments did not mean the government was dropping its support for the process.

“Clearly when you’re talking about policy that’s going to roll out over ten years, you need bipartisan support,” he said.

“This policy needs to survive the perils of elections and future changes of government.”

Yarrabah’s Percy Neal calls for both sides of politics to commit to treaty.

Shadow cabinet on Wednesday unanimously endorsed Mr Crisafulli’s proposal to withdraw the LNP’s support for the Path to Treaty legislation.

The Opposition Leader on Thursday said treaty talks were entered into in “good faith”.

“It was a difficult decision then and this is a difficult decision,” he said.

“You have to also reflect on points in time and if (Prime Minister Anthony) Albanese had done what I’m doing several months ago we wouldn’t be in the position right now where we’ve got a divided nation, and I don’t want to pour fuel on that fire,” he said.

A disappointed Yarrabah Elder Percy Neal argued Queensland’s politicians should push ahead with treaty, declaring it and the referendum were “two different things”.

“(Ms) Palaszczuk is just looking at the referendum, they got a real bad vote in Queensland and her snap decision like that will worry a lot of people,” he said.

“It’s a political thing, she’s thinking about the next election.”

Mr Neal said the actions of Queensland political leaders proved the country “has a long way to go in race relations”.

“Some Aboriginal ministers in there, they should up the ante a little bit,” he said.

“I’d like to see it go ahead.”

LNP environment spokesman Sam O’Connor backed Mr Crisafulli’s move following the decisive rejection of the Voice.

“I was proud to campaign for a Yes vote in the referendum but what the result showed is the overwhelming majority of Queenslanders don’t support this way forward for reconciliation.

“We must focus on what unites Queenslanders instead of going down a path that will lead to further division.”

It is likely to boost the LNP’s vote in regional Queensland and suburban Brisbane, but create a setback to its hopes of winning seats in the increasingly progressive Brisbane area.

The seats of Clayfield and Moggill, held by the LNP’s Tim Nicholls and Christian Rowan, will be heavily targeted by the Greens at October’s state election.

Both seats are located in the Greens-held federal electorates of Brisbane and Ryan – two of only three in Queensland to vote Yes on Saturday.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who had pledged to campaign across the state against the major parties, slammed Mr Crisafulli’s pivot.

“This man could not lead a political party out of a wet paper bag,” she said.

“I took a strong stance on this issue on behalf of Queenslanders and suddenly now he’s changed his tune.”

Originally published as Premier’s major call to ‘devastated’ Labor MPs with treaty on life support