Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk coup speculation

Speculation is mounting Annastacia Palaszczuk may be forced to resign after the leader of the Sunshine State flew to Europe on holidays.

Speculation is mounting that Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk may be forced to resign after she flew to Europe on holidays for the second time this year.

The holiday comes amid a string of controversies including polarising youth justice laws and Ms Palaszczuk declining to address a victims of crime rally, the Courier Mail reports.

It is understood ministers within her government are privately raising concerns about the government strategy and its ability to effectively govern, while some MPs are reportedly critical of her for flying again to Europe.

Queensland’s acting premier Steven Miles emphatically defended Ms Palaszczuk on Sunrise this morning saying “holidays are planned and you go ahead with those plans regardless of what might have happened in the week of parliament”.

Speculation is mounting Annastacia Palaszczuk may be forced to resign. Picture: Twitter/Getty Images

Health Minister Shannon Fenitman and Acting Premier Steven Miles hold a press conference on Monday morning. Both are potential leadership candidates. Picture: Supplied

“I understand there’ll always be chatter, there will always be rumours and gossip,” he said.

He said he was “very happy” being the deputy premier.

“I don’t think a lot of people take too much notice of that. Annastacia works hard, she’s entitled to have a holiday.”

Mr Miles, her most likely replacement, has repeatedly denied her position is under threat.

“What I know is a great strength of our government has been our stability and unity an the leadership that Annastacia has provided and I intend to continue that unity and stability.” he said.

“Annastacia is doing a fantastic job as Premier and I’m very pleased to support her.”

Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks at the state funeral Service for Mike Ahern AO this month. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Annastacia Palaszczuk and Reza Adib at Bluesfest 2022.

Ms Palaszcczuk has previously said she would lead Labor at the next election in 2024.

The Labor Party’s rules in Queensland make it difficult to roll her, with at least 50 per cent of her MPs needed to support a petition to the ALP state secretary for a ballot.

According to The Australian Ms Palaszczuk is relying on the support of union boss and power­broker Gary Bullock to stem concerns within Labor ranks.

Mr Bullock is national political director of the United Workers Union, and president of the left faction in Queensland which dominates the state parliamentary caucus and membership.

Several Labor sources said Mr Bullock and other union leaders still backed Ms Palaszczuk.

Polls show popular support for her has plummeted.

With 16 months to the next election, The Freshwater Strategy Poll, conducted for the Australian Financial Review, revealed voters turning against Ms Palaszczuk’s government for its handling of the cost of living crisis, crime and health.

Ms Palaszczuk has also become a drag on the party’s primary vote, which has fallen six points to 34 per cent. The Liberal National Party’s primary vote has risen by four points to 40 per cent, despite Opposition leader David Crisafulli not being as well known as Ms Palaszczuk.

Relationship under the spotlight

Mr Palaszczuk travelled to Europe with her partner Reza Adip.

The pair have been a fixture on the Queensland political scene since 2021 with the couple’s whirlwind romance quickly becoming one of the biggest talking points in the state politics.

Dr Ardib is a general laparoscopic surgeon who began his career at the Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1994 before establishing the Brisbane Obesity Clinic in 2004, of which he remains CEO.

Dr Reza Adib from the Brisbane Obesity Clinic. Picture: Brisbane Obesity Clinic website

Dr Reza Adib from the Brisbane Obesity Clinic. Picture: Brisbane Obesity Clinic website

The pair kept their relationship under wraps for months, going public in September.

Sources claimed that Dr Adib had been chasing the premier for some time before finally meeting her at a horse racing day in July 2021.

“People in the (premier’s) office are happy for her because normally she would go home to an empty house,” a source told the Courier Mail.

She has such a hectic schedule so it’s good for her to take some time out.’

Ms Palaszczuk is no stranger to love having been married twice – once to journalist George Megalogenis from 1996 to 1998 and Simon Every between 2004 and 2009.

Dr Adib is her first serious partner since Ms Palaszczuk split with her long-time partner Shaun Drabsch in 2018.