Annastacia Palaszczuk under fire for ‘not taking own health advice’ amid virus scare

The Queensland Premier has been accused of not taking her own virus advice after going to events despite admitting one problem.

The Queensland Premier has been accused of contradicting her own advice after travelling around the state while experiencing mild respiratory-like symptoms.

Annastacia Palaszczuk tested negative to COVID-19 on Thursday after spending two days visiting regional Queensland and attending Labor heavyweight Tim Mulherin’s funeral in Mackay.

During an online speaking engagement on Monday night, Ms Palaszczuk acknowledged she had a croaky voice, claiming she had lost her voice from the last week at parliament.

Ms Palaszczuk was in Mackay on Tuesday and travelled to Bundaberg on Wednesday. She was tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday after visiting her doctor and returned a negative result on Thursday.

Ms Palaszczuk’s office is adamant the Premier had no symptoms.

LNP health spokeswoman Ros Bates said it seemed the Premier was not taking her own health advice.

“I’m glad to hear the Premier tested negative to COVID, but it raises many questions,” Ms Bates said.

“The official advice is that if people are feeling unwell they should get tested. They should stay home and isolate until they get the results.”

“It appears the Premier has done neither and contradicted her own advice after being tested on Wednesday night – two days after having symptoms.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks at the funeral of former Mackay MP Tim Mulherin in Mackay on Tuesday. Picture: MECC livestream

Ms Bates said it was not only reckless that Ms Palaszczuk hadn’t followed her own department’s health advice, but if she had tested positive it could have created clusters in regional Queensland.

“The Premier needs to explain why she has contradicted her own health advice and that it seems there is one rule for her and another rule for everyone else,” Ms Bates said.

While Queensland Health does not have “voice loss” listed as a symptom on their COVID-19 health advice website, the closest is “sore throat” and “a cough”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was in Bundaberg on Wednesday to see the firefighting aircraft Q400AT in action. Picture: Supplied

The Premier has repeatedly called for Queenslanders to get tested “no matter how mild their symptoms are”.

On September 14, Ms Palaszczuk tweeted “Please do this, no matter how mild your symptoms. It’s one of the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Please do this, no matter how mild your symptoms.

It's one of the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19.#covid19au pic.twitter.com/bICaVMLCEo

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 14, 2020