Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk shuts down ‘rude’ reporter as state records two new local cases

A reporter has hit back after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk blasted her for being ‘rude’ during her daily Covid press conference.

A journalist at the centre of a public stoush with Annastacia Palaszczuk has hit back after the Premier blasted her for being “rude”.

The Premier revealed Queensland reported two new local cases on Thursday but her daily press conference took a dramatic turn when the state leader was quizzed about comments she made a day earlier.

Ms Palaszczuk slammed the Morrison government on Wednesday for not consulting national cabinet over his decision to remove the age restriction on the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite blood-clotting concerns.

The Premier’s comments were viewed by many as the catalyst for a hostile series of press conferences from state leaders disputing the federal government’s position on the vaccine rollout.

Sunrise reporter Bianca Stone pressed Ms Palaszczuk, describing the Wednesday press conference as a “political stunt”.

In reply, the Premier said: “Sorry, I don’t know your name.”

She then went on to shut down the Channel 7 reporter, saying “I won’t answer people being rude. You are being very rude. Anyone else with a question?”

A furious Premier Palaszczuk snapped at reporters. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

The Premier answered a few more queries before storming out of the press conference, as reporters hurled unanswered questions at the state leader.

Stone responded to Ms Palaszczuk’s rebuke later on Thursday, saying her question was “legitimate”.

“Journalists are given limited opportunity at these government media conferences to ask questions,” she tweeted.

“If @AnnastaciaMP wants pleasantries she should stick around a bit longer so that all of the journalists in the room can ask their questions.

“And it actually doesn’t matter who I am.”

She added later: “For those asking, my question was legitimate. I was asking about the political stunt @AnnastaciaMP and co tried to pull on day 1 of a lockdown.

“Sprouting incorrect info on AstraZeneca then saying they were going to run out of Pfizer … all to deflect blame over a hospital outbreak.

“Four million Queenslanders are in lockdown and we deserve answers not more spin.”

Journalists are given limited opportunity at these government media conferences to ask questions. If @AnnastaciaMP wants pleasantries she should stick around a bit longer so that all of the journalists in the room can ask their questions. And it actually doesn’t matter who I am. https://t.co/YuatKRLWLR

— Bianca Stone (@Bianca_Stone) July 1, 2021

Of Queensland’s two new locally acquired Covid-19 cases, one is linked to the Portuguese restaurant cluster and the other worked at the Brisbane Airport and visited a number of sites while infectious.

Two new cases were also recorded in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young described the limited number of new infections as “encouraging news” as a decision on lifting or extending the looms in the next 24 hours.

“The new case today has probably acquired it in our international airport,” she told reporters on Thursday.

“She works at the check-in counter at Qatar Airlines, which means she would be checking in, not only the passengers, but she would be involved with the crew. We do know that international flight crew our high risk.”

Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young was encouraged by the new case figures. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

This case, a woman in her 30s, became symptomatic on June 27, meaning she was infectious in the community since Friday.

It comes as Queenslanders responded to the local outbreaks by coming forward in record numbers to get vaccinated.

Dr Young said 29,990 Covid-19 tests were also completed in the past 24 hours, which was almost a record as well.

The state is delicately poised given it is in the grips of four sources of infection — the Portuguese restaurant, Virgin Australia flight attendant, the mine cluster from the Northern Territory, and the 19-year-old receptionist infected by a returned traveller quarantining at the Prince Charles Hospital.

The young hospital employee who contracted the highly contagious Delta variant flew to Townsville and visited Magnetic Island while infectious, creating a health threat in the state’s north.

The lockdown end or extension was expected to hinge on the new cases. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Ms Palaszczuk plunged parts of the state in lockdown from Tuesday evening, with southeast Queensland, Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island all directed to stay home.

The 11 southeast Queensland council areas affected by the stay-at-home orders are Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley and Somerset.

The four approved reasons to leave home during the lockdown include:

• To buy essentials such as groceries or medications
• Work or study if you can’t do either from home
• Exercise in your local area
• Healthcare or to provide help, care or support

Queensland was the fourth jurisdiction to be plunged into lockdown this week after similar directives in Western Australia, Northern Territory and NSW.

View the full list of exposure sites here.