Annastacia Palaszczuk says Peter Beattie should focus on NRL, rather than her integrity issues

Annastacia Palaszczuk says Peter Beattie should focus on football, rather than ALP integrity issues.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, right. says former Labor leader Peter Beattie, left, should focus on rugby league, rather than her government’s integrity issues.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says former Labor leader Peter Beattie should focus on rugby league, rather than weighing in on her government’s integrity issues.

Ms Palaszczuk is under fire over allegations her deputy, Jackie Trad, failed to properly declare an investment property, and her chief of staff co-owned a company that received $267,500 in state government financing.

Former Queensland Labor Premier Peter Beattie — now Australian Rugby League Commission chair — yesterday responded on Twitter to a Courier-Mail column on the saga.

“A reporter with a sense of history; rare indeed,” Mr Beattie tweeted. “Happily these days I am remote from politics and absorbed in my other passion, Rugby League. One other powerful passion. Wayne Goss and I shared in post Fitzgerald Queensland ; honesty in government matters. It is the Labor way.”

A reporter with a sense of history; rare indeed. Happily these days I am remote from politics and absorbed in my other passion, Rugby League. One other powerful passion Wayne Goss and I shared in post Fitzgerald Queensland ; honesty in government matters. It is the Labor way https://t.co/cF5lSNkaG3

— Peter Beattie (@SmartState1) August 6, 2019

This morning at a press conference on the Gold Coast, Ms Palaszczuk was asked whether she thought Mr Beattie was having a dig at her government over integrity.

“I honestly believe that integrity is absolutely vital,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “And Peter Beattie he’s been a premier of this state, he’s now head of the NRL. I hope he can put forward a case for Queensland to get an NRL grand final. I think he should be focused on that frankly.”

She said she had told her ministers they needed to make sure their pecuniary interest registers were up to date.

“I’ve said to Cabinet very clearly, everyone needs to make sure their pecuniary interest register is up to date,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“And I hope every Member of Parliament complies with those rules.”