Lost ‘a bit of bark’, Minister concedes Palaszczuk leadership speculation has done damage

A senior Queensland cabinet minister has conceded Annastacia Palaszczuk had lost ‘a bit of bark’ after almost nine years in office.

A senior Queensland cabinet minister has conceded Annastacia Palaszczuk has lost “a bit of bark” after almost nine years in office but believes the third-term Premier is still hungry to win.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the government was “the underdog, but very competitive”, pointing to a new poll that showed Labor’s primary vote was at 33 per cent, compared with the Liberal National Party’s 37 per cent.

“Albeit with work to do, I think everyone agrees with that, but people are not flocking to LNP,” Mr Bailey said.

The same Resolve Strategic poll results, published by the Brisbane Times, showed LNP leader David Crisafulli had extended his lead as preferred premier, at 39 per cent to Ms Palaszczuk’s 34 per cent, with 28 per cent uncommitted. Just one year ago, Ms Palaszczuk had a 12-point lead, 42 per cent to 30 per cent.

Successive public polling this year has shown Ms Palaszczuk’s personal popularity, historically one of Labor’s strongest assets, has nosedived.

Poll results have fuelled leadership speculation for months, with several of Ms Palaszczuk’s close allies, union leaders, ministerial colleagues and backbenchers privately saying she needs to be convinced to quit.

AMWU president Rohan Webb during a press conference in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Mr Bailey acknowledged the leadership rumblings had caused some political “damage” but he did not believe the Premier’s declining popularity was a “significant issue” for the party’s re-election prospects.

“I think it’s just natural when you’re in office for a while, you know, there’ll be a bit of friction, and you’ll lose a little bark along the way, but that’s normal for any leader,” he said.

“Fundamentally, the Premier is still hungry, she’s still focused and this government is delivering on our election promises.”

Queensland Council of Unions boss Jacqueline King this week refused to back Ms Palaszczuk, saying it was a “up to caucus to decide” whether she remains Premier.

“There is disquiet in the union movement, you guys are reporting on that, but in terms of the leadership issues, there are processes for that to happen and we’ll reserve our right to have a say,” she said. “I’m not going to go out here publicly and advocate for who should be premier or who should not be.”

Rohan Webb, Queensland boss of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, on Thursday said he was confident Labor could win the October 2024 election with Ms Palaszczuk as leader.

“She’s delivered for Queensland … and I’ve got no doubt she’s going to deliver into the future,” he said.

Mr Webb, who heads Health Minister and potential leadership contender Shannon Fentiman’s union, said it was up to the Premier if she wanted to stay on.

“Annastacia is the leader and I’m not going to deal with speculation today,” he said.