Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk resigns

Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced she is resigning as Queensland Premier and will finish at the end of the week, saying “the time was right” and she feels she has “run a marathon”.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has resigned and will leave politics within weeks, declaring the the time was right for renewal.

In a shock resignation that took many in her own party by surprise, Ms Palaszczuk battled through tears to describe her experience in the state’s top job.

“I have given it my all and I have run a marathon,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I’ve dedicated my whole life to community service; there’s no greater honour.”

Ms Palaszczuk will formally quit on Friday when Labor’s 52-person caucus meets to choose her successor.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles has been endorsed by Ms Palaszczuk and is the frontrunner, but party insiders say rising star Health Minister Shannon Fentiman is an ­outside chance, possibly with the support of Treasurer Cameron Dick.

Ms Palaszczuk’s exit after eight years in the top job follows mounting criticism about her leadership and concern from within the Labor Party about whether she could win a fourth election.

Ms Palaszczuk on Sunday denied it played a part in her decision but revealed the energy she had after returning from Europe in September had diminished.

An emotional Annastacia Palaszczuk announcing she is standing down as Premier of Queensland. Picture: Liam Kidston

“I gave it everything,” she said.

“Next year would have been nine years and look, a week in politics is a long time but can I tell you nine years feels like an eternity.

“I still have the support of the entire party and the Labor movement and I just want to thank them, it’s been a great honour to be the leader of this party.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the turning point was seeing the new faces around the national cabinet table last week.

“I was sitting there thinking this is the fourth prime minister … and I thought to myself, renewal is a good thing,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk will also finish as the Member for Inala at the end of this month, forcing a by-election in the new year.

YouGov polling for The Courier-Mail in October revealed Ms Palaszczuk’s personal popularity was sliding and Labor was on track to lose the next election – setting the scene for a brutal campaign Ms Palaszczuk said she would not be a part of.

“When I led this party from an Opposition of seven members, I said that the first election would be like climbing Mount Everest. I went on to climb that mountain twice more, I don’t need to do it again,” she said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it felt like the time was right. Picture: Liam Kidston

Dubbed the accidental premier after her 2015 victory over the LNP’s Campbell Newman, Ms Palaszczuk has grown Labor’s vote at each election to now enjoy a thumping parliamentary majority.

From its 2012 annihilation, Ms Palaszczuk won three elections to grow Labor to a commanding 52-person Caucus.

Labor insiders had called for Ms Palaszczuk to step down over the summer break to preserve her legacy as a winning premier, and a campaign of criticism by former Labor ­ministers in the past fortnight had reignited leadership speculation.

As recently as last week Ms Palaszczuk was holding firm, insisting she was “very excited” to battle the October 2024 poll against LNP Leader David Crisafulli.

However, on Sunday she said with the state set up for “such a bright future”, the time was right to step away.

“I’m absolutely committed to ensuring a smooth transition and the building blocks are all there … it’s up to the next person to make sure that building continues,” she said.

Mr Crisafulli on Sunday paid tribute to Ms Palaszczuk.

“Regardless of politics, nine years as Premier deserves acknowledgment and respect,” he said.

With Tropical Cyclone Jasper bearing down on the Queensland coast, Ms Palaszczuk noted it would be the 63rd natural disaster she had led the state through as ­Premier.

That figure excludes the Covid-19 pandemic, a global event in which Ms Palaszczuk will be forever linked to.

“I said then that if we had a strong health response we would have a strong economic recovery and that’s exactly what has happened,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk was only five months away from eclipsing the tenure of former Premier Peter Beattie – which would have given her the mantle of Queensland’s second longest-serving Premier behind Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

Ms Palaszczuk on Sunday said she didn’t know what the next step was.

“I have no job,” she laughed.

“I think I will be out there promoting Queensland in some form.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Liam Kidston

In pictures: Palaszczuk over the years

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Originally published as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk resigns