Premier’ Annastacia Palaszczuk under fire as she heads overseas for two weeks with rumours of a ‘coup brewing’

The Queensland Deputy Premier has thrown cold water on speculation of a leadership challenge against Annastacia Palaszczuk after controversial changes to the Youth Justice Act and poor opinion polls.

After the Premier of Queensland flew to Europe for a two-week holiday, Ms Palaszczuk’s deputy, Steven Miles, threw his support behind him amid reports of divisiveness within Labor ranks.

Critics began calling Ms Palaszczuk a part-time prime minister, with insiders claiming the head of state had “left” his post and seemed more interested in red carpet events and festivals.

Mr Miles was touted as a potential prime minister-in-waiting but insisted Ms Palaszczuk was safe, saying she would lead the government in the next election.

The caretaker prime minister said Ms Palaszczuk was doing a fantastic job and speculation over the leadership did not match his conversations with his Labor colleagues.

“I understand there will always be chatter, rumors and gossip,” Mr Miles told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday.

“What I know to be a great strength of our government is our stability and unity and the leadership that Annastacia has provided and I intend to maintain that unity and stability.”

Mr Miles would not be drawn to the prospect of the Prime Minister leaving after the state government this week introduced a series of new laws allowing the placement of children in police watchdog positions.

“I don’t think a lot of people pay attention to it,” he said.

“Annastacia works hard; she is entitled to a vacation.

Ms Palaszczuk, who will return to work on September 11, was Premier of Queensland for more than eight years and led Labor to three consecutive election victories.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has been given the label of ‘part-time prime minister’ because of her fondness for social events (pictured by Ms Palaszczuk with her boyfriend Dr Reza Adib at the Magic Millions race day on the Gold Coast in January 2022).

She is set to overtake Peter Beattie as the fourth longest-serving prime minister in state history next year.

Despite an opinion poll last month showing Labour’s vote in the primaries had fallen to 34 per cent, Mr Miles suggested this was not unusual and noted that the election would be over a year away. .

“People have written us off since 2015, even since 2012,” he said.

“I know (Queensland Liberal Leader) David Crisafulli has already been sworn in, but it will be a long time before Queenslanders have a chance to make up their minds.”

The Prime Minister has come under fire this year for canceling a cabinet meeting to party on a luxury yacht.

Ms Palaszczuk also took several days off in August on the Quantum yacht for Hamilton Island Race Week with her boyfriend, Dr Reza Adib, and with celebrities.

She was also seen partying at the Splendor in the Grass music festival in Byron Bay.

The opposition National Liberal Party said its decision to cancel the Cabinet meeting was “unfathomable”, while Labor said the attack was “puny and cheap”.

Since then, the situation has only gotten worse in the Sunshine State.

Labor Deputy Prime Minister Steven Miles has decided to dispel rumors that he could run for the top job sooner rather than later.

Figures released in May show Queensland’s health system is under severe strain as the ambulance rate – when paramedics are unable to transfer patient care to a hospital’s emergency room – hits the worst level from Australia.

Statistics showed that the delivery of services at hospitals across the state was severely delayed, with patients having to wait “dangerously” long periods for treatment.

‘Almost one in two Queenslanders are laid off when they need it and the blame lies squarely with the chaotic Palaszczuk government going from crisis to crisis,’ the LNP leader said at the time. , David Crisafulli.

In June, Ms Palaszczuk was spotted enjoying the long weekend in Sydney as Queensland grappled with an epidemic of youth crime spiraling out of control.