Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces her retirement from politics
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“Thank you to the Labor party, to all of our front-line workers – but mostly – thank you to every single Queenslander. It’s been the greatest honour of my life and our best days are well and truly ahead of us”
That was Queensland’s now-outgoing premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announcing her shock retirement in an emotional statement.
Once branded as the “accidental premier” after her Labor opposition achieved a shock upset to win the 2015 election, Ms Palaszczuk will be leaving the post as one of the state’s longest serving leaders after rising to become a defining figure of contemporary Australian politics.
“When I led this party from an opposition of just seven members, I said that the first election will be like climbing Mt Everest. I went on to climb that mountain twice more. I don’t need to do it again. I have given it my all and I have run a marathon”
After a brutal defeat in 2012, which saw Labor lose its hold on the state that it had governed for all but two years since 1989, Ms Palaszczuk’s party triumphed over the Campbell Newman L-N-P government possessing just seven seats in the 93 seat state parliament,
“The governor has invited me to form government, I have accepted that offer it is an extremely humbling experience”]]
She was the first woman to become state premier from opposition and became the first female premier to win three terms, leading Australia’s first female majority cabinet.
In eight years, she’s led the state through 63 natural disasters as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year she became the longest serving current premier in the country, following a string resignations from COVID-era leaders including Victoria’s Daniel Andrews, W-A’s Mark McGowan and the Northern Territory’s Michael Gunner.
Among the many social media tributes to Ms Palascuck, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says she retires as a Labor hero, and Queensland’s opposition leader David Crusafulli says regardless of politics, her nine years as premier deserves acknowledgment and respect.
Shutting down suggestions she’s buckling under internal pressures, Ms Palaszczuk says she just needs a break from politics.
“No no, not at all, I’m pretty tough. Next year would have been nine years. Look, a week in politics is a long time but nine years feels like an eternity.”
Ms Palaszczuk has endorsed Deputy Premier Steven Miles – a familiar face from COVID-era press conferences – to be her successor.
Mr Miles confirmed his nomination in a statement, thanking the premier for what he called her extraordinary public service and vowing to build on her government’s legacy.
Shannon Fentiman and treasurer Cameron Dick will also be contending for the leadership position with the three-way contest to be put to the state Labor caucus next week.
