Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has resigned from her position, announcing that she will step down at the end of the week after eight years of service. During her tenure, she led the state through the pandemic era, which included managing the COVID-19 response and making decisions about border closures and lockdowns. Despite this challenging period, Ms. Palaszczuk commended the efforts of the Queensland government and noted that the state was in good shape. As a result, she revealed that she felt it was the right time to retire.
At her final press conference on Sunday, Ms. Palaszczuk reflected on her journey as Premier, equating the experience of winning elections to climbing Mount Everest, and asserting that she felt it was time for her to “do something else.” She expressed her confidence in Deputy Premier Steven Miles to take the reins as the next leader of Queensland, indicating that she would provide him with a strong endorsement. Furthermore, she acknowledged her decision to step down during a meeting with the National Cabinet, where she saw new faces and felt that it was the “right time” to leave.
Although Ms. Palaszczuk will no longer serve as Premier, she takes pride in the accomplishments of her administration during her time in office. This includes the advancement of women’s rights, leading a government that values women, and securing Brisbane as the host of the 2032 Olympic Games. She also highlighted the substantial contributions to the state’s infrastructure development and the transition from coal to renewable energy. After 15 years as a member of Inala, she will be retiring from her role as a member of the state Labour party and as the leader of the state.
While many have thanked Ms. Palaszczuk for her dedicated service, acknowledging her as a “game-changer” and a “Labor hero,” others have raised criticism. Queensland One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts pointed out that Ms. Palaszczuk’s retirement marks the end of the last “COVID premier,” urging further examination of the governments’ responses to the pandemic. Regardless of the differing opinions, Ms. Palaszczuk’s retirement marks the end of an era and the start of a new chapter for Queensland’s leadership.