Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has wiped away tears as she today announced her retirement from politics.
After months of speculation about her future and declining popularity rates, the departing leader said she felt that “now is the time” to walk away from the job after nine years.
She will officially step down as Premier next week.
“Standing alongside and standing up for the people of Queensland as Labor’s Premier has been the honour of my life,” she said in an online statement.
“I’ve always drawn my strength from the people of Queensland, working every day to make our state fairer and more prosperous for the future. I have given it my all.”
The controversial Premier, who was once labelled ‘cold-hearted and nasty’ for allowing celebrities and AFL players into Queensland while keeping out desperate family members during the COVID-19 pandemic, turned on the tears for her own departure from the state’s top job.
“If you were wondering, I turned my mind to this when I was trying to have a holiday with my partner,” Ms Palaszczuk told media at a press conference this morning.
“Everyone deserves a break. Finally, my mind was made up at national cabinet last week when I saw so many new faces.”
She said she would also be finishing up as an MP come the end of the month.
“I have no job come January,” she laughed amid her teary statements today.
“But, look, I think I will be out there promoting Queensland in some form or capacity.
Ms Palaszczuk will serve out the next week as Premier to give the Labor caucus the time to select who will replace her. She has thrown her support behind Deputy Premier, Steven Miles, to take over from her.
“I have a great deputy in Stephen Miles and I believe he’ll make an excellent premier,“ she said.
