- Annastacia Palaszczuk has resigned
- Queensland premier said the ‘time was right’
Annastacia Palaszczuk has resigned as Queensland premier.
An emotional Ms Palaszczuk announced the shock move on Sunday saying ‘the time was right’.
‘I have given it my all and I have run a marathon,’ she said.
‘I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and it’s the right time, and it’s time for renewal.
‘I’ve dedicated my whole life to community service, there’s no greater honour.
‘Nine years, it feels like an eternity.’
Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) resigned as Queensland premier on Sunday
The Premier wiped away tears as she confirmed her retirement from politics, following months of speculation that she would do so.
Ms Palaszczuk said she began considering retirement during a two-week holiday in Italy in September.
‘Everyone deserves a break. Finally last week, my mind was made up at national cabinet,’ she said.
‘I was sitting there thinking, this is the fourth prime minister, there were all these new faces sitting around the cabinet table.
‘We got a great deal for Queensland, $4billion, and I thought to myself, renewal is a good thing.’
Ms Palaszczuk reminded reporters that when she became the Queensland state Labor leader the party was an opposition of just seven members.
‘I said that 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 was first elected as Premier in 2015, then at the following election became the first woman leader in Australia to be reelected.
She also led the first majority female cabinet in Australia.
She will stay on until the end of the coming week.
Her successor is likely to be a three-way contest between the Deputy Premier, Steven Miles, Health Minister, Shannon Fentiman and Treasurer Cameron Dick.
More to come…
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk