Premier’s ‘shock’ labelled hypocritical
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has been labelled a hypocrite after she said she was shocked by verbal abuse hurled at her in central Queensland over controversial tree-clearing legislation.
Opposition frontbencher Jarrod Bleijie branded Ms Palaszczuk “the meanest, nastiest and most vindictive woman I know” on social media, saying he had been on the receiving end of similar abuse from her while he was attorney-general in the former Newman Government.
His Tweet came after Ms Palaszczuk complained about being heckled by farmers at Beef Week in Rockhampton on Wednesday, with chants of “go away Palaszczuk”. The abuse caused Ms Palaszczuk to say she was shocked.
“Unfortunately, there were a couple of people there who went a step too far … I don’t believe that verbal abuse and swearing is acceptable. I was quite shocked by that and I wouldn’t expect that as part of a Queensland I live in,” she said.
But Mr Bleijie hit back on Twitter: “What absolute rubbish. She is the meanest, nastiest and most vindictive woman I know.”
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington also refused to condemn the protesting farmers, saying they were the victims of “draconian” vegetation management laws.