Premier’s strategy backfires

THE actions of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have been slammed by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Her Labor Government’s move to strip Katter’s Australian Party of extra parliamentary staff, after their new senator Fraser Anning’s controversial “final solution” speech, has blown up in her face in spectacular fashion.

Ms Palaszczuk took extra resources from the KAP after that party’s Queensland members refused to denounce Senator Anning’s speech, which used a Nazi- associated phrase.

As a result, a furious KAP Qld Leader Robbie Katter referred Ms Palaszczuk to the CCC.

To be clear, the LNP called on the Premier to remove the resources and Mr Katter also referred Member for Warrego Ann Leahy, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington, Opposition Deputy Leader Tim Mander and LNP Glasshouse MP Andrew Powell to the corruption watchdog.

The LNP MPs were told they had no case to answer but that the Premier may have technically breached a section of the criminal code which makes it an offence to attempt to bribe, extort or inappropriately influence a Member of Parliament.

The CCC has recommended an independent body be set up to allocate party resources, a suggestion the Premier would be wise to enact immediately.

KAP, of course, was given the extra staff members at a time when Ms Palaszczuk was to become the accidental premier and when she needed the support of that minor party.

It was convenient for the Premier to give that party the extra resources and it was convenient for the Premier to take them away.

The Premier isn’t likely to face any criminal repercussions for something she said in a debate in Parliament but it’s an important lesson for her to learn that being in charge of the state doesn’t mean open slather.