Premier’s plate will be very full

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk will have the honour of attending a wonderful celebration in Cairns city’s history tonight — the official opening of the Bailey hotel.

Already a talking point for not only its beautiful interior, edgy food and beverage options, and its striking green exterior, Bailey is the second hotel to come online in Syrian developer Ghassan Aboud’s CBD Crystalbrook Collection portfolio.

It will be a fine opportunity to toast a man’s vision and belief in Cairns and to look toward the future.

No doubt they will have much to talk about.

Apparently jetting in last night, the Premier will likely have several meetings on her agenda.

Without being privy to her itinerary, one could imagine the following liaisons would be a day well spent as she keeps an eye on next year’s State election and retaining her stranglehold on the Far North.

■ A morning meeting with Cairns MP Michael Healy to discuss the Global Tourism Hub. What, when and how much – ultimately it’s an announcement for Tourism Minister Kate Jones but some insight from the Big Boss would be nice.

■ A check-in with police chiefs about the city’s kid crime crisis, a little thank you for their efforts and a phone call here and there to ensure other government departments are linking in well.

■ Lunch with Mayor Bob Manning to talk about … well, everything. But perhaps starting with how to activate a tourism levy and attracting more airlines would be a pleasing entree.

■ Bailey pre-official opening drinks with Barron River MP Craig Crawford toasting the fact they’ve got the cash to cover the 200m Smithfield Bypass shortfall.

Jennifer Spilsbury

Editor