Home Affairs Minister slams Queensland Premier as Tokyo petition lurches over 75,000 signatures
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has taken another shot at Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk over her proposed trip to the Tokyo Olympics despite pushing for halving foreign arrivals.
Ms Andrews said it was “hypocrisy”.
It comes as an online petition calling for Ms Palaszczuk’s trip to be cancelled reached more than 75,000 signatures.
Minister Andrews told 4BC’s Spencer Howson that Ms Palaszczuk should “think very carefully” about her decision to travel, insisting she could do the presentation over a video call instead.
“The petition is absolutely sending a strong message to Premier Palaszczuk … whether or not she chooses to listen to that is an entirely different issue,” Ms Andrews said.
“The issue to is her hypocrisy, she shuts down our borders at the drop of a hat, and she doesn’t want people to come into the country.”
“But when she wants to go overseas, that’s fine.”
Reaching nearly 80,000 signatures by Thursday afternoon, the digital petition’s following has more than doubled since its inception earlier this week.
Campaign organisers have said that Ms Palaszczuk shouldn’t be allowed to steal a “precious” hotel quarantine space from “more deserving” stranded Australian’s trying to return home.
“It seems the rules only apply to ordinary Australians. If you’re a politician, a celebrity, or a sports star – then the rules don’t apply to you,” the organisers said on Tuesday.
“She can use Zoom for her Olympic pitch, like all the families who have said goodbye to loved ones virtually, and all the families separated for 18 months and counting.”
“If Zoom is good enough for us, then it’s good enough for Annastacia Palaszczuk.”
Premier Palaszczuk earlier this week said her attendance in Tokyo is crucial in securing the games for Brisbane in 2032 and helping Queensland recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
“It has been made very clear … that it would be a disaster if the head of Queensland did not go and it is basically to go there, to make the pitch and to come back and then spend 14 days in hotel quarantine,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I think it is very important that we have that really strong representation of federal, state and local.”
