“I will risk all that”: Premier prepared to lose election to keep Queensland safe

The Premier has declared she’s prepared to lose the state election, if it means keeping Queensland safe.

It comes after mounting criticism of the Premier, the Health Minister, and the Chief Health Officer over the state’s handling of coronavirus, particularly the border closures.

In stunning new comments on Monday, Annastacia Palaszczuk said she is prepared to lose the election, but she will not back down on the state’s strict measures, which are ‘keeping Queenslanders safe’.

“The only people being political here, is Scott Morrison and Deb Frecklington.

“Now if it means I have to lose the election, I will risk all that, if it means keeping Queenslanders safe,” the Premier declared.

“I will always stand up for what I believe to be right in this state. I’m putting myself out there, I’m putting myself on the line.

“But I’m making no apologies for keeping Queenslanders safe during this time.

“That’s what they tell me, they stop me in the street, people stop me and tell me that they want us to keep going with what we’re doing.

“And I’m relying on the best medical advice given to me by Doctor Young,” the Premier said.

Last week, there were two high profile exemption cases which caught national attention; a young family refused the ability to see their dying father, and a Canberra woman unable to attend her father’s funeral.

Related article: LNP launches scathing attack on Queensland Premier over border exemptions

State opposition leader Deb Frecklington questioned the Premier about the Canberra woman, Sarah Caisip, at state parliament on Thursday, making that particular case known to the public.

Not long after the Premier defended the exemption refusal, made by Doctor Jeanette Young, the Prime Minister called up radio station 4BC in Brisbane, making an emotional plea.

Queensland Health stood firm on its decision not to let Sarah attend her father’s funeral, instead letting her out of hotel quarantine to view her father’s body after the service.

She was then returned to hotel quarantine.

Since Thursday, the Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young has received an increasing amount of death threats, causing her to call in security.

Related article: Police posted outside home of Qld’s top doctor after death threats