Petition heats up to BAN premier from going to Tokyo Olympics
A petition calling for Annastacia Palaszczuk to be denied the right to travel to Japan for the Olympics during the Covid pandemic has gained traction, with more than 120,000 signatures.
The Change.org petition was started by an account titled “stranded Australians” two weeks ago.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk has successfully advocated for a brutal and heartless halving of Australian quarantine spaces, making it even more difficult for Stranded Australians to return home,” the petition reads.
“The people of Australia believe the Queensland Government should lead by example.
“We hereby petition for Annastacia Palaszczuk to be DENIED the right to leave Australia at this time until she increases Hotel Quarantine capacity to such an extent that she will not take up a space that could have gone to a Stranded Australian.”
Those that signed the petition slammed the premier for "double standards".
"I can’t go see my mum. She can’t come and see her grandkids but Anastasia [sic] should be allowed to travel over to watch some Olympic Games... really?" one woman wrote.
"One rule for all or NONE!!! Enough of the double standards!" another said.
A 'disaster' if premier doesn't go to Japan
Ms Palaszczuk’s planned trip to Tokyo to present the Brisbane 2032 Olympic bid to the International Olympic Committee has come under intense scrutiny in the past month.
Federal Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews lashed out at the premier during a recent interview.
"It's the absolute hypocrisy that is really getting right up the nose with Queenslanders at the moment," she told 4BC Radio.
Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner will also be travelling with Ms Palaszczuk.
Last week, Ms Palaszczuk said Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates had made it "very clear" it would be a "disaster if the head of Queensland did not go".
"If we're in a situation where we're in a lockdown I won't be able to attend, but the delegation is the federal sports minister, the premier and the lord mayor," she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said she understood the views put forward in the petition, but called the 2032 Olympics "the biggest opportunity that Queensland's ever seen".
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have the 2032 Olympics here in Queensland, we're never going to get that opportunity again, and I'd hate to see it fall at the final hurdle," Ms Palaszczuk said.
National cabinet agreed earlier this month to cut overseas arrivals Australia-wide in response to growing concern over hotels' ability to contain the Delta variant of Covid-19.
with AAP
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