Annastacia Palaszczuk digs in with ‘ruthless people’ swipe as leadership speculation swirls

Who wants to be the ‘selfish’ challenger to knife a female role model? Annastacia Palaszczuk returned from leave with comments she hoped might put Queensland Labor leadership speculation to bed. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP

When Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is “absolutely determined” to lead Labor to another election in Queensland, no one has any doubt that she means it.

“I feel refreshed, I feel energised,” the Queensland premier said on Monday, returning from leave to address worsening polls and growing unrest among government MPs.