Annastacia Palaszczuk hotel quarantine painting: Questions about Qld Premier’s return from Tokyo

Annastacia Palaszczuk appears to have accidentally revealed she is quarantining in a luxury suite with ‘heavenly’ pillows, a lavender-scented ‘superking’ bed and a rain-style shower. 

The Queensland Premier is serving out her 14 day quarantine period at Brisbane’s Westin Hotel, after celebrating the city’s successful 2032 Olympic bid in Tokyo and attending the opening ceremony. 

Ms Palaszczuk’s camp has described her quarantine set up as a ‘normal hotel room’ and a senior police official called them ‘modest’ digs. 

‘Put it this way, I am not staying at the Lodge,’ the Premier told a parliamentary committee hearing this month, referring to the PM’s Canberra residence. 

However, a painting hanging above the Premier’s desk in a photo she tweeted from her room this week indicates she is staying in one of the hotel’s most exclusive rooms. 

The same painting is visible in photos the hotel uses to advertise its Renewal and Premium Renewal hotel rooms. 

Both room types feature a private balcony, ‘beautiful views’ of Brisbane city, a balcony and a ‘spacious living area’.   

A marble bathroom ‘provides a spa-like experience with signature White Tea Heavenly Bath Amenities and a Dyson Hairdryer,’ the website said.

‘Wind down naturally in your SuperKing Heavenly Bed with the Sleep Well Lavender Balm, infused with relaxing oils of lavender and chamomile.’ 

The price of the room wasn’t available given the hotel is serving as a hotel quarantine destination. 

A Queensland Government spokeswoman said the Premier wouldn’t be confirming her precise accommodation arrangements for security reasons.

‘The accommodation type is the same that everyday Queenslanders can receive when they stay in hotel quarantine at the Westin,’ a spokeswoman said.

‘The Premier is staying on the same floor as other members of the community in hotel quarantine at the Westin. 

‘I am told there are tens of other rooms on the same level used for quarantine and tens of other rooms just like this across the hotel. 

‘Any suggestion that the Premier is accessing accommodation different to that able to be accessed by anyone else completing hotel quarantine would be 100% incorrect.’  

In Tokyo, the Premier secured the Games for south-east Queensland in 2032 – but became the subject of a media spectacle when Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates bizarrely ‘ordered’ her to attend Tokyo’s opening ceremony.

On the home front, Ms Palaszczuk was criticised for taking up a place in hotel quarantine when she had lobbied the Federal government to halve arrival caps prior to her trip. 

As the Australian Associated Press reported this week, there have been rumours Ms Palaszczuk was staying in a luxury three bedroom suite.  

Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski denied that was the case, saying the premier is in a ‘modest’ room, selected in consultation with the police protecting her.

“It is what I would call a modest room, certainly not a three bedroom suite which would be a complete inaccuracy, and of course it has been set up so she can do her job, including being able to connect into National Cabinet.”   

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath likewise publicly denied that the premier had secured a bigger room than what would be allocated to regular returned travellers.

‘She’s one person staying in one of the many rooms that have been set aside for hotel quarantine,’ Ms D’Ath said.

‘So this room has been used by many other people who have been in hotel quarantine.’   

As for Ms Palaszczuk herself, to her side of it, she is working from her hotel suite and occasionally watching the Olympics. 

The tweet which appeared to give away her room type said: ‘Day four working from hotel quarantine. Paused to watch Ariarne’s epic win – how good was that.’