Annastacia Palaszczuk's boyfriend at centre of Olympic Games furore
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has sparked controversy after taking her boyfriend to a meeting with key delegates for the 2032 Olympics Games in Brisbane.
Palaszczuk flew to Sydney on Sunday for the one-hour meeting between organisers and members of the International Olympic Committee, including president Thomas Bach.
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Also in attendance were outgoing and incoming Australian Olympic Committee presidents John Coates and Ian Chesterman, as well as Brisbane's Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
However eyebrows were raised by the presence of Palaszczuk's surgeon boyfriend Dr Reza Adib.
Dressed in a blue chequered suit and beige pants, Dr Adib arrived with Ms Palaszczuk at the Sofitel Hotel and mingled with the high-profile delegates.
He then appeared in official photos at the event as well as sitting at the table for discussions.
Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie called out Ms Palaszczuk on Monday.
"I've just got to say, it's just a bit weird, the whole thing is weird," he told reporters.
"No one else had their partners at the meeting."
Mr Bleijie said it was "just not appropriate" for Ms Palaszczuk's boyfriend to be at the official meeting.
"I've seen a photo of them at the table, there were minutes, there were papers, it was a properly-prepared, formal meeting with very important people and the Premier's boyfriend was at the table," he said.
"So I'm just saying, I looked at it and I just think, why was the Premier's boyfriend granted a position at the table?
"He shouldn't have been there."
A spokesperson for Ms Palaszczuk told The Courier-Mail: "Attendees were at the invitation of the (IOC) President and Premier", saying "nothing confidential was discussed".
However Ms Palaszczuk conceded on Tuesday that it was a mistake.
"I recognise that I have made a mistake and I should not have taken my partner to that meeting," she
"I apologise, it was never intentional to cause any distress to anybody."
The premier described the meeting as an informal catch-up.
But Mr Bleijie said he didn't believe that was the case.
"When you have the International Olympic Committee, the Australian Olympic committee, the Brisbane Olympic committee, the lord mayor, government ministers, it's not an informal meeting," he said.
Thomas Bach praises Brisbane Games committee
Speaking after the meeting, Bach warned that like any marriage there would likely be surprises causing problems in the relationship.
"We are not only satisfied. I have said it before, we are impressed and happy," he said.
Bach also bid farewell to Coates, who stepped down on Saturday after 32 years as president of the Australian Olympic Committee.
"It was like a honeymoon meeting," Bach said.
"This honeymoon will not last forever. As we know by experience, like every marriage it will have its ups and downs.
"But the mutual respect and the enthusiasm, I think, will make sure that we will also overcome maybe some unexpected obstacles."
Despite leaving his post as AOC president, Coates remains vice-president of the International Olympic Committee until the 2024 Games in Paris and is still president of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Chesterman, Chef de Mission for Australia's 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games team, was elected as Coates' successor at the AOC.
with AFP
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