Annastacia Palaszczuk RESIGNS after almost nine years as Queensland Premier: Outgoing leader is overcome with emotion as she makes shock announcement: ‘The honor of a lifetime’

Annastacia Palaszczuk has resigned as Premier of Queensland.

An emotional Ms Palaszczuk announced the shock move through tears on Sunday, saying “the time was right”.

“I gave it my all and ran a marathon,” she said.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and it’s the right time, and it’s time for renewal.

“I have dedicated my entire life to community service, and there is no greater honor.

‘Nine years, it feels like an eternity.’

The Prime Minister wiped away tears as she confirmed her retirement from politics after months of speculation she would do so.

Ms Palaszczuk said she started thinking about retirement during a two-week holiday in Italy in September.

‘Everyone deserves a break. Last week my decision was finalized in the national cabinet,” she said.

‘I was sitting there thinking: this is the fourth Prime Minister, there were all new faces around the cabinet table.

“We got a great deal for Queensland, $4 billion, and I thought to myself, innovation is a good thing.”

Ms Palaszczuk reminded reporters that when she became Labor leader of Queensland state, the party was an opposition of just seven members.

‘I said the first elections would be like climbing Mount Everest. I was going to climb that mountain two more times. I don’t have to do it again.’

She was first elected Prime Minister in 2015 and became Australia’s first female leader to be re-elected at the next election in 2017.

She also led Australia’s first female majority cabinet.

Ms Palaszczuk led Labor to bigger majorities in the 2017 and 2020 state elections, becoming the first Australian female prime minister to win three terms.

She will stay until the end of next week.

Her successor is likely to be a three-way battle between Deputy Prime Minister Steven Miles, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman and Treasurer Cameron Dick.

More to come…