Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk bills taxpayers $64,238 for annual Cabinet Christmas party

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk billed taxpayers more than $64,000 for an exclusive 90-minute Christmas party that featured a who’s who from Australia on the guest list.

The Prime Minister’s Cabinet Christmas reception was held on December 18 at the Thomas Dixon Centre, the Queensland Ballet’s spectacular new $100 million home in Brisbane’s West End.

Guests were directed to arrive at 5:15pm for the 5:30pm event and advised to only wear ‘flat shoes or block heels’ to protect the center floor.

The expensive holiday party cost taxpayers a total of $64,238, which works out to about $713 per minute.

Ms Palaszczuk’s office on Sunday defended the annual event as a “long-standing tradition.”

The 90-minute event cost taxpayers a total of $64,238, which is more than $700 per minute (Mark Ryan, Brett and Belinda Beasley with Annastacia Palaszczuk at the 2022 Cabinet Christmas Reception)

A spokesperson for Ms Palaszczuk told the mail donations to charities were given out during the function and it was an ‘important opportunity’ for non-profit organizations to be supported and recognized.

The cost of the event and the complete list of guests was obtained by Courier Mail under the Right to Information Laws.

Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Governor Jeannette Young attended the event, along with Queensland MPs Mark Ryan and Di Farmer.

Ms Palaszczuk was photographed with Order of Australia Medal recipient Vanessa Fowler and Australia of the Year nominees Geoff Dickie, Priscilla Dickie, Brett Beasley and Belinda Beasley.

His partner, surgeon Dr. Reza Adib, also attended the event.

Juvenile Justice Minister Leanne Linard called the event a “wonderful night” and shared footage of the event on social media.

“It was a great opportunity to say thank you to our key stakeholders across the state who make such a significant contribution to Queensland life,” Ms Linard wrote.

A key component of the annual event was the presentation of donations to charities (pictured)

Juvenile Justice Minister Leanne Linard (right) called the event a “wonderful evening” and shared footage of the event on social media.

Guests heard speeches by Ms Palaszczuk and Deputy Prime Minister Steven Miles and were also treated to a ‘preliminary performance’ of The Nutcracker by dancers from the Queensland Ballet.

Over 900 people were invited, including Australian billionaires, athletes, union leaders, current and former politicians, department heads and stakeholders; however, Ms. Palaszczuk’s office has not confirmed who attended the event.

Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann and his Oscar-winning partner Catherine Martin were on the guest list.

Palaszczuk was photographed with Luhrmann on the red carpet at the Gold Coast premiere of Elvis in June last year.

Other Hollywood hits were invited as well, including the producer of Godzilla vs. Kong and the Pirates of the Caribbean, Eric McLeod, and the executive producer of the Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe, Andrew Mason.

Australia’s richest person and mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, tech entrepreneur Bevan Slattery, Suncorp boss Steve Johnston and Racing Queensland’s Steve Wilson were also invited.

The reception invited over 900 people, including Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann (Reza Adib (left), Baz Luhrmann (centre) and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (right) during the Australian premiere of the movie Elvis on the Gold Coast )

Ms Palaszczuk was accused of being obsessed with ‘glow and glamour’ after a series of red carpet appearances (pictured Catherine Martin, Baz Luhrmann, Annastacia Palaszczuk, Austin Butler, Reza Adib Chaydon Jay, Olivia DeJonge and Tom Hanks at the Elvis premiere)

Other guests included Olympic champion Dawn Fraser, simmers Ariarne Titmus, Zac Stubblety-Cook and Shayna Jack, former NRL player Johnathan Thurston and Paralympian Kurt Fearnley.

Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games President Andrew Liveris was invited along with members of the Games organizing committee.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Palaszczuk’s office for comment.

The 2022 Prime Minister’s Cabinet Christmas Reception cost taxpayers $13,524 less than the previous year’s event, which was held at the Queensland Art Gallery and cost $77,762.

Last year, Ms Palaszczuk’s dedication came into question after she was accused of being obsessed with ‘glow and glamour’ following a series of appearances at red carpet events.