Annastacia Palaszczuk is ROASTED for cringeworthy slow-motion video taking off her face mask


Annastacia Palaszczuk has sparked uproar on social media with a cringeworthy video celebrating the lifting of Queensland mask mandates. 

The Premier posted a slow motion video to Twitter where she theatrically took off her mask to Frank Sinatra’s song ‘When You’re Smiling’ on Monday. 

The grinning clip came as Ms Palaszczuk announced she was scrapping the state’s face mask mandate and density limits from 6pm on Friday, March 4.    

The video was widely criticised by everyone from pro-mask followers to public health officials and political adversaries from the Greens to One Nation.  

Annastacia Palaszczuk has lit the fuse on social media again after posting a cringeworthy video celebrating the lifting of mask mandates in Queensland

Annastacia Palaszczuk has lit the fuse on social media again after posting a cringeworthy video celebrating the lifting of mask mandates in Queensland

The premier announced with the current Omicron outbreak dissipating, the face mask mandate and density limits can be eased from 6pm on Friday, March 4

The premier announced with the current Omicron outbreak dissipating, the face mask mandate and density limits can be eased from 6pm on Friday, March 4

Pauline Hanson’s political party tweeted: ‘This has to be a serious contender for the tone deaf tweet hall of fame.’ 

Meanwhile, a Tasmanian Greens MP, Cassy O’Connor, tweeted that the video was ‘so reckless and irresponsible’. 

‘You’ve still got rampant community transmission. Queenslanders are still dying, and you do this – against all the evidence that masks prevent infection and save lives.’ 

A healthcare worker quipped: ‘Smiles, and lots of COVID.

‘My family has cancelled their trip to Queensland this year, as is obvious that this pandemic is no longer about health.’ 

The video was widely criticised by everyone from pro-mask followers to public health officials and political adversaries from the Greens to One Nation

The video was widely criticised by everyone from pro-mask followers to public health officials and political adversaries from the Greens to One Nation

Another furious doctor said: ‘For healthcare workers they will continue to wear masks in the challenging settings they have worked for two years in. 

‘Remember how long this lasted last time ? The first time was a few days, the second a couple of weeks. Apparently a short memory.’

A third follower described it as ‘disgusting and irresponsible messaging.’

While many were critical of the video, plenty of her supporters joined in celebrating the milestone.

‘Thank you Annastacia. For doing your best. Can’t ask for more than that,’ a man replied.

‘I love this and I appreciate everything you’ve done but I’m going to still wear mine,’ another tweeted.

Ms Palaszczuk's tweet on Tuesday afternoon sparked anger after comparing the use of masks to smiling, with experts saying the face coverings are there for safety reasons rather than comfort

In the video she celebrated the removal of the mask mandate to the iconic song - attracting criticism widespread criticism

Ms Palaszczuk’s tweet on Tuesday afternoon sparked anger after comparing the use of masks to smiling, with experts saying the face coverings are there for safety reasons rather than comfort

Experts say the decision has come too soon, with high rates of community transmission still present in Queensland

Experts say the decision has come too soon, with high rates of community transmission still present in Queensland

Ms Palaszczuk confirmed on Tuesday the mask mandate would lift from March 4, a move in line with similar announcements from New South Wales and Victoria.

‘Masks will no longer be required in most settings, you won’t need them at work or in school or at the shops, staff and patrons won’t be required to wear them at cafes, pubs and restaurants,’ she told parliament on Tuesday.

‘Mr Speaker smiles are back. We can put our masks away.’ 

However, her tweet on Tuesday afternoon sparked anger after comparing the use of masks to smiling, with experts saying the face coverings are there for safety reasons rather than comfort. 

Another furious doctor said: 'For healthcare workers they will continue to wear masks in the challenging settings they have worked for two years in

Another furious doctor said: ‘For healthcare workers they will continue to wear masks in the challenging settings they have worked for two years in

A leading Australian doctor said Ms Palaszczuk’s decision to remove mask mandates was ‘not a good idea’ with cases still ‘very high’.

Professor Lidia Morawska, who was named one of Time’s most influential people in 2021 due to her work in highlighting the transmissibility of airborne Covid particles, told the ABC it was a premature decision.

‘We haven’t taken many other measures to protect people, like improved ventilation in indoor spaces,’ she said.

‘If people are in proximity to each other, even with improved ventilation, infection risk is very high, so mask wearing is a very well protected measure.’

Professor Morawska said removing mask rules will ‘result in an increase in the number of cases’ in Queensland, days after the World Health Organisation’s director-general lamented the increasingly lax attitude towards Covid.

‘It’s premature for any country either to surrender, or to declare victory,’ Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.  

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said people should continue carrying masks and wearing them in large social settings or where they can't socially distance

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said people should continue carrying masks and wearing them in large social settings or where they can’t socially distance

Masks will still be mandatory in QLD on public transport and in airports, hospitals, disability care, aged care and prisons.

Density limits will also be scrapped for private homes, weddings and funerals and there will be no limits in food courts, hairdressers, gyms, private venues and universities.

A ban on school excursions, assemblies and interschool visits will also be ditched from 6pm on March 4.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said people should continue carrying masks and wearing them in large social settings or where they can’t socially distance.

Demands to prove vaccination status for entry to a wide range of venues will remain once the mask restrictions are ditched, as will certain quarantine requirements.

‘We will regularly be updated by the Chief Health Officer as to when we can move to lifting further restrictions,’ Ms D’Ath said.

There is still a ‘significant chance’ mandatory masks will return if cases rise with the cooler weather, Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said.

‘We don’t know what the future will hold, but we assume there will be some sort of wave in winter,’ he said.

The government will also ditch its daily COVID-19 briefings next week and will publish numbers online, unless there’s an important announcement to make.

The latest figures show that 92.54 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have had one vaccine dose, while 90.61 per cent have had two. 

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