Speculation over Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s grip on power continues to build – and now, the holidaying political leader has requested privacy after The Australian tracked her down in Naples, Italy. She said (paywall) “I don’t want to say anything … I have got some health issues.”. Palaszczuk later issued a statement saying she is “entitled to leave” and that she’ll be back on the job in a couple of weeks. It’s in focus because last week, she was under pressure over new youth crime laws that experts say breach young Queenslanders’ human rights, and Labor’s popularity in the state has been falling this year as pundits eye an election in October next year. Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli has been making hay as the sun shines on Palaszczuk in Italy, and her deputy (and now Acting Premier) Stephen Miles continues to dismiss the leadership chatter as “rumours and gossip”.