Former Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk described her life with long-time partner Dr Reza Adib as 'blessed' just two days before the Gold Coast surgeon was charged with multiple sexual offences.
Charges Laid
Dr Adib, 65, has been charged with three counts of rape, one count of sexual assault, and two counts of deprivation of liberty. The alleged offences occurred on March 30. He appeared in court on Friday and was granted watchhouse bail, with his next court date scheduled for May 14.
Palaszczuk Unaware
Palaszczuk, 52, has not been accused of any wrongdoing. When questioned by a member of the public during an event at Robina Library on Thursday night, she stated, 'I'm not aware of any of that, so I can't comment.'
Recent Comments
The former premier had been promoting her new memoir, 'The Politics of Being Me', throughout the week. In an interview with Daily Mail on Wednesday, she spoke warmly about her relationship with Dr Adib. 'We're very happy,' she said. 'I'm very blessed to have Reza and his two children in my life, and Winton the groodle, who kind of completes everything.'
Relationship Timeline
The couple met in June 2021 at the Stradbroke race day. In her memoir, Palaszczuk wrote, 'A man named Reza Adib came up and introduced himself.' They reconnected a few weeks later through mutual friends, who described him as a surgeon, father of two, and a 'very decent man'. Their first date was at the State of Origin, followed by a Queensland Fashion Festival event that drew media attention.
Palaszczuk noted the intense media scrutiny they faced, remarking, 'I doubt that male premiers would have received that kind of attention. Reza just coped with it.' He supported her at various events, including the Anzac Day dawn service.
Holidays and Resignation
In September 2023, Palaszczuk took two weeks of annual leave to join Dr Adib at a conference in Naples, Italy, which attracted media criticism. She defended her decision, writing, 'You cannot work 24/7 and keep a clear head, and you need to have some private time.' Earlier that year, they took a family skiing holiday to Whistler, Canada, with Dr Adib's children, Maya and Ira.
In December 2023, Palaszczuk resigned as premier and chose to spend time with Dr Adib rather than attend the office Christmas party. 'I had a nice lunch and a bottle of wine with Reza, Mum and Dad. I was relieved, and very happy with my decision,' she wrote.
Dr Adib's Background
Dr Adib is a general and laparoscopic surgeon who began his career at the Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1994. He established the Brisbane Obesity Clinic in 2004, where he has performed more than 20,000 operations and over 5,000 weight-loss procedures. He owns a riverfront mansion in Indooroopilly and a luxury unit in Burleigh, which was searched by police on Friday. Officers were seen leaving with evidence bags, and one was observed searching inside a barbecue on the balcony.
Legal Response
Law firm Robertson O'Gorman, representing Dr Adib, stated that he was shocked by the allegations and is taking the matter very seriously. Lawyer Dan Rogers said, 'Like all persons accused of a crime, he is presumed to be innocent and intends to vigorously defend the charges.' The statement added that Dr Adib is primarily concerned about the welfare of his family and patients and has asked the media to respect their privacy while the case is before the courts.
