After the Queensland premier jetted to Europe for a two-week holiday, Ms Palaszczuk’s deputy Steven Miles thrust his support behind her amid reports of dissension in Labor’s ranks.

Mr Miles has been floated as a potential premier in waiting but insisted Ms Palaszczuk was safe, declaring she would lead the government to the next election.

The acting premier said she was doing a fantastic job and the leadership speculation did not align with his conversations with Labor colleagues.

“I understand they’ll always be chatter, they’ll always be rumours and gossip,” Mr Miles told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday.

“What I know is a great strength of our government has been our stability and our unity, and the leadership that Annastacia has provided and I intend to continue that unity and stability.”

Mr Miles wouldn’t be drawn on the optics of the premier taking leave after the state government this week introduced a raft of new laws allowing children to be held in police watch houses.

“I don’t think a lot of people take too much notice of that,” he said.

“Annastacia works hard; she’s entitled to have a holiday.”

Ms Palaszczuk, who will return to work on September 11, has served as Queensland premier for more than eight years and steered Labor to three consecutive election victories.

She is poised to overtake Peter Beattie as the fourth longest-serving premier in the state’s history next year.

Despite an opinion poll last month showing Labor’s primary vote had slipped to 34 per cent, Mr Miles suggested it was not unusual and noted the election was more than a year away.

“People have written us off since 2015, even since 2012,” he said.

“I know (Queensland Liberal leader) David Crisafulli has already sworn himself in but there is a long time before Queenslanders have a chance to make up their mind.”