Surgeon Ex-Partner of Ex-Queensland Premier Palaszczuk Seeks Alternative Resolution in Rape Case

A high-profile surgeon and former partner of ex-Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is seeking an "alternative resolution" to rape charges he faces. Reza Adib, 65, is accused of raping a Gold Coast woman in March 2026 at the Burleigh Heads beachfront apartment he shared with Palaszczuk during their five-year relationship.

Adib faces three counts of rape, two of deprivation of liberty, and one count of sexual assault. The case was scheduled for mention in Southport Magistrates Court, but prosecutors sought an adjournment. Court documents indicate that a submission for an alternative resolution has been received, and a meeting with the alleged victim, who is in her 30s, is planned.

Palaszczuk has not been seen with Adib since his arrest, and it is believed their relationship ended shortly after the allegations surfaced. The couple had been publicly together since 2021, with Palaszczuk stating that Adib "makes me happy." They were frequently seen socialising on the Gold Coast and at Adib's properties.

Adib, an obesity surgeon at The Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, ceased practicing after his arrest. His medical registration was suspended in June by the Office of Health Ombudsman. That same month, a coroner criticized Adib for falsely claiming a 62-year-old patient suffered from "life-threatening obesity" in a letter intended to help the patient access superannuation funds for gastric band surgery in 2022. The patient died from complications days after the procedure. The coroner described Adib's letter as an "egregious breach of his responsibilities as a medical practitioner."

Adib's legal matter is scheduled to return to court on November 5.