RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

22 Apr 2009 Ministerial Statements 35
In the area of events, I have announced Dunlop as the sponsor for the inaugural Dunlop
Townsville 400 V8 Supercars event. As members for the Townsville and Far North region can tell others,
there have already been 73,000 tickets sold for the 10 July and 12 July event. It will be a great boon for
the economy in that part of Queensland.
On 31 March there was great news for the Gold Coast when we signed the new AFL stadium
agreement with the Australian Football League. The Gold Coast’s dream of a redeveloped stadium at
Carrara is another giant step closer because of the agreement with the AFL over its 17th licence. The
GC17 venture will deliver a massive boost for the local economy. It will generate more than 350 jobs in
construction and, importantly, it will contribute some $340 million into the Gold Coast economy over the
next 10 years. This is an opportunity too good to be missed and one that we were determined to bring
over the line for the people of the Gold Coast.
I have also appointed former Qantas boss Geoff Dixon to redirect and lead Queensland Events. A
review of Queensland Events by consultant David Williams shows that our $1 billion a year events
industry is in need of reinvigoration. Other states have copied Queensland’s blueprint for events and
advanced their own efforts. We need to make sure that we are at the front of the pack. As members
know, Mr Dixon owns property in Queensland and has a proven record in difficult times. He has a great
understanding of national and international events. But, most importantly, he has a well-deserved
reputation as a very aggressive businessman. I have every confidence that he will relish the opportunity
to beat the likes of John O’Neill and Ron Walker in bringing events to Queensland.
On 3 April I announced the gazetting of three new wild rivers, delivering on our election promise
to continue the rollout of this groundbreaking program. Work has already begun to implement in full the
election commitment in relation to the Channel Country rivers. As well, my government will deliver on its
election commitment to implement a moratorium on clearing endangered vegetation. This bill will be the
government’s first priority in the new parliament.
The big agenda that I have outlined has to be driven and has to be driven hard. If we are going to
deliver we need to have government architecture in place to match these changed times. My first
decision as Premier was to put in place a new-look cabinet—eight new faces on a reinvigorated
frontbench. The opposition, despite having 11 new members, has just two new faces on its frontbench.
It is not just the frontbench; the whole Public Service has been reshaped.
Government members interjected.
Ms BLIGH: One of them is a re-tread; you have to acknowledge that. It is not just the frontbench;
the whole Public Service has been reshaped. We immediately announced reforms meaning 23 standalone
government departments have been streamlined into 13. The departments, led by the
government’s 18 ministers, have been grouped under six clusters: Policy and Fiscal Coordination;
Employment and Economic Development; Environment and Sustainable Resource Management; Social
Development; Law, Justice and Safety; and Government Services. Importantly, there will be no job cuts
under the restructure but there will be much better coordinated services.
Backing that, we need structural accountability reforms. We have put in place a key commitment
to open and accountable cabinet with the public release of Queensland’s first register of lobbyists.
Cabinet has also approved the preparation of tough new legislation to respond to the growing threat
from outlaw motorcycle gangs.
In the first week of the new government I released a wide-ranging independent review of state
government boards, committees and statutory authorities. It is time for a significant overhaul of the
plethora of government boards and committees that have grown up over time. This report by Griffith
University Professor Patrick Weller contains 210 recommendations, 208 of them in relation to 334
separate government bodies. More of this will be detailed in a moment.
I give a commitment that my government will be a listening government, and this weekend we will
conduct our first community cabinet in Toowoomba. I will be very pleased to be visiting that wonderful
regional city.
Independent Review of Government Boards, Committees and Statutory Authorities
Hon. AM BLIGH (South Brisbane—ALP) (Premier and Minister for the Arts) (9.49 am): My
government is committed to delivering the most efficient, the most streamlined and the most capable
services to Queenslanders in every corner of this state. That is why, as part of our major public sector
reform program last year, I announced an independent review of Queensland government boards,
committees and statutory authorities, and that is why today I can announce my government’s response
to that review and its recommendations which will see significant and widespread changes—in many
instances, sweeping change—to these boards, committees and statutory authorities. I seek leave to
table the government’s response to these recommendations.
Leave granted.
Tabled paper: Queensland government response to the report ‘Brokering balance: a public interest map for Queensland
government bodies—an independent review of Queensland government boards, committees and statutory authorities’ [72].