RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

PROOF ISSN 1322-0330 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

Hansard Home Page: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/hansard 

E-mail: hansard@parliament.qld.gov.au 

Phone: (07) 3406 7314 Fax: (07) 3210 0182 

Subject 

FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-FOURTH PARLIAMENT 

Wednesday, 31 October 2012 

Page 

PRIVILEGE ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2249 

Release of Cabinet Documents .......................................................................................................................................... 2249 

Tabled paper: Secret Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3019 (Submission No. 3962), 

dated 22 July 2010. ................................................................................................................................................ 2249 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3231 (Submission No. 4166), 

dated 2 June 2011.................................................................................................................................................. 2249 


dated 26 August 2010. ........................................................................................................................................... 2249 


dated 17 June 2010................................................................................................................................................ 2249 

Tabled paper: Confidential Committee Decision No. 3002 (Submission No. 3948), dated 8 July 2010................. 2249 


dated 29 October 2010........................................................................................................................................... 2249 


dated 18 November 2010. ...................................................................................................................................... 2249 


dated 6 December 2010. ........................................................................................................................................ 2249 


dated 9 May 2011................................................................................................................................................... 2249 


dated 29 August 2011. ........................................................................................................................................... 2249 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3313, dated 14 October 2011. ...... 2249 







Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Decision No. 9337, dated 10 May 2010......................................................... 2249 

Tabled paper: Secret Cabinet Decision No. 9639 (Submission No. 7698), dated 22 November 2010. ................. 2249 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Decision No. 9407, dated 7 June 2010.......................................................... 2249 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Decision No. 9904, dated 11 July 2011. ........................................................ 2249 

FS SIMPSON N J LAURIE L J OSMOND 

SPEAKER CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENT CHIEF HANSARD REPORTER

Table of Contents — Wednesday, 31 October 2012 

MOTION ..........................................................................................................................................................................................2250 

Publication of Cabinet Documents ......................................................................................................................................2250 

PRIVILEGE .....................................................................................................................................................................................2250 

Alleged Deliberate Misleading of the House by a Member .................................................................................................2250 

PRIVILEGE .....................................................................................................................................................................................2250 

Alleged Deliberate Misleading of the House by a Member .................................................................................................2250 

PRIVILEGE .....................................................................................................................................................................................2251 

Speaker’s Ruling, Alleged Deliberate Misleading of the House by Ministers ......................................................................2251 

PRIVILEGE .....................................................................................................................................................................................2251 

Speaker’s Ruling, Alleged Deliberate Misleading of the House by Ministers and Members ...............................................2251 

PRIVILEGE .....................................................................................................................................................................................2252 

Speaker’s Ruling, Referral to Ethics Committee .................................................................................................................2252 

PETITIONS ......................................................................................................................................................................................2252 

TABLED PAPERS ..........................................................................................................................................................................2253 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS ........................................................................................................................................................2254 

Atkinson, Mr R ....................................................................................................................................................................2254 

Social Housing; Open Data ................................................................................................................................................2254 

Overseas Trade Mission .....................................................................................................................................................2254 

Great Barrier Reef ..............................................................................................................................................................2255 

Tabled paper: Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning: Great Barrier Reef Ports 

Strategy 2012-2022 for public consultation, October 2012. ....................................................................................2255 

ABSENCE OF MINISTER ...............................................................................................................................................................2255 

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE ...................................................................................................................................................2255 

Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts ..............................................................................2255 

Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services ..........................................................................................2256 

Uranium Mining ...................................................................................................................................................................2256 

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games .......................................................2257 

Labor Party .........................................................................................................................................................................2257 

First Home Owner Construction Grant ................................................................................................................................2258 

Queensland Economy ........................................................................................................................................................2259 


Electricity Prices, Renewable Energy Target ......................................................................................................................2260 

QR National ........................................................................................................................................................................2261 

Wynnum Hospital, Emergency Centre ................................................................................................................................2261 

Aged Care ...........................................................................................................................................................................2262 


QBuild .................................................................................................................................................................................2263 

Atkinson, Mr R ....................................................................................................................................................................2264 


Local Government ..............................................................................................................................................................2265 

Wolston Park Health Facility, Security ................................................................................................................................2265 

Tabled paper: Letter, dated 31 October 2012, to the Minister for Health from the Auditor-General 

regarding Queensland Health payroll and associated cost issues..........................................................................2266 

APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENT) BILL; APPROPRIATION BILL ..............................................................................................2266 

Consideration in Detail (Cognate Debate) ..........................................................................................................................2266 

Appropriation (Parliament) Bill ............................................................................................................................................2266 

Committee of the Legislative Assembly ..............................................................................................................................2266 

Report .................................................................................................................................................................................2266 

Clauses 1 to 6, as read, agreed to. .........................................................................................................................2268 

Schedules 1 to 3, as read, agreed to. .....................................................................................................................2268 

Appropriation Bill .................................................................................................................................................................2269 

Finance and Administration Committee ..............................................................................................................................2269 

Report .................................................................................................................................................................................2269 

Tabled paper: Three pages from the Fassifern Guardian, dated 19 September 2012. .........................................2275 

State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee ...............................................................................................2277 

Report .................................................................................................................................................................................2277 

PRIVILEGE .....................................................................................................................................................................................2280 

Release of Cabinet Documents ..........................................................................................................................................2280 

Tabled paper: Cabinet Budget Review Committee—Minutes of Meeting held on 8 July 2010...............................2280 

Tabled paper: Cabinet Budget Review Committee—Minutes of Meeting held on 18 November 2010...................2280 

Tabled paper: Cabinet Budget Review Committee—Minutes of Meeting held on 14 October 2011. .....................2280 

Tabled paper: Cabinet Budget Review Committee—Minutes of Meeting held on 1 December 2011.....................2280 

MOTION ..........................................................................................................................................................................................2281 

Publication of Cabinet Documents ......................................................................................................................................2281 

APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENT) BILL; APPROPRIATION BILL ..............................................................................................2281 

Consideration in Detail (Cognate Debate) ..........................................................................................................................2281 

Appropriation Bill .................................................................................................................................................................2281 

State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee ...............................................................................................2281 

Report .................................................................................................................................................................................2281


Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee ................................................................................................................ 2288 

Report ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2288 

Tabled paper: Courier-Mail article, dated 28 September 2012, titled ‘Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney wants 

legislation to remove Crime and Misconduct Commission from political process’. ................................................ 2289 

MINISTERIAL PAPERS ................................................................................................................................................................. 2296 

Annual Reports ................................................................................................................................................................... 2296 

Tabled paper: Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games: 

Annual Report 2011-12. ......................................................................................................................................... 2296 

Tabled paper: Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation: Annual Report 2011-12............................ 2296 

Tabled paper: Tourism Queensland: Annual Report 2011-12. .............................................................................. 2296 

APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENT) BILL; APPROPRIATION BILL ............................................................................................. 2296 

Consideration in Detail (Cognate Debate) .......................................................................................................................... 2296 

Appropriation Bill ................................................................................................................................................................ 2296 


Report ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2296 

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER GAMES AND IMAGES AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL ....................... 2297 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2297 

Tabled paper: Classification of Computer Games and Images and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012........ 2297 

Tabled paper: Classification of Computer Games and Images and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, 

explanatory notes. .................................................................................................................................................. 2297 

Tabled paper: Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games..................................................................... 2298 

First Reading ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2298 

Referral to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee ........................................................................................ 2298 

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND WATER (RESTRUCTURING) AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL ..................... 2299 

Message from Governor ..................................................................................................................................................... 2299 

Tabled paper: Message, dated 30 October 2012, from Her Excellency the Governor recommending the 

South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012................................ 2299 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2299 

Tabled paper: South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012......... 2299 

Tabled paper: South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, 

explanatory notes. .................................................................................................................................................. 2299 

First Reading ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2301 

Referral to the State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee ....................................................................... 2301 

WEAPONS AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL ..................................................................................................... 2301 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2301 

Tabled paper: Weapons and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012................................................................... 2301 

Tabled paper: Weapons and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, explanatory notes. ................................... 2301 

First Reading ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2302 

Referral to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee ........................................................................................ 2302 

APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENT) BILL; APPROPRIATION BILL ............................................................................................. 2302 

Consideration in Detail (Cognate Debate) .......................................................................................................................... 2302 

Appropriation Bill ................................................................................................................................................................ 2302 


Report ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2302 

Tabled paper: Crime and Misconduct Act 2001, Advisory Panel, Terms of Reference.......................................... 2304 

Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee ........................................................................................................ 2304 

Report ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2304 

Education and Innovation Committee ................................................................................................................................ 2315 

Report ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2315 

Tabled paper: Courier-Mail article, dated 31 October 2012, titled ‘Rare Picasso has Mackay valuers alert’. ........ 2321 

Health and Community Services Committee ...................................................................................................................... 2325 

Report ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2325 

Tabled paper: Email, dated 30 October 2012, to the Bundamba electorate office regarding nursing home 

closures. ................................................................................................................................................................. 2326 

Tabled paper: Redacted letter, dated 26 October 2012, from Ms Colleen Miller, Office Manager, Office of 

the Minister for Health, relating to the closure of Eventide Nursing Home. ............................................................ 2326 

Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee ..................................................................................................... 2335 

Report ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2335 

Tabled paper: Document, undated, titled ‘Flegg-Opoly’. ........................................................................................ 2337 

Tabled paper: Redacted Queensland government letter titled ‘Under-occupancy review of your household’. ...... 2337 

Tabled paper: Article from the Cairns Post, dated 20 April 2012, titled ‘Road to a better Bruce’. .......................... 2342 

Clauses 1 to 6, as read, agreed to. ........................................................................................................................ 2346 

Schedules 1 to 4, as read, agreed to...................................................................................................................... 2346 

Third Reading (Cognate Debate) ....................................................................................................................................... 2346 

Long Title (Cognate Debate) .............................................................................................................................................. 2346 

ADJOURNMENT ............................................................................................................................................................................ 2346 

Breast Cancer; Tuberculosis Control Centre ...................................................................................................................... 2346 

Queensland Kids; Health Law Research Centre ................................................................................................................ 2347 

Maryborough, Open-House Event ...................................................................................................................................... 2347


Woodridge State High School .............................................................................................................................................2348 

School Chaplains ................................................................................................................................................................2349 

Women ...............................................................................................................................................................................2349 

Fire and Rescue Service ....................................................................................................................................................2350 

Silkstone Baptist Church .....................................................................................................................................................2350 

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, Cardiac Challenge ........................................................................................2351 

Rosewood State High School, Awards Night ......................................................................................................................2351 

ATTENDANCE ................................................................................................................................................................................2352

31 Oct 2012 Legislative Assembly 2249 

WEDNESDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2012 

Legislative Assembly 

The Legislative Assembly met at 2.00 pm. 

Madam Speaker (Hon. Fiona Simpson, Maroochydore) read prayers and took the chair. 

PRIVILEGE 

Release of Cabinet Documents 

Ms PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (2.01 pm): In response to the motion 

of the House dated 12 July 2012, I seek leave of the House to table various cabinet documents of the 

previous government relating to the IBM contract and the Health payroll. 

Leave granted. 

Tabled paper: Secret Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3019 (Submission No. 3962), dated 22 July 2010 [1426]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3231 (Submission No. 4166), dated 2 June 2011 

[1426A]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3040 (Submission No. 3979), dated 26 August 2010 

[1426B]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 2989 (Submission No. 3931), dated 17 June 2010 

[1426C]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Committee Decision No. 3002 (Submission No. 3948), dated 8 July 2010 [1426D]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3090 (Submission No. 4036), dated 29 October 2010 

[1426E]. 

Tabled paper: Secret Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3108 (Submission No. 4064), dated 18 November 2010 

[1426F]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3136 (Submission No. 4061), dated 6 December 

2010 [1426G]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3204 (Submission No. 4155), dated 9 May 2011 

[1426H]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3279 (Submission No. 4242), dated 29 August 2011 

[1426I]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3313, dated 14 October 2011 [1426J]. 

Tabled paper: Secret Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3388 (Submission No. 4325), dated 1 December 2011 

[1426K]. 

Tabled paper: Secret Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3393 (Submission No. 4332), dated 1 December 2011 

[1426L]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Budget Review Committee Decision No. 3396 (Submission No. 4336), dated 1 December 

2011 [1426M]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Decision No. 9337, dated 10 May 2010 [1426N]. 

Tabled paper: Secret Cabinet Decision No. 9639 (Submission No. 7698), dated 22 November 2010 [1426O]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Decision No. 9407, dated 7 June 2010 [1426P]. 

Tabled paper: Confidential Cabinet Decision No. 9904, dated 11 July 2011 [1426Q]. 

Ms PALASZCZUK: This is an historic occasion in this House. 

Government members interjected. 

Ms PALASZCZUK: This is no laughing matter. Madam Speaker, as you would well be aware, as 

would all members of this House, it is a longstanding convention in Queensland that current ministers 

may not have access to cabinet documents produced by a past government of a different political party. 

The reasons for this are self-evident. Protection of the conventions of this parliament is a duty of all 

members of this House and conventions which have been in place for centuries, adopted from the 

Imperial Parliament on the creation of this great state and this great state legislature, should not be 

lightly forsaken. 

After a great deal of soul-searching and deliberation on my part, on 30 July 2012 I wrote to the 

Minister for Health and advised him that I would make available the documents in accordance with the 

motion. However, in order to guarantee some protection for the conventions of this parliament I placed 

certain restrictions on the access that was to be provided to the minister. One of my concerns has been 

that the documents referred to in the motion contained commercial-in-confidence information, the 

disclosure of which may have had significant ramifications. As I pointed out at the Health estimates 

hearing, the Auditor-General is undertaking a 2011-12 financial audit of Queensland Health, examining 

the payroll system and associated cost issues and will report to parliament later this year. So in 

response to repeated calls from the House and the minister, today I am taking the unprecedented step 

of tabling those documents in the House for the benefit of all Queenslanders and all honourable 

members who have a genuine interest in their contents.

2250 Privilege 31 Oct 2012 

It is after a lengthy and diligent analysis of all the issues involved that I have made this decision. I 

have weighed up the arguments for and against release and I have sought to find a solution to this 

problem that will provide adequate protection for the documents and those people who seek to view 

them. I believe this is the best option. Today I grant full public access. I also advise that, at the end of my 

statement, I will be moving a motion to publish the documents. 

In conclusion, I reiterate that this has been a difficult decision for me. The release of cabinet 

documents and the departure from the conventions of executive government are not things to be 

undertaken lightly and it is not in anyone’s interest that this be a regular occurrence. My actions on this 

occasion are a one-off and I advise the House that it is only because of the extraordinary circumstances 

of this case that I have taken this action and I am highly unlikely to ever do so again. 

In addition to the documents tabled, there are four cabinet minutes that contain information about 

unrelated matters. I have asked for a redacted copy of those documents from the cabinet secretary, 

which have not yet arrived. I therefore foreshadow that I will be seeking leave to table those documents 

once I receive them. 

MOTION 

Publication of Cabinet Documents 

Ms PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (2.05 pm), by leave, without notice: I 

move— 

That the documents tabled by the Leader of the Opposition earlier this afternoon in response to the motion of the House dated 12 

July 2012 be published, in accordance with standing order 33(2). 

Question put—That the motion be agreed to. 

Motion agreed to. 

PRIVILEGE 

Alleged Deliberate Misleading of the House by a Member 

Hon. BS FLEGG (Moggill—LNP) (Minister for Housing and Public Works) (2.05 pm): In the 

5.30 pm debate yesterday afternoon the member for Bundamba made the following statement in 

relation to the residents of three caravan parks— 

Now they are being thrown out so that this government can sell a public asset out from under them. 

The member knows from questioning that she conducted at the recent estimates committee 

hearing that this is a false statement. There are no evictions. It is a serious matter, because this will be 

spread among residents of those caravan parks and may well cause people fear that they leave their 

homes or seek other accommodation. Particularly seeing that the member has been informed under the 

conditions of an estimates committee hearing where she knows that I must tell her the truth, I contend 

that it is a deliberate misleading of the House. I contend further that it is not trivial; it is a serious matter. 

Madam Speaker, I will be writing to you and requesting that this matter be referred to the Ethics 

Committee for appropriate action. 

PRIVILEGE 

Alleged Deliberate Misleading of the House by a Member 

Hon. BS FLEGG (Moggill—LNP) (Minister for Housing and Public Works) (2.07 pm): In a second, 

unrelated matter, in the same speech the member for Bundamba said— 

I have been approached by a constituent, a resident of public housing who has care of an adult daughter with an intellectual 

disability, who only this week has received what can only be known as an eviction notice from the home she has lived in for many 

years. 

Madam Speaker, I contend that this is a deliberate misleading of parliament. Any member of this 

parliament dealing with a constituent under the circumstances described by the member for Bundamba 

would bring that matter to the relevant minister to try to help that constituent. The member has not 

brought this matter, because I do not believe that she has correctly reflected it. What is more, the 

member knows that evictions from public housing are not done by the minister—in the previous 

government or this government—but are done by order of the court through QCAT. 

Furthermore, a search that I have asked to be conducted at the department of housing indicates 

that there is no eviction notice in the member’s constituency as claimed by the member. So I believe, 

again, that this is a deliberate misleading of the House. I believe, again, that it is a serious matter that 

will engender fear among public housing tenants that their position as tenants is not secure.

31 Oct 2012 Privilege 2251 

Madam SPEAKER: Minister, will you write to me concerning this matter. 

Dr FLEGG: I will be writing to you in relation to this matter and asking you to refer it to the Ethics 

Committee. 

PRIVILEGE 

Speaker’s Ruling, Alleged Deliberate Misleading of the House by Ministers 

Madam SPEAKER: On 23 August 2012 I received a complaint from the Manager of Opposition 

Business, Mr Curtis Pitt, about statements made by both the Premier and Deputy Premier in respective 

speeches on 11 July 2012. The essential complaint is that each member deliberately misled the House 

by referring in their speeches to ‘$100 billion worth of debt’. The Manager of Opposition Business 

argues that there is no actual debt of $100 billion but that this is a projected figure based on 

assumptions in the Commission of Audit. 

The argument as to the quantum of debt owed by the state government has been very well 

ventilated in the Assembly. In deciding whether or not a statement was intended to be deliberately 

misleading, I think it is essential to consider both the context of the statement and the forum. In this case 

the context was an intensive debate about the audit report and state debt, both in and outside the 

Assembly. The immediate audience was the forum of the Legislative Assembly comprised of members 

who would be expected to be well aware of the issue of state debt. 

In this context, I will deal with the Premier’s statement first. The statement complained about 

occurred at approximately 8.15 pm in the debate of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment 

Regulation (No. 2) 2012. The Premier’s full statement was— 

These people have lost their way. They do not understand the economy. They do not understand finance. They have never run 

businesses. They are incompetent. They racked up $100 billion worth of debt. They do not understand that we have to get this 

state back on the straight and narrow. 

A scan of the Record of Proceedings for the same day reveals the Premier referring to the state 

debt on at least two other occasions during the day. The first was in a ministerial statement made at 

about 2.15 pm that day in which the Premier stated— 

With the former state Labor government leaving behind a $2.8 billion operating deficit and a debt fast approaching $100 billion, 

Queensland is not in a position to contribute a significant amount of funding towards the cost of hosting the G20 leaders summit. 

The second was in answer to a question without notice at about 3.33 pm in which the Premier stated— 

It is no secret that I have asked all of the ministers to undertake extensive reviews of their agencies and their departmental 

budgets. These reviews are being conducted to stop government waste, to streamline this government, to find efficiencies, to sort 

out inefficient processes and, most importantly, to stop us hitting $100 billion worth of Andrew Fraser and Anna Bligh debt. 

Indeed, any review of the Record of Proceedings for that day, and the preceding sitting days, 

reveals significant discussion of the audit report and the projected debt of $100 billion. I believe that the 

intended audience for the statements in question would have recognised from the very content of the 

statements that the debt referred to was the projected debt contained within the audit report. Given that 

the Premier had twice previously that very same day in the Assembly referred to the debt as 

‘approaching $100 billion’ and later to ‘stop us hitting $100 billion’ of debt, there is an absence of 

evidence that the Premier would suddenly that evening set out to deliberately mislead the Assembly on 

the issue. 

Similarly, there is also no evidence of any attempt by the Deputy Premier to make a deliberately 

misleading statement, especially in the context of the ongoing debate and knowledge of the audience in 

the Assembly. We must do all we can to ensure that deliberately misleading statements are not made in 

the Assembly and that false evidence is not tendered in the Assembly’s committees. I ask members to 

strive for accuracy in their statements, but I also understand that the Assembly is a debating chamber, 

which is not the same as reading pre-scripted stand-alone orations. There is cut and thrust and off-thecuff 

contributions which, when considered in context as opposed to in isolation, are clear in their 

meaning. I will not be referring either matter to the Ethics Committee. 

PRIVILEGE 

Speaker’s Ruling, Alleged Deliberate Misleading of the House by Ministers and 

Members 

Madam SPEAKER: On 9 October 2012 I received a complaint from the Deputy Leader of the 

Opposition, Mr Tim Mulherin, about statements made by the Treasurer and the Minister for Health. The 

contention is that each minister deliberately misled the House in their statements to the House about the 

former government’s voluntary separation program, VSP, and that these misleading statements were

2252 Petitions 31 Oct 2012 

effectively repeated by the member for Morayfield, the member for Kallangur, the member for Ferny 

Grove, the member for Sunnybank, the member for Springwood and the member for Townsville. The 

alleged misleading statements occurred on 13 or 14 September 2012. 

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition argues that the primary statements by the Treasurer 

suggested or alleged that the former government was targeting approximately 41,000 people to take 

redundancies under the VSP, whereas the figure of approximately 41,000 was instead the pool of public 

servants that had expressed interest in the VSP. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition argues that the 

former government only ever targeted up to 5,000 positions, with 4,212 actually accepting offers. 

Similarly, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition argues that the statements made by the Minister 

for Health suggested or alleged that 4,000 public servants in the Health portfolio were being targeted for 

VSPs where the number actually offered was 1,245, with 847 separating. 

I have looked closely at both the documents provided and the Record of Proceedings from both 

sitting days. I am not convinced that any misleading statements were in fact made. For example, the 

Treasurer stated— 

It was in fact 41,000 people identified for potential separation from the Public Service. 

And later the Treasurer stated— 

They were looking at potentially 41,000 people to take redundancies and had, at the conclusion of the process, identified 10,000 

people who were all ready to go. 

These statements are not inconsistent with the tabled document which identified an expressionof-interest 

pool of 41,753, with 9,622 who submitted expressions of interest. Each person in the pool 

was arguably identified for potential separation. The actual statements by the Treasurer did not in fact 

say that the former government had an intention to separate with 41,000 positions. 

In relation to the allegation against the Minister for Health, the full context of the minister’s 

statement must be considered. At page 1912, the same page on which the alleged offending statement 

derives, the minister outlined in considerable detail the number of expressions of interest, the number of 

responses and the final number of VSPs. The actual statements by the Minister for Health did not in fact 

say that the former government had an intention to separate with all 4,000 positions in Queensland 

Health. 

In respect of the other members who are the subject of complaint, their comments also have to be 

looked at in context. That context includes arguments from members of both sides of the House as to 

the meaning to be attributed. I am not convinced that there is any evidence of intention to mislead the 

Assembly. 

I refer to my comments made earlier. We must do all we can to ensure that deliberately 

misleading statements are not made in the Assembly and that false evidence is not tendered in the 

Assembly’s committees. I also understand that the Assembly is a debating chamber, with off-the-cuff 

contributions which, when considered in context as opposed to in isolation, are clear in their meaning. I 

will not be referring any of these matters to the Ethics Committee. 

PRIVILEGE 

Speaker’s Ruling, Referral to Ethics Committee 

Madam SPEAKER: I inform the House that yesterday I received correspondence from the 

Leader of the Opposition concerning correspondence from a legal firm. The Leader of the Opposition 

has complained that the correspondence seeks to intimidate or threaten her in her role as a member. 

After reading Members’ Ethics and Privileges Committee Report No. 82 and the material in this matter, I 

have referred the matter to the Ethics Committee. I draw to the attention of members that, as this matter 

is now before the committee, standing order 271 applies and the matter should not be referred to in the 

Assembly. 

PETITIONS 

The Clerk presented the following paper petitions, lodged by the honourable members indicated— 

Water Fluoridation 

Mr Bennett, from 116 petitioners, requesting the House to reverse the requirement that the Bundaberg Regional Council add 

fluoride to potable water supplies [1427]. 

Maryborough, Mary River Boat Ramp 

Mrs Maddern, from 400 petitioners, requesting the House to take all necessary steps to have the Beaver Rock Road boat ramp 

located on the Mary River at Maryborough extended and modified to make it safe [1428].

31 Oct 2012 Tabled Papers 2253 

Surveillance Laws 

Mr Cox, from 32 petitioners, requesting the House to review all laws on what is personal surveillance or spying on your neighbour 

[1429]. 

Antonis Crossing, Upgrade 

Mr Malone, from 426 petitioners, requesting the House to look at the options of raising the height and lengthening of Antonis 

Crossing on Kinchant Dam Road (Eton North) to address concerns of flooding caused by the releasing of water from Kinchant 

Dam and natural rain fall [1430]. 

Old Gympie Road and Peachester Road, Intersection 

Hon McArdle, from 467 petitioners, requesting the House to review the intersection at the corner of Beerwah State School, Old 

Gympie Road and Peachester Road and immediately install traffic signals, a school pedestrian crossing and upgrade the 

intersection to cater for increased traffic [1431]. 

Townsville Biosecurity Unit 

Mr Knuth, from 3,109 petitioners, requesting the House to retain the Townsville Biosecurity Unit (Tropical and Aquatic Animal 

Health Laboratory) and continue these services at premises suitable to the requirements of this vital work [1432]. 

The Clerk presented the following paper petition, sponsored by the Clerk in accordance with Standing Order 119(3)— 

National Parks, Access 

1,229 petitioners, requesting the House to review the road, 4WD track and access road closures in the State’s national parks and 

forests, reopen closed and regenerated roads, 4WD tracks and trails and provide a sustainable environment for the continuation 

of such recreational activities [1433]. 

The Clerk presented the following e-petition, sponsored by the Clerk in accordance with Standing Order 119(4)— 

Toowoomba Biosecurity Laboratory 

1,381 petitioners, requesting the House to retain the Toowoomba Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture, Forestry 

and Fisheries Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory and continue these services at the existing premises with facilities suitable 

to the requirements of this vital work [1434]. 

Petitions received. 

TABLED PAPERS 

MINISTERIAL PAPERS TABLED BY THE CLERK 

The following ministerial papers were tabled by the Clerk— 

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines (Mr Cripps)— 

1435 Department of Natural Resources and Mines—Annual Report 2011-12 

Minister for Police and Community Safety (Mr Dempsey)— 

1436 Prostitution Licensing Authority—Annual Report 2011-12 

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier (Mr Elmes)— 

1437 Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs—Annual Report 2011-12 

1438 Family Responsibilities Commission—Annual Report 2011-12 

Acting Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (Mr Langbroek)— 

1439 Queensland Museum—Annual Report 2011-12 

1440 Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts—Annual Report 2011-12 

1441 Queensland State Archives—Annual Report 2011-12 

1442 Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees—Annual Report 2011-12 

1443 Queensland Performing Arts Centre—Annual Report 2011-12 

1444 Library Board of Queensland—Annual Report 2011-12 

Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (Ms Davis)— 

1445 Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services—Annual Report 2011-12 

Minister for Local Government (Mr Crisafulli)— 

1446 Department of Local Government—Annual Report 2011-12 

Treasurer and Minister for Trade (Mr Nicholls)— 

1447 Queensland Treasury and Trade—Annual Report 2011-12 

MEMBERS’ PAPERS TABLED BY THE CLERK 

The following members’ papers were tabled by the Clerk— 

Member for Maryborough (Ms Maddern)— 

1448 Non-conforming petition regarding the Maryborough Base Hospital Pathology Department 

Member for Mulgrave (Mr Pitt)— 

1449 Non-conforming petition regarding Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council 

Member for Toowoomba North (Mr Watts)— 

1450 Non-conforming petition regarding a proposed strip club in Toowoomba

2254 Ministerial Statements 31 Oct 2012 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS 

Atkinson, Mr R 

Hon. CKT NEWMAN (Ashgrove—LNP) (Premier) (2.21 pm): This afternoon I reflect upon the fact 

that Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson is leaving the service of the people of Queensland after a 

distinguished career spanning many decades. Commissioner Atkinson has served with distinction 

through difficult periods, he has undertaken much-needed reform and he has managed the normal 

challenges and crises that come the way of any police commissioner in the nation. This afternoon, I 

thank him for his service to the people of Queensland and, particularly, for his leadership of the 

Queensland Police Service. I am sure all honourable members join with me in wishing him the very best 

into the future. We thank him. 

Honourable members: Hear, hear! 

Mr NEWMAN: Tomorrow the current deputy commissioner, Ian Stewart, will be assuming 

command of the service. We all wish him the very best. He has been through a rigorous and demanding 

selection process conducted in accordance with the legislation and he is the person whom the 

government has agreed to back. We back him 100 per cent. He has our unequivocal and total support. 

Therefore, it is with some sadness and, indeed, regret that I refer to the reported comments of the 

head of the Police Union, Ian Leavers. I have a great deal of respect for Mr Leavers. I think he is a 

Queensland union leader who understands how best to represent his members. He has an active 

engagement policy with key stakeholders such as the government. I think he represents his members’ 

interests very effectively by being prepared to engage, negotiate and interact. 

However, I must say that I am disappointed with his comments as reported. I do not think they do 

him or his members any justice. This afternoon, I simply urge him—and I am sure all members will 

agree with this—to work productively and constructively with Ian Stewart as the new commissioner. I 

conclude that point by simply saying that the old Aussie principle of a fair go is what should apply here. 

Commissioner Ian Stewart needs our full and total support; indeed, he needs a fair go as well. 

Social Housing; Open Data 

Hon. CKT NEWMAN (Ashgrove—LNP) (Premier) (2.23 pm): As members have heard before, the 

Labor government left a legacy of more than 30,000 households or families on the waiting list for social 

housing. It also left a number of properties underoccupied while more than 4,000 applicants with very 

high needs languished on that list. Today, I am proud to announce that two vital pieces of information 

have been released by this government through our open data initiative. The housing register and the 

list of social housing stock were documents that received top-secret protection by the previous Labor 

government. In contrast, the Newman government is committed to ensuring that those lists finally see 

the light of day. 

The data has value as a social policy and information tool for a variety of not-for-profit, charitable 

and religious organisations. Knowing the location and concentration of social housing unit data can 

assist organisations to provide goods and services to needy Queenslanders and to plan their services to 

the best and most effective use. The data can also assist in assessing the likely need for a range of 

support services in communities. The housing register waiting list may assist counselling services to 

provide advice and information to high and very high needs people who are seeking accommodation to 

escape homelessness. 

Open data will allow the creation of innovative solutions to address the issues facing our 

community. The government plays an important role in coordinating and guiding solutions to problems, 

but a lot of the best practice in innovation comes from partnerships with the community and corporate 

sectors. Open data will allow those sectors to have access to valuable information that will assist them 

in targeting their programs and developing specific responses. It will ensure that government funds are 

used as a priority in the areas of greatest need. 

Overseas Trade Mission 

Hon. CKT NEWMAN (Ashgrove—LNP) (Premier) (2.25 pm): I am pleased to inform the House 

formally that I will be leading a Queensland trade and investment mission to India from 29 November 

2012 to 5 December 2012, visiting the cities of Mumbai, Mundra, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Kolkata. 

India is already Queensland’s fourth largest merchandise export destination, but its growing middle 

class has the potential to enhance trade even further with myriad opportunities in the construction, 

energy, education, tourism and mining sectors. My mission to India will specifically focus on those 

sectors and will provide an opportunity for me to encourage Indian government and business leaders to 

invest further in them.

31 Oct 2012 Questions Without Notice 2255 

The India trade mission will also coincide with the Australian government’s OzFest initiative, 

which is designed to celebrate and promote Australia as a contemporary, creative and diverse nation. 

Therefore, the mission will convey the Queensland government’s commitment to India as a trade 

partner and reinforce Queensland’s image in India as a leading source of education and training 

services, mining equipment and technologies and associated services. 

Trade and investment missions are an essential strategy in the government’s objective of getting 

the Queensland economy back on track. They are invaluable in helping us maintain and strengthen 

Queensland’s relationships and reputation in the international arena. The government will continue to 

pursue trade opportunities across the globe to open up new markets for Queensland business and 

industry. 

Great Barrier Reef 

Hon. JW SEENEY (Callide—LNP) (Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, 

Infrastructure and Planning) (2.27 pm): Our government has committed to working with the federal 

government to undertake a strategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reef coastal region as a basis for 

a streamlined bilateral approvals process. Part of the strategic assessment is the development of a 

ports strategy. Today, I table a draft Great Barrier Reef ports strategy that will be available for public 

consultation and public comment from tomorrow. The strategy presents the vision and principles that will 

guide our government’s approach to future port development and our planning in the Great Barrier Reef 

coastal region for the next decade. 

Tabled paper: Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning: Great Barrier Reef Ports Strategy 2012-2022 for 

public consultation, October 2012 [1451]. 

Port development is essential for the growth of Queensland’s economy, but so too is the 

protection and health of our greatest environmental asset, the Great Barrier Reef. Through this strategy 

the government will balance environmental protection with the need to facilitate economic prosperity. 

Put simply, our ports must expand if we are to prosper and grow as a state. We are part of a global 

economy and our ports connect us to the world. 

The ports adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area are among the world’s busiest 

and most productive, and their effective operation underpins the growth of Queensland’s four-pillar 

economy. However, at the same time the Great Barrier Reef remains the most protected and one of the 

best managed marine areas in the world. This government will ensure that continues to be the case. 

This strategy is part of our plan to develop the ports we need and protect the Great Barrier Reef at the 

same time. I point out that this government has already scaled back the unrealistic expansion proposals 

of the previous government for Abbot Point, taking the proposed multicargo facility and the proposed 

coal terminals 4 to 9 completely off the table. 

Today I can announce that, under the strategy that I have just tabled, we will restrict significant 

port developments within and adjoining the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area to within existing 

port limits for the next 10 years. We will facilitate the expansion within those port precincts. We will 

facilitate the development of terminals 0, 2 and 3 at Abbot Point. New coal terminals are mooted at 

Dudgeon Point in the port of Hay Point. Within the Gladstone precinct, expansion is an ongoing constant 

for both existing exports and imports and the future of the LNG industry. Balaclava Island, Port Alma and 

Sea Hill all provide scope to serve ongoing resource development. 

Fewer bigger port areas will mean less disruption to our environment and better protection for 

areas outside these existing port facilities. Queensland has well-established processes to measure and 

manage environmental impacts of port development and we will ensure that shipping through the Great 

Barrier Reef region is also highly regulated. Queenslanders can be assured that this government will 

successfully manage the balance between economic development and environmental protection. 

ABSENCE OF MINISTER 

Mr STEVENS (Mermaid Beach—LNP) (Manager of Government Business) (2.29 pm): I wish to 

advise the House that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice will be absent during question time 

today. Minister Bleijie is attending a family member’s funeral in Gympie. 

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 

Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts 

Ms PALASZCZUK (2.30 pm): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier outline to the 

House how many meetings, briefings, dinners or lunches the Minister for Science, Information 

Technology, Innovation and the Arts has attended with Santo Santoro since taking up her portfolio in 

April?

2256 Questions Without Notice 31 Oct 2012 

Mr NEWMAN: I cannot, but if the Leader of the Opposition wants to put that question on notice I 

would be happy to get that information for her. Unlike the Labor Party when they were in government, 

we are open, accountable and upfront with the people of Queensland and always will be. Can you 

imagine the reaction— 

An opposition member interjected. 

Mr NEWMAN: I have answered the question and I am just going to elaborate a bit. I have three 

minutes by the clock. Can you imagine the reaction if that question had been asked, say, a year ago of 

the previous Bligh Labor government? What would have been the reaction? There would have been 

three minutes of stonewalling, three minutes of personal abuse, three minutes of feigned indignation, 

nonsense and complete and utter rubbish. But, at the end of day, they would not have provided the 

information. They would never have provided the information. But we will provide the information. I do 

not know for a moment whether she has met with anybody, but we will provide the information. 

Mr PITT: Madam Speaker, I rise to a point of order. 

Madam SPEAKER: Premier, resume you seat. I call the Manager of Opposition Business. 

Mr PITT: I ask whether the Premier may consider releasing that information under standing order 

113(3)—that is, take it on notice and provide it on the next sitting day? 

Madam SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business can ask the Premier whether that will 

be taken on notice. It is up to the minister. I call the Premier. 

Mr NEWMAN: If their ears were in working order and they listened, I said put it on notice and they 

will get the answer truthfully and in a totally upfront and accountable way because that is what we are 

about. Were they upfront about the meetings with, say, Terry Mackenroth about Airport Link? Were they 

upfront about the meetings that Con Sciacca had? What about the meeting that Jim Elder had? What 

happened in the end? 

Mr Nicholls: How many meetings did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition have with Bill Ludwig 

about racing? 

Mr NEWMAN: Madam Speaker, I seek your protection from the Treasurer. 

Madam SPEAKER: Order! I will ask the Treasurer to cease his interjections. I call the Premier. 

Mr NEWMAN: Bravo, Madam Speaker—well done! The bottom line is what temerity and what 

gall they have to come in here and ask a question like that. They must think that the people of 

Queensland have short memories. They must think that the political journalists in the gallery have short 

memories. They must think we have short memories. We do not. They have form; they have got lots of 

form. They have history, and it is grubby, dirty history. It is a history that has come out of the sewer down 

in the bowels of this city. That is where it has come from. They are the ones who supported Gordon 

Nuttall. They are the ones who have got all that form. They come in here in contrast— 

Opposition members interjected. 

Mr NEWMAN: They are interjecting even now when I am answering the question. The question 

will be answered openly. Totally accountable is what we will always be for the people of Queensland. 

Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services 

Ms PALASZCZUK: My question is to the Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability 

Services. Can the minister outline to the House how many meetings, briefings, dinners or lunches she 

has attended with Santo Santoro since taking up her portfolio in April? 

Ms DAVIS: None. 

Uranium Mining 

Mr KEMPTON: My question without notice is to the Premier. Can the Premier please update the 

House on the government’s position on uranium mining in Queensland, opportunities from uranium 

mining and the need to engage with India? 

Mr NEWMAN: I thank the honourable member for the question. In relation to the whole matter, 

we totally and unequivocally support the development of a world’s best practice uranium mining industry 

in this state. We totally support the Prime Minister in terms of having an export industry from Australia. I 

will be going to India to promote investment in the uranium mining industry in this state. It all comes 

together very nicely. We support it because we can see no earthly reason for why it should not be 

supported. I know that there are some people in the Labor Party who are against it, but most of those in 

the Labor Party are for it as well. 

I have one quick message this afternoon: if you support us in establishing this industry that will 

give jobs and investment to Queenslanders, that will give economic benefits to regional Queensland 

and help us take the cause of Indigenous people in this state forward and give them jobs, then vote for 

the LNP at the next election. If, however, you do not support uranium mining and are against jobs and 

investment, vote for the Greens.


I am happy to be quoted at the next election. If you do not support uranium mining, vote for the 

Greens. A vote for the Labor Party is a vote for a confused party that has no policy on this any more. 

They are in disarray. People like the member for South Brisbane are falling over themselves. They 

cannot handle the fact that even people like Anna Bligh supported a nuclear power industry. Was it not a 

joy to see the confusion and indignation on the face of the member for South Brisbane yesterday. Would 

the member for South Brisbane like to make a personal explanation at some time about how she 

guffawed, carried on and spluttered when I said that Anna Bligh supported nuclear power. I tabled the 

document. She supported nuclear power in this nation while— 

Ms TRAD: Madam Speaker, I rise to a point of order. The Premier is misleading the House. There 

is absolutely nothing to substantiate that claim. 

Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Resume your seat. 

Ms TRAD: Well then I am rising on a matter of privilege suddenly arising. 

Madam SPEAKER: What is your matter of privilege? 

Ms TRAD: The Premier is misleading the House. There was not one statement contained in the 

document— 

Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. That is not a matter of privilege. 

Ms TRAD:—that he referred to yesterday. I will be writing to you, Madam Speaker, putting that 

matter of privilege to you. 

Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. I call the Premier. 

Mr NEWMAN: For the benefit of the member for South Brisbane and people in the gallery today, 

particularly the students whom I acknowledge, I point out that yesterday I tabled a documented dated 24 

December 2010 from the Australian entitled ‘Bligh opens door to N-power’. It is all there. The former 

Premier called for a debate on nuclear power. 

Ms TRAD: No, where is the quote? 

Madam SPEAKER: Order! I warn the member for South Brisbane to cease her interjections. I call 

the Premier 

Mr NEWMAN: I make the point that we will be promoting uranium. We will be doing that on this 

trade mission. We will be unashamedly getting jobs and investment into this state. 

I conclude by again reflecting that the people opposite are totally divided on this. Who supports it? 

Tony McGrady, Martin Ferguson, Peter Beattie, John Mickel, Keith De Lacy, Paul Howes and our Prime 

Minister Julia Gillard all support a uranium mining export industry in this nation. We do too. So the only 

people who do not support it are the Greens, so vote 1 Greens at the next election if you are against 

uranium mining. 

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games 

Mr MULHERIN: My question is to the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the 

Commonwealth Games. Can the minister outline to the House how many conversations, meetings, 

briefings, dinners or lunches she has attended with Santo Santoro since taking up her portfolio in April? 

Mrs STUCKEY: I thank the honourable member for the question. Any meetings I have had with 

Mr Santoro will be registered on the lobbyist register for everyone to see. 

Mr Mulherin: Will you table it? 

Mrs STUCKEY: They are tabled on the lobbyist register. 

Labor Party 

Mrs MENKENS: My question without notice is to the Deputy Premier. I remind the Deputy 

Premier of the call he made in this parliament following the election for the opposition to apologise for 

their behaviour during the election campaign. I ask: has the Labor Party apologised? 

Mr SEENEY: The obvious answer is no. The Labor Party have not apologised for their conduct 

during the election campaign. In fact, that conduct continues. During the last election campaign the 

Labor Party in Queensland ran an election campaign that will always be regarded as one of the low 

points of Queensland politics—in fact, one of the low points of Australian politics. But the people of 

Queensland passed their own judgement on that election campaign and that is why there are only seven 

members of the Labor Party in this House today. Yet those seven members who remain in this House 

have clearly learnt nothing, and we have seen that over and over in recent times in this parliament and 

in public debate.


Last night, however, in the parliament I think there was an example which all Queenslanders 

should be aware of. When the Attorney-General recognised some of his constituents in the gallery, the 

member for Bundamba responded, and I quote from Hansard, ‘They’re too old; they’re over 80.’ That is 

symptomatic of a whole range of such comments that have been made by the member for Bundamba 

and indeed the member for South Brisbane, both of whom treat this place with a degree of disrespect 

that I have not seen in here in the 14 years I have been here. 

Members would know that I have been in this parliament for 14 years. In those 14 years I have 

seen some torrid political battles between some great politicians on both sides. But I do not think that 

this parliament has ever been treated in those 14 years to the levels of disrespect that we are currently 

seeing from the member for Bundamba, the member for South Brisbane and the tattered remains of the 

Labor Party opposition. Not only have they learnt nothing from the lesson that the people of Queensland 

handed them because of their conduct during the election campaign; that behaviour continues today. I 

think that this parliament above all else deserves respect from every member who is here. I have been 

involved in many of those torrid battles in this place over 14 years but the parliament has always been 

respected. The parliament has always been respected and it is in the interests of all Queenslanders that 

the parliament be respected. 

The Labor Party have learnt nothing from the election campaign. They still have not apologised. 

The Leader of the Opposition was dragged kicking and screaming today to table documents that she 

should have tabled in this House the first time this parliament sat. She was dragged kicking and 

screaming to table those documents. She should now go the rest of the way and apologise to the people 

of Queensland for the Labor Party’s conduct during the election campaign. 

(Time expired) 

First Home Owner Construction Grant 

Mr PITT: My question without notice is to the Premier. I refer to the Treasurer’s statement that the 

LNP’s First Home Owner Construction Grant will ‘provide a targeted and sustainable injection of 

confidence to the construction sector’. Considering the building approvals for September released this 

morning are flatlining in Queensland and approvals for private houses have fallen half a per cent, will 

the Premier admit that his grant has been a failure? 

Mr NEWMAN: I point out to the honourable member that the budget was handed down on 11 

September. We are at the end of October. I would not at all expect to see a huge bounce in activity in 

such a short period of time. But I believe very confidently that the initiatives we are putting in place 

across-the-board will over the coming months lead to a resurgence of construction and development 

activity in this state, because there is more that is being done other than the $15,000. There is the very 

important reform work that Assistant Minister Ian Walker has been undertaking for the Deputy Premier in 

relation to the can of worms and dysfunctional planning legislation known as the Sustainable Planning 

Act, which those opposite brought into this place in the last few years. The important reforms we are 

undertaking are all designed to make sure that this is the best place in Australia to undertake property 

development. 

Our vision is that it will be easy and straightforward to undertake property development. We are 

absolutely committed to making sure that people can in a timely and effective way get their approvals 

through the system. So the Sustainable Planning Act is part of the initiatives and the reform that we are 

undertaking, and there are important changes to the legislation that have been introduced into the 

parliament. But the other side of it is the issue of local government. 

Honourable members would be aware of my statements about the way we intend to run 

Queensland, devolving responsibility to mayors and councillors. That is why the work that the local 

government minister, David Crisafulli, has been undertaking is so very critical, because the Local 

Government Act has been changed to re-empower local government to make sure that they can make 

those sorts of local decisions without again the bureaucratic red tape and the hindrances they saw in the 

legislation from the previous Labor government, who did not like local government, who beat them up. 

But more importantly and significantly I say to honourable members is the relationship. We want a 

partnership. We want cooperation. If all of these things come together, plus initiatives like the $15,000 

First Home Owner Construction Grant, I am very confident that we will see a very, very productive 

business environment in Queensland for the development of new homes, detached homes and 

apartments. I must say that the feedback I have had—and I did have occasion to meet with people in the 

development sector last night at a cocktail party—is that they are getting a lot of good interest from this. 

There have been a lot of inquiries now that that is out there, and I am confident we will see a resurgence 

in the coming months.


Queensland Economy 

Mr SHUTTLEWORTH: My question without notice is to the Treasurer and Minister for Trade. Can 

the Treasurer please inform the House how the Newman government’s plan for fiscal repair has helped 

reduce the interest Queenslanders now pay on Labor’s debt and has helped to improve Queensland’s 

standing among potential investors? 

Mr NICHOLLS: I thank the member for his question because we are not like those opposite in the 

Labor Party who run from their deceitful record of debt and deficit and structural deficit, who have a 

cunning plan—they think they have a cunning plan. They think that we cannot see where they are going 

to and where they will want to end up. 

Mr Mulherin: You’ve been hanging around with Costello too long. 

Mr NICHOLLS: Don’t worry. You’ll have your chance. You can ask me a question a bit later on. 

I am looking forward to your question and I know where it is coming from. Don’t worry. It is a cunning 

plan that you have. 

Let me talk to the question that was actually asked—something of importance and relevance to 

the people of Queensland, something that does make a difference to people’s everyday lives, 

something that does make a difference to business and something that does make a difference to taxes 

that Queenslanders pay, because we know that Queenslanders under the former Labor government 

paid more and more taxes. We know that the former government removed the fuel subsidy after 

promising that they would not. ‘Make no mistake about it, the fuel subsidy scheme will stay in 

Queensland.’ That was their promise. Then they introduced an industry waste levy to raise $372 million. 

Then they got rid of the principal place of residence concession, adding another $7,000 to the cost of a 

family home. Then they increased car registration so that it was the highest in Australia. That is the 

legacy of the Labor government and why is it? Because they got further and further into debt—borrowed 

more, spent more, saved less. 

It got to such a state under the former Labor government that Queensland was paying more for its 

interest on the borrowings it had than the state of Tasmania—a mendicant state that relies on wealth 

transfers and tax transfers for about 40 per cent of its income. In Queensland, our interest bill was 

higher— 

Mr Pitt interjected. 

Madam SPEAKER: Order! I warn the leader of opposition business, and I will start naming you 

under the rules. 

Mr NICHOLLS: In Queensland, the fastest-growing component of the expenses for the 

government was not health, education or law and order—it was interest. For those opposite, let me just 

say where the debt was heading. Ladies and gentlemen, the debt was heading towards $100 billion. Do 

you want to hear it again? It was heading towards $100 billion, and it was going towards $85 billion 

under the opposition’s own numbers. Under us, the interest rates have narrowed, the spread has 

narrowed. Since the budget was brought down on 11 September, our spreads against New South Wales 

and Victoria have narrowed and we now no longer pay more for our borrowings than the state of 

Tasmania. They now pay more than us. We will save $1.3 billion in interest. Under the opposition, it 

would have been spend and tax. 



Ms TRAD: My question without notice is to the Premier. I refer the Premier to the World Nuclear 

Association research which states that the uranium industry would equate to less than 0.02 per cent of 

all jobs in Australia. Will the Premier substantiate his claims that the uranium industry will earn tens 

of billions of dollars and provide thousands of jobs with actual data? 

Mr NEWMAN: Firstly, I want to clarify what I think I said yesterday. I think I said tens of billions of 

dollars nationwide. I think that is what I said. If I did not, then I apologise. In relation to jobs, this is what 

we believe. We believe it will create jobs. We know, or we have been told, that there is $10 billion worth 

of uranium that is known about in the soil of Queensland—I think I said that yesterday—and we believe 

that a lot more will be more found. That is the advice that we have. Do members know why I say that? It 

is because that is the advice the previous government got as well. The previous government got that 

advice. 

There are so many endorsements from people out there about the need to pursue this. The first 

one I will start with is from Martin Ferguson. This is what Martin Ferguson, the federal Labor resources 

minister, said on 13 June this year— 

The Australian government urges Queensland to take the next step and to also remove its ban on uranium mining, given that it 

already permits exploration and has an estimated resource base of at least 37,000 tonnes.


I will stop right there. What was he saying? That exploration was already permitted. Well, who is 

permitting exploration? 

Ms TRAD: Madam Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I have actually asked the Premier for the 

release of information. He claims to be transparent. He should release the information he is claiming— 

Madam SPEAKER: Order! Will the member resume her seat and not debate the response. I call 

the Premier. 

Mr NEWMAN: I am going to give the honourable member for South Brisbane some of the 

comments that members of her political party have said which back either the need for us to make such 

a decision or subsequently the decision that has been made. What did Tony McGrady say? He said— 

Every other state and territory in this Commonwealth which has commercial deposits of uranium is allowed to mine and export— 

What about John Mickel? Who was John Mickel? That is right—he was the former Speaker of this 

House, a former minister of this state and a former colleague of members here. Actually, who worked for 

Tony McGrady a few years ago? Who was a policy adviser? Never mind. I will quote what John Mickel 

said. He said— 

With this decision, it means that Queensland is in the box seat. 

What did Bill Ludwig say? This will scare the member for South Brisbane; she must be scared of 

Bill Ludwig. He was talking about the Queensland ban, and he said— 

This is at the cost of our national income and good jobs. 

The union movement get it. What did Paul Howes say at the AWU conference? He said— 

It’s in Anna Bligh’s interests, it’s in Queensland’s interests, to start mining uranium in Mount Isa and Townsville now. 

If you do not support uranium mining, vote 1 for the Greens. If you do, vote 1 for the LNP. 

Electricity Prices, Renewable Energy Target 

Mr CHOAT: My question without notice is to the Minister for Energy and Water Supply. Can the 

minister advise the House of any recent comments concerning the impact of the renewable energy 

target, RET, schemes on electricity prices and whether these are contrary to the federal government’s 

stance? 

Mr McARDLE: I thank the member for the question. He is a member who understands the impact 

of power prices not just in his seat but right across this great state of ours. The Newman government 

made it quite clear in the election campaign that we were going to battle and combat the issues 

involving the cost of living in this state, and two of the top issues are indeed power prices and water 

prices. That is why when the Premier came to power his first action was to freeze tariff 11 to give people 

in this state some relief from the increasing costs of power put upon them by former Labor governments. 

He also committed to provide to people in South-East Queensland a one-off payment in the first quarter 

of next year of $80 to assist with their water bills. We have a state government that is committed to 

helping Queenslanders meet their costs of living and in particular their electricity prices, but we have a 

federal Gillard government that is doing everything it possibly can to ensure those prices go up year in 

and year out to the detriment of every person living in this state. 

That was until a light of honesty appeared in the Australian newspaper this morning, when former 

Labor Minister Joel Fitzgibbon denounced the RET, the renewable energy target scheme, put in place 

by this Labor government. He said that it is nothing more than ideology and that it should be scrapped or 

scaled back to give everybody some benefit from escalating power prices. We got a glimpse of honesty 

in this House last night when the member for Mulgrave made this comment in regard to the Solar Bonus 

Scheme. He said— 

... the opposition acknowledges that there is a cost associated with the Solar Bonus Scheme. 

Hooray. They get it. This is what we have been saying for six months and this is what this 

government is trying to tackle, and now we have somebody in the federal government who has had the 

guts to stand up and say, ‘Enough is enough. The RET has got to be scrapped. Give people across this 

nation a break from the escalating power prices.’ 

But it is not only that. The Commonwealth government imposes the carbon tax of up to $190 per 

annum on power bills; it also imposes the issue of the RET of $102 per year on energy bills in this state; 

and the Australian Energy Regulator, which is a Commonwealth controlled body, imposes capex across 

this nation and across this state that can add up to $400 per annum. It is about time Julia Gillard and 

Labor in this state woke up to the fact that their policies are driving power prices right through the roof, 

their policies are hurting the hip pockets of Queenslanders and their policies will cripple industry in this 

state. It is about time Labor in this state stood up for the people of Queensland. 

(Time expired)


QR National 

Mr KATTER: My question is to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. The QR National 

service to Winton failed to turn up on three occasions in September this year, crippling the business of a 

gypsum supplier—one of the largest businesses in town. Given that the push towards privatisation has 

seen a decline in services to industries outside of mining, under the community service obligations from 

the Queensland government can the minister ensure my constituents that there will not be a 

continuation of this occurrence? 

Mr EMERSON: I thank the honourable member for the question because I know this issue 

concerns the Premier, me and many members here. We are concerned about the freight task that we 

are facing in terms of rail where there have been constant problems and concerns. As the minister, I 

have been meeting with QR National to raise those concerns and see what can happen. 

The reality is that in 2010 the previous government signed a contract with QR National that 

contained a certain obligation in terms of what they are supposed to do. In my view and in the view of 

many of our members, that contract was not favourable to the people of Queensland—to 

Queenslanders. The reality was that the previous government signed that contract as part of their— 

Mr Seeney: Who was the minister? 

Mr EMERSON: Of course, who was the minister for transport at the time that this deal was done? 

It was Rachel Nolan. Do honourable members remember Rachel Nolan? Rachel Nolan was the one 

who did not even know they were going to sell the assets. She got up here and she was asked about it. 

Do you remember this, Treasurer? I will remind you about this. She was in this House and she was 

asked, ‘Are they going to flog off’— 

Mr Nicholls: I asked the question. 

Mr EMERSON: Treasurer, I think you asked the question. What did Rachel Nolan say? 

Mr Seeney: ‘Queensland Rail is not for sale.’ 

Mr EMERSON: ‘No, no, not for sale.’ The reality is that we all thought that Rachel Nolan would be 

the worst transport minister that this state had ever had. We all thought that. We all thought there was 

no way we could get a worse one until of course we got her successor, the next one. 

Mr Newman: Who was that? 

Mr EMERSON: It was the Leader of the Opposition, the worst transport minister that this state 

has ever seen. The reality is that, in terms of that very important issue about the freight task, the 

previous government signed a contract that was not favourable to Queenslanders. That was all a part of 

that despicable deal they did where they misled Queenslanders before the 2009 election. They said 

they would not sell off the assets and then they went ahead and did it, keeping Rachel Nolan in the dark 

apparently. That is how deceitful they were. They could not even tell the truth to their own members. 

They could not even tell their own cabinet members the truth. They cannot tell Queenslanders the truth 

and they could not tell their own cabinet members the truth apparently. 

I say to the member for Mount Isa that I am aware of that issue. I appreciate the importance of 

what the member raises in his question. It has been raised by many of my members, particularly the 

members around this area who have an important role in the freight area. We are dealing with it; we are 

working on it. Unfortunately, because of the contracts that were signed by the previous government, we 

are stuck with its despicable efforts. 


Wynnum Hospital, Emergency Centre 

Mr SYMES: My question without notice is to the Minister for Health. Is the minister aware of any 

safety issues at the Wynnum Hospital emergency centre? Furthermore, is the minister aware whether 

any such concerns were ever brought to the attention of any former Labor minister? 

Mr SPRINGBORG: This question comes hot on the heels of the expose by the honourable 

member for Lytton last night about not only the knowledge but also the involvement of the previous 

member for Lytton, Deputy Premier and minister for health in this matter. He was actually briefed on and 

was part of a cabinet decision to ‘re-orientate’ the Moreton Bay nursing home, which was about getting 

rid of people from that facility. I am aware of information and certainly I am very happy to give it to the 

parliament. I think it is important to acknowledge the very strong commitment of the member for Lytton 

to ensuring that patients in his electorate are safe when they turn up to the Wynnum Hospital. He is 

cooperating to ensure that he gets the best deal for his electorate, unlike his predecessor, who did


absolutely nothing. Indeed, a briefing note was presented to the former minister for health, Mr Wilson, 

on 15 May 2011 which said that the minister approved the proposed conversion of the current 24-hour 

emergency centre at Wynnum Hospital into a seven-day, extended-hours, acute primary-care clinic. 

Why is this the case? It says— 

A series of serious, preventable clinical incidents have occurred at Wynnum Hospital in the last 12 months. These are largely 

attributable to the fact that Wynnum Hospital does not have sufficient critical infrastructure to safely manage the category two and 

three patients that make up approximately 25 per cent ... of patient ... presentations. 

Category 1 patients do not go there, anyway; they are bypassed directly by the Ambulance 

Service to Redlands because the hospital is not safe for those presentations at the ED. A whole range of 

issues was raised, including the fact that the local hospital district had contributed $350,000 in unfunded 

money just to prop it up whilst they were awaiting a decision from the former minister for health. 

Two recommendations were given to the former minister for health. One of those 

recommendations was to formally change the name and function to a seven-day, extended-hours, acute 

primary-care clinic and the other one was to invest significant funding—potentially millions of dollars—to 

upgrade that particular hospital so that it was capable of not only receiving but also treating acute 

patients in the ED as well as in-patients. They admitted that it was only a subacute facility. What did the 

previous minister do? Absolutely nothing, as he left those people out there swinging on a branch 

knowing that they did not have a safe environment. He basically stood in the corner with his hands on 

his ears making nah, nah, nah noises so he could not hear. 


Madam SPEAKER: Member for South Brisbane, you do not clap in here. I warn the member for 

South Brisbane. I call the member for Dalrymple. 

Aged Care 

Mr KNUTH: My question is to the Minister for Health. As the minister is now targeting state-run 

aged-care facilities across Queensland, which has caused great fear amongst residents, particularly in 

rural areas such as Charters Towers which has a massive ageing population that relies heavily on this 

type of facility, will the minister assure the elderly of Charters Towers that they have nothing to fear and 

that the Charters Towers Eventide Nursing Home will function to its full capacity? 

Mr SPRINGBORG: I say in response to the honourable member’s question that the issue of aged 

care in Queensland is a difficult issue. Indeed, 95 per cent of the people in residential aged care in 

Queensland are in facilities that are not owned or run by the Queensland state government. Indeed, 

aged care is the province of the Commonwealth government. That is not only recognised by this side of 

the parliament; it is also recognised by that side of the parliament, as was enunciated in the debate in 

this place last night. In actual fact, the Forster report recommended that the previous government get 

out of aged care in Queensland because the facilities were ageing, were substandard and needed 

significant investment. Indeed, in February 2009 the previous government made a decision in cabinet— 

and the honourable member who is currently the Deputy Leader of the Opposition was a part of those 

cabinet discussions—to actually move out of residential aged care in at least five facilities in this state. 

There is a role for the Queensland government in some parts of aged care in Queensland, and 

that is an area that the not-for-profit and the private sector are unable to cover. Ninety-five per cent of 

the people in aged care in Queensland are actually in the likes of MercyCare, RSL Care, UnitingCare 

and myriad other providers in Queensland which provide high-quality aged care to people in this state. I 

challenge anyone on the other side of this parliament and also the honourable member for Charters 

Towers to stand up and say in this place that Blue Care, RSL Care and MercyCare are not capable and 

competent in providing aged-care facilities in Queensland when, indeed, they currently provide it to 

more than 30,000 Queenslanders. There will be an area of involvement for Queensland Health in some 

of these places around Queensland on a specific basis. Indeed, we have multipurpose health facilities 

across this state—and there may even be some in the honourable member’s electorate—where the 

Commonwealth and the state actually partnered to look after those people. That will be a decision for 

the boards and we will be continuing to operate in those areas. 

I can give the people the absolute assurance that, in the case of each and every one of those 

people who will be transitioned into another form of care, it will be safe and it will be appropriate—not 

like we saw in Queensland under the previous mob who ran this state. Under them, we saw the likes of 

the Moreton Bay nursing home, which was falling apart and decaying and in which the previous 

government would not invest the money. We also saw what happened in relation to those two other 

facilities at Eventide where they had already made the decision to sell off some of the land. Enough of 

the hypocrisy; we are being up front with Queenslanders 

(Time expired)



Mr MALONE: My question without notice is to the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines. Can 

the minister inform the House how uranium mining in this state will benefit all Queenslanders? 

Mr CRIPPS: I thank the member for Mirani for his question. The Newman government has put the 

interests of Queenslanders first with its decision to recommence uranium mining in Queensland. The 

six-member implementation committee, announced by the Premier this week, marks the beginning of an 

orderly and considered process to ensure that uranium mining in Queensland resumes under world’s 

best practice environmental and safety standards. 

The LNP is committed to delivering a robust resources sector that delivers jobs and economic 

prosperity, particularly in regional and rural areas of Queensland. I have confidence in committee chair 

Councillor Paul Bell, a man with years of experience in ensuring that the development of the resources 

sector in the Bowen Basin was responsive to the needs of local communities. With the assistance of his 

fellow committee members—respected Indigenous leader and Uranium Association director, Warren 

Mundine; Noeline Ikin from the Northern Gulf Resource Management Group; the Queensland 

Resources Council’s Frances Hayter; Queensland’s Chief Scientist, Dr Geoff Garrett; and Dan Hunt, the 

director-general of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines—Councillor Bell will be steering a 

well-grounded, balanced panel with regional Queensland’s best interests at heart. 

Predictably, the green movement is already bleating in the media about the implementation 

committee and about the greens not having a seat on the panel. I would like to advise all members of 

the House that the Queensland Conservation Council was offered a place on the implementation 

committee and it refused. The hysterical scaremongering from the extreme greens and the Queensland 

Labor Party is just lazy political rhetoric. They should stop their unconstructive protesting and instead be 

part of the discussion on the sustainable development of an industry that will benefit all Queenslanders. 

There is little doubt that uranium mining will be a valuable part of a diversified resources sector 

across Queensland. North Queensland in particular stands to benefit from some of the more prospective 

resources located in the north-west minerals province. Uranium mines in this area have the potential to 

provide employment opportunities and economic opportunities that communities in North Queensland 

deserve, particularly Indigenous communities. Uranium deposits in the north-west minerals province 

have special strategic importance for Indigenous communities, given that some mines in that area are 

destined to close in the next few years. For example, almost 25 per cent of workers at Century Zinc’s 

mine are Indigenous employees drawn from the local community in Doomadgee. While some of those 

workers will be deployed to other MMG mines, there is already optimism that potential uranium mines in 

the region could provide alternatives in the future. We should support the development of this industry. 


QBuild 

Mr BYRNE: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Public Works. I refer to the minister’s 

decision to sack almost 900 government workers—350 from Project Services and more than 500 in 

QBuild in Rockhampton, Gladstone, Townsville, Maryborough, Bundaberg, Toowoomba, the Gold 

Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. Will the minister advise if any assessment or modelling was 

conducted or considered regarding the economic impact in regional Queensland before he approved 

these mass sackings? 

Dr FLEGG: I thank the member for the question and for this opportunity to discuss the future role 

of QBuild. I think we should understand right from the beginning that even under the previous 

government 70 per cent of QBuild’s work was contracted out to the private sector. The honourable 

member will be well and truly aware—it has been long discussed on this side of the chamber—that we 

are not going to walk up to a school P&C and tell them, ‘You cannot get the best value. You have to use 

this particular government builder. If you can get a broken window fixed for $200, I am sorry; you will 

have to get somebody to fix it for $800 because we have taken that choice away from you.’ We live in a 

contestable world. In that world, that business will not be tied to QBuild any longer. 

QBuild will have a valuable role going forward, and I am determined to make sure that it does. But 

part of that is to make the organisation efficient—make it able to survive in a contestable world—and at 

the same time allow agencies like our schools and our P&Cs to get the best value they can for very 

scarce and very important taxpayers’ dollars. 

We have merged QBuild and Project Services. We have had a situation around the state where 

you can have a car park and on one side is an office building occupied by QBuild and on the other side 

is an office building occupied by Project Services. There has been an enormous amount of duplication. 

How many times have we stood in this chamber and talked about asbestos in government buildings? I 

have been talking about it on a regular basis ever since I came into this place years ago. When I 

became the minister responsible for QBuild I found that it does not hold an A-class asbestos licence. So 

all work requiring an A-class asbestos licence had to be contracted out because QBuild did not hold the 

appropriate licence to do it. This is what we have inherited from the previous government.


With the changes we have made we have reflected the fact that overwhelmingly in the south-east 

corner work will be done more cheaply and more efficiently in the private sector. We are not directing 

government agencies, but they will work it out for themselves. We want QBuild to be prepared for that. 

In order to preserve as many jobs as possible, we will ensure, for example, that they do, going forward, 

have an A-class licence and become a continuing force in regional Queensland. 


Atkinson, Mr R 

Mr DRISCOLL: My question without notice is to the Minister for Police and Community Safety. It 

is well known that the current Queensland Police Commissioner retires today. To mark this occasion, 

can you please inform the House of some of the many highlights of his career in the Queensland Police 

Service? 

Mr DEMPSEY: I thank the member for Redcliffe for that question. On behalf of the Premier, all 

members of the House and all Queenslanders, I thank Commissioner Bob Atkinson for his 

professionalism and dedication to the people of Queensland. 

Today the Queensland Police Service will say a final goodbye to Commissioner of Police Bob 

Atkinson, who is retiring after 44 years in the Police Service and 12 years as commissioner. On behalf of 

the House I would like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution Commissioner Atkinson has made in 

leading the Queensland Police Service, in both good times and bad times. Commissioner Atkinson has 

time and again provided Queenslanders with reassurance as he has overseen major natural disasters 

during his term as commissioner, including Tropical Cyclones Larry, Anthony and Yasi and the floods of 

2010 and 2011. He has also guided the service and Queensland through major events such as the 

Goodwill Games in 2001 and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2002. 

I am in the unique position of having served under Commissioner Atkinson during my time as a 

police officer and having worked beside him as police minister. In both roles I have seen Commissioner 

Atkinson always encourage people to be the best they can be and work to improve themselves. He has 

always expected his officers to be professional and show empathy in every situation. But most 

importantly, he has ensured everyone works together, knowing that it is only through working together 

that the Police Service is at its best. 

Through all the challenges Commissioner Atkinson faced, he held on to his positive determination 

to see the service succeed and also helped boost the officers around him. The commissioner has been 

a supporting force in the service as it has undergone challenge and change. His service to the state will 

always be remembered by those who served with him and by everyday Queenslanders. Commissioner 

Atkinson, through his years of service, set a high standard for the incoming commissioner. I have no 

doubt that Deputy Commissioner Ian Stewart is adequately prepared to take over the role tomorrow 

morning. 

On behalf of the people of Queensland and in my role as Minister for Police and Community 

Safety, I want to thank Commissioner Bob Atkinson for his decades of outstanding dedication to the 

Queensland Police Service and ensuring that Queenslanders were kept safe. Queensland is a safer 

place because of Commissioner Bob Atkinson. Whilst all Queenslanders today may be saying goodbye 

to the commissioner, they are also saying thank you for your many years of service and dedication and 

the high standards that you have set through the many years of your service. 


Mrs MILLER: My question is to the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines. What plans does 

the government have for exporting our uranium ore and will the minister rule out transporting uranium 

through Townsville, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef? 

Mr CRIPPS: I cannot say how delighted I am to have another opportunity to talk about the 

decision of the Newman government in relation to the recommencement of uranium mining in 

Queensland. In the first instance I want to indicate to the House and clarify exactly what decision the 

cabinet took in Goondiwindi two Mondays ago, and that was to change the policy position of the 

Queensland government in relation to the mining of uranium in Queensland—the policy position of the 

Queensland government in relation to the mining of uranium in Queensland. We have then moved this 

week, as the Premier announced yesterday, to put in place a six-member implementation committee to 

go about the process of developing a framework for the recommencement of uranium mining in 

Queensland because we want that industry to recommence in this state at world’s best practice, 

particularly in relation to the environmental standards and the workplace health and safety standards 

that will be applied for the recommencement of that industry in Queensland. 

What we have seen in relation to the response from the extreme green movement and the 

hysterical response from the Queensland Labor Party opposite is all sorts of fearmongering and 

scaremongering in relation to a whole range of other and associated issues that are yet to be responded


to and recommended on by the implementation committee. The very reason why we have moved to put 

in place an implementation committee is to advise the Queensland government on the best way to 

recommence this industry in Queensland. The terms of reference that have been released and are on 

the website for everyone to see clearly indicate that the issues that we want the implementation 

committee to advise the Queensland government on are issues in relation to best practice 

environmental standards, best practice workplace health and safety standards, address issues such as 

transportation, address issues such as the way we will move the product from one place to another, 

advise us on opportunities that we have for the export of the product and whether that can be done in a 

safe fashion and what facilities will be required. 

That is the whole purpose of the implementation committee. It will respond in March next year to 

the Resources Cabinet Committee and we will advise the cabinet about a safe way, an orderly way, a 

sustainable way for the recommencement of the uranium mining industry in Queensland. That is the 

whole purpose of what we have done in terms of the appointment of the implementation committee. 

That is lost on the extreme green movement. That is lost on those members opposite from the 

Queensland Labor Party, and they are struggling for relevance in this debate because they are 

hopelessly divided amongst themselves. They have never been able to come to a decision about 

uranium mining in Queensland. We had 20 years of indecision under Labor in this state. We have a new 

government in Queensland and we are determined to establish a diversified resources sector. 


Local Government 

Mr HOPPER: My question is to the Minister for Local Government. The minister has previously 

told the House that he intended to visit all 73 councils in Queensland. Could the minister please advise 

the House of the progress of this commitment and any benefits for local government? 

Mr CRISAFULLI: I thank the honourable member for Condamine for the question because it 

gives me a great deal of pride to say that I have achieved that goal and I have met with all 73 councils, 

but on more than a dozen of those occasions I did so standing beside people like the member for 

Condamine, like the member for Gregory, like the member for Warrego who have been mighty 

representatives for many councils in their regions that have been through hell. The purpose of the visit 

was twofold. The first was to rebuild trust and the second was to work on how we can change the Local 

Government Act to clearly put mayors and councillors back in charge after a decade of being under the 

pump from those opposite. 

But there was another point to the exercise, and it clearly showed that this government 

understands that Queensland is more than just postcode 4000. Today I want to share with the House 

some of the highlights and some of the stories about resilience and determination that typifies local 

government in this state—stories like in Croydon where the CEO is also the local undertaker; in 

Cloncurry where the mayor picks up the child-care worker to take her to work at the council owned 

facility; in Thargomindah where the dynamic Bulloo Shire Council was having trouble hiring a nurse so it 

built a property for the nurse and then when it was struggling to get a teacher it built a facility for a school 

and then when the education department offered 0.5 of a teacher it stumped up the cash for the extra 

half. The Diamantina Shire Council has not just built a levy to protect the town; it has used it to create 

additional land for its people. 

They do more with less because they do not have a choice. The community is their total focus. 

There is no room for party politics or petty politics and they do it despite a lack of support from other 

levels of government, and I give the House a classic example: in Cunnamulla the Paroo Shire Council 

just wanted one hectare of a 20,000-hectare town common to extend its cemetery and was given the 

royal run-around for 4½ years. 

Mr Newman: Who by? Who by? 

Mr CRISAFULLI: By DERM, that is who by! Then there is the story in the proud little town of 

Boulia where the council just wanted to create a wash-down bay and has been unable to secure land to 

erect a power pole despite the interest of the traditional owners to do just that. The future of the local 

government department is about doing just this—cracking down bureaucracy at whatever level and 

enabling local councils to again control their own destiny. I will be conducting a series of workshops right 

across this state starting from early next year in which we will be giving councils the opportunity to put 

forward their case. Why? Because we believe in them. Why? Because we feel that if we can partner 

with local government they will be a partner in building a four-pillar economy for this state. 

Wolston Park Health Facility, Security 

Mrs SCOTT: My question without notice is to the Minister for Health. I refer to media reports of 

two escapes from Wolston Park health facility this year, and I ask: will the minister guarantee that 

security and staffing levels at the facility have not been affected by the minister’s cuts to Health jobs and 

services?

2266 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 31 Oct 2012 

Mr SPRINGBORG: I can absolutely assure the honourable member opposite that the almost 

1,500 people who are going to lose their jobs across Queensland this year as a consequence of Labor’s 

bungled Health payroll debacle have not impacted at all on security at Wolston Park. As I indicated 

when I made those announcements a couple of months ago, all of those particular jobs which are to be 

lost in HHSs across Queensland are directly attributable to the fact that the Labor Party in Queensland 

brought in such an absolute debacle with the Health payroll in this state. Indeed, it will cost $150 million 

this year alone and $500 million over the three years after that—money which we are hoping to recover. 

Indeed, it will be very interesting to see what is in the legal advice which the Leader of the Opposition 

tabled today—111 days after the parliament passed a motion! I wonder how much of it was to do with 

this letter that the Leader of the Opposition received from the Queensland Auditor-General where he 

sought to debunk some of the mythology she was putting out yesterday that the Auditor-General was 

conducting an audit into this and that he would have access to the legal advice, which is clearly and 

patently untrue. He says it today and I want to— 

Ms PALASZCZUK: I rise to a point of order. I ask the minister to table that letter. 

Mr SPRINGBORG: I am more than happy to, and that is what I am going to do. 

Tabled paper: Letter, dated 31 October 2012, to the Minister for Health from the Auditor-General regarding Queensland Health 

payroll and associated cost issues [1452]. 

He is not doing such an audit. He simply updates the cost of running the payroll in Queensland 

and the issues surrounding that and therefore there is no special audit being conducted, and the Leader 

of the Opposition is caught out again! 

It also makes you wonder how much this latter-day conversion towards accountability by the 

Labor Party was to do with the fact that Schwarto and Paul Lucas have been on the phone in the past 

couple of days saying, ‘We don’t want a royal commission. We don’t want a parliamentary inquiry. We 

don’t want to be called back. We don’t want to give evidence under oath. We don’t want to have to spill 

the beans.’ You can see from the nervousness of the Leader of the Opposition today, who has been 

flushed out, that that is certainly the case. 

Specifically with regard to the circumstances at The Park, I can inform the House that the 

absconder has been apprehended. That person was actually outside the secure facility on approved 

leave. He did not break out of the facility; he was outside. That leads me to announce that I am doing a 

review of their policies, which have been laissez faire with regard to dealing with these people, these 

patients, that, frankly, I think are putting public safety at risk. Also, all approved leave has been 

cancelled as a consequence of this. 

Madam SPEAKER: Order! The time for questions has expired. Before I ask the Clerk to read the 

order of the day, I want to acknowledge the schools visiting today: Burnett Heads State School from the 

electorate of Burnett and Goodna State School from the electorate of Bundamba. 

APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENT) BILL 

APPROPRIATION BILL 

Consideration in Detail (Cognate Debate) 

Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 

Committee of the Legislative Assembly 

Report 

Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 

Madam SPEAKER (3.31 pm): The House will consider the Appropriation (Parliament) Bill first 

and then the Appropriation Bill. The question is— 

That the report of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly be adopted. 

As the chair of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly, I have been asked by committee 

members to speak in relation to the committee’s report of its examination of the budget estimates of the 

Appropriation (Parliament) Bill for the 2012-13 financial year. This is the first year that the Committee of 

the Legislative Assembly has conducted the estimates process with respect to the parliamentary 

appropriations. 

The committee has administrative functions under sections 5 and 6 of the Parliamentary Service 

Act 1988, which include deciding policies about parliamentary accommodation and services and 

deciding major policies to guide the operation and management of the Parliamentary Service.

31 Oct 2012 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 2267 

In recognition of the committee’s statutory role as a board of management for the Parliamentary 

Service, the examination of the areas that fall under the responsibility of the committee took place 

through an open and public meeting process. Under new standing order 181A, the stakeholders, who 

are the members of parliament, were invited to attend a public meeting on 9 October 2012 and ask the 

committee questions relevant to the parliamentary appropriations. The Clerk of the Parliament was also 

available to take questions in accordance with that standing order as the CEO and employing authority 

of the service’s staff. 

Members’ questions at the public meeting covered a wide range of matters—from 

accommodation in the parliamentary precinct through to cost of signage for members’ electorate 

offices—as detailed in the committee’s report tabled on 29 October. In regard to my own responsibilities 

as Speaker, I was particularly pleased to receive questions regarding two matters in which I have taken 

a keen interest. Firstly, the question regarding the ways that the parliament has honoured and is 

planning to honour the service of Queensland’s first Indigenous member of parliament, Mr Eric Deeral, 

gave me an opportunity to outline the important steps the parliament has taken. These included 

renaming the Indigenous Youth Parliament in his honour, making a short documentary about him and 

the condolence motion, which is scheduled for tomorrow. Secondly, the question regarding safety and 

evacuation procedures in the parliamentary precinct gave me an opportunity to expand on the important 

steps that have been taken in this area in the 54th Parliament and to flag the upcoming reviews being 

conducted in relation to the security on the precinct. 

In conclusion, I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the valuable assistance 

provided to the committee by the Clerk and other parliamentary staff and to thank the members of the 

committee for their contributions throughout the year. 

Mrs MILLER (Bundamba—ALP) (3.34 pm): I rise to contribute to the debate on the report of the 

Committee of the Legislative Assembly. There are several observations that I wish to make on behalf of 

the Labor opposition. Obviously, a most disturbing aspect of the hearing into this committee was the 

overwhelming weight of questions that were allocated to members on the government side of the 

House. 

As all members are aware—or at least they should be—the Queensland parliamentary committee 

system underwent a massive overhaul last year. This included a new approach to the estimates 

committee hearings, with time limits removed from questions and answers to allow a more free-flowing 

debate between the parliament and the executive on various topics, on various themes and issues. The 

previous government approached these changes in the appropriate spirit in 2011 and there was 

widespread recognition that the estimates process improved. I know it did improve, because I was the 

chair of an estimates committee. 

We are all aware that the LNP government made some amendments to the Parliament of 

Queensland Act earlier this year. I remind the House that those changes were supposed to be a high 

priority. They were brought in on the very first full sitting day of this Newman LNP government and they 

were supposed to be more important than every election promise made by the LNP. The main change 

involved the LNP giving every member of its massive backbench a pay rise when, without any warning 

to the Queensland community, the government stacked the portfolio committees. It was the day that the 

Newman government first breached the trust of the people of Queensland. The government breached 

the trust of the people of Queensland and it is something that this government has continued to do with 

alarming regularity week in, week out, day in, day out. The people of Queensland are saying, ‘Trust 

Newman? Can’t do.’ Stand up for Queensland? People are enrolling with the union movement by their 

hundreds day by day. 

The LNP government has also made changes to the way in which the Committee of the 

Legislative Assembly would operate—changes that were, in fact, supported by the opposition. However, 

like so many things about this Newman LNP government, the devil was always in the detail. There it 

was, buried away, burrowed down. Some of the detail was revealed on 11 October 2012, the very first 

day of the estimates committee hearings. At the hearing into the Committee of the Legislative Assembly 

we found ourselves in a bizarre situation where literally any MP could turn up and be given equal 

opportunity to ask questions. In a parliament where the government comprises some 87 per cent of the 

members, this is literally bordering on the farcical. The estimates process is intended to be the one time 

of the year when the opposition has an opportunity to explore issues and interrogate the government 

about its proposed expenditure. Yet when it comes to the CLA, we are suddenly given some inane line 

like a ‘once upon a time’ fairytale that this committee is above partisan politics. If the CLA is apolitical, 

why was the opposition kicked out of this parliamentary precinct? If the CLA is above politics, why did 

the executive direct the Clerk to shift the opposition off site? 

We have a half-baked argument from the Deputy Premier that we should be coming to the 

committee to ask questions as members of parliament, not as members of a political party. Let me 

remind the Deputy Premier and his boss that there was nothing bipartisan about the LNP’s decision to 

stack the portfolio committees and give all the backbench a pay rise. There was nothing bipartisan about 

the LNP’s decision to ignore the recommendations of its own chair of the PCMC and refuse to allow the 

Leader of the Opposition to nominate the chair of that most important committee. Shame on you! There


was nothing bipartisan about the LNP’s decision to kick the opposition out of Parliament House. It was a 

deliberate strategy against the democratic interests of all Queenslanders and it is a great shame in the 

democracy of this state. 

Mr STEVENS (Mermaid Beach—LNP) (3.39 pm): Thank you very much for the opportunity to 

speak on this report. It really saddens me to hear the pitiful diatribe that I have just listened to from the 

member for Bundamba about matters that concern the CLA which are, in particular, the poorest 

reflection on her members that I can ever imagine a member of a party giving about the leadership of 

the Labor Party that has its three senior members on that CLA. Madam Speaker, you chair the CLA— 

and chair it brilliantly, I might add—on an independent basis without a vote on any matter except budget 

matters. The bottom line is that this committee is made up of equal numbers of government members 

and opposition members. Quite clearly, the reason that the member for Bundamba did not get to ask all 

of the questions, as she so wilfully tried to do, was the fact that there are 89 members—88 without you, 

Madam Speaker—entitled to ask a question of the CLA. She can get in line with the other 88 members. 

This committee is a balanced committee between government and opposition and she has no more 

rights than any other member in this House. 

If she had a concern she should have gone to her own Labor members on that committee which 

is delicately balanced at three all. Quite clearly the member for Bundamba has been full of political 

mischief, full of self promotion and full of some new wonderful aura that she is creating about being the 

attack dog for the Labor Party in this House. It is absolutely pathetic, unbelievable and quite 

disappointing for the good folk of Bundamba who had the misfortune to have her returned as their 

member at the last election. 

The CLA has operated very efficiently, as the reports indicate. We dealt with difficult matters such 

as budget cuts that we faced right across-the-board, as did every other department. That was dealt with 

in a totally appropriate way. It was dealt with cooperatively. The fact that these financial targets and 

tasks had to be addressed was dealt with with understanding by Labor and government members. The 

CEO on behalf of the Parliamentary Service, the Clerk of the Parliament, has delivered those in a very 

distinguished and delicate manner. I congratulate his financial delivery of the Parliamentary Service. He 

is very much across all issues in relation to the financial status of the Parliamentary Service. It has been 

delivered in accordance with all benchmarks and parameters. 

There were implications even at that meeting from the member for Bundamba. They were 

absolutely ridiculous. She raised in that report petty political issues such as the Bernays Room. We told 

her it cost $1,400 over and over again. Unfortunately she wanted the CEO to go through all this extra 

work and time and cost to confirm it was $1,400 over and over again. What part of $1,400 can the 

member for Bundamba not understand? 

Mr Ruthenberg: The common-sense part. 

Mr STEVENS: I take the interjection from the member: the common-sense part. This is very 

much the member for Bundamba’s wonderful new high-flying style. She even took it upon herself to 

attack what it cost to set up other members’ offices. As she might have noticed around this House, there 

were a lot of new members elected at the last election, mainly because of the disgusting way her 

government ran the previous 53rd Parliament. 

Mrs MILLER: I rise to a point of order. We still do not have an answer on why it cost $4,000 for 

the member for Ipswich’s signage. 

Madam SPEAKER: Member for Bundamba, I warn you under 253A for frivolous interjections. 

Mr STEVENS: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. There were costs that were identified that 

were reasonable in terms of individual fitouts that were all done in accordance with the Parliamentary 

Service. They were done independently by the Clerk of the Parliament who has been independent in 

this parliament and every other parliament before it. The slur that she puts on the independent officers is 

atrocious and not befitting of a member of this parliament and certainly not for the people of Bundamba. 

Mr PITT (Mulgrave—ALP) (3.44 pm): I rise to make a very brief contribution following the remarks 

by the honourable Manager of Government Business. I wish to put on the record that he is quite correct 

in saying that there is very much a collegiate spirit between the members of the government and the 

non-government members on the Committee of the Legislative Assembly. It is not, however, correct to 

say that we were in concert and supporting and understanding of all of the budget cuts that were 

required. That would imply that the opposition in Queensland understands the broader government cuts 

and acknowledges that we accept the cuts and the rationale of the Newman government in making 

those cuts which subsequently required cuts to the parliament. I think it is very important that we have 

that on the record. 

I wish to reiterate that the collegiate approach of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly is 

something that I think is a work in progress but travelling fairly well at this stage. 

Report adopted. 

Clauses 1 to 6, as read, agreed to. 

Schedules 1 to 3, as read, agreed to.


Madam SPEAKER: The question is— 

Appropriation Bill 

Finance and Administration Committee 

Report 

That the report of the Finance and Administration Committee be adopted. 

Mr CRANDON (Coomera—LNP) (3.47 pm): I rise to commence the debate on report No. 21 of 

the Finance and Administration Committee which was tabled on Monday, 29 October 2012 having had 

the hearing on 11 October 2012. I need to make one quick comment in relation to the member for 

Bundamba. I noted that she had 35 questions on the day for the CLA. The longwinded way in which the 

member asks her questions would have taken up 35 minutes of the 60 minutes. It would have left 

precious little time for anybody to even have a chance of answering her questions. I am pleased that we 

did not allow the member for Bundamba to have open slather. 

The responsibility of the Finance and Administration Committee was to ask estimates questions 

of the Premier and the Treasurer and Minister for Trade. May I say that it was a very well run committee 

proceeding. 

Mr Powell: Run by you. 

Mr CRANDON: I take the interjection. It was run by me. It was so well run that not only did I get a 

thankyou from the Premier but also I got a thankyou from the Leader of the Opposition in respect to the 

bipartisan way in which the committee was run. Certainly, other opposition members who sit on the 

committee also agreed that it was a well-run committee. I congratulate all of the members of the 

committee for their questions of the Premier and the Treasurer and Minister for Trade. 

I want to talk about the report as it relates to my electorate. It is very important for the people of 

the Coomera electorate to receive feedback on these things. I went into the community and spoke about 

the estimates process, how it worked and, indeed, how the government and the Premier have been 

managing things for us since the election back in March of this year. The feedback that I received was 

simply that the Premier is sending a positive message out to the broader community. The feedback from 

the Coomera electorate is broadly positive. Of course, always a few people will have some concerns 

about positions and so forth, and we understand that. However, the confidence is there and confidence 

is the cornerstone of any rebuilding strategy. The crux of the issue is that it will be Queensland business 

that will kick-start this state. This government will clear the way for it by cutting down on the red tape that 

has been a real bugbear for people and businesses in the community. 

On the day, the Treasurer’s feedback and that of his CEOs instilled confidence in the business 

owners in the Coomera electorate. Indeed, I have had the pleasure of welcoming the Treasurer as a 

guest speaker at a number of functions in and around the area, prior to the election and post the 

election. He has been very well received. The way he has handled the job of Treasurer has been very 

much appreciated. On behalf of the people of the Coomera electorate, thanks go to both the Premier 

and the Treasurer for the way they have been running the business of government for the people. 

Recently, I was at an open day at a medical centre and I am hoping that the Minister for Health 

will be able to attend a launch of that particular development. It is an outstanding development. A lot of 

confidence in the community has been shown by the people behind that development. I look forward to 

more positives coming from this government into the future. 

Mr PITT (Mulgrave—ALP) (3.52 pm): From the outset I pass on my thanks to the chair of the 

committee, the member for Coomera, for his very balanced approach to allowing questioning by the 

non-government members of this particular committee. I make that statement as the deputy chair of the 

committee. I will make the following statements as the shadow minister for Treasury and trade. 

The estimates committee hearing of the Finance and Administration Committee confirmed that 

the LNP budget is based on ideology rather than evidence, with cuts to services and the removal of 

14,000 government positions funding the LNP’s election promises. In the hearing, the Under Treasurer 

confirmed that the LNP’s jobs and services cuts are contributing to Treasury’s forecasts for 

unemployment averaging above global financial crisis levels this financial year. So far we have seen the 

seasonally adjusted unemployment rate climb from 5.5 per cent in March to 6.3 per cent in September, 

with over 20,800 jobs lost in the month of an LNP budget the Premier called ‘fun’. Over half of those jobs 

lost were full-time jobs. There is simply no escaping the fact that Queensland’s unemployment rate is 

being pushed upwards by an LNP government that is attacking jobs and services. 

The budget papers further set out that the LNP’s cuts and royalty and tax hikes are having a direct 

impact on Queensland’s economic growth as well, which is forecast by Treasury to slow next financial 

year. Labor left Queensland’s economy growing at four per cent, well ahead of the national average and 

the second fastest in the nation. It was Labor that also oversaw the largest fall in the unemployment rate


from 9.8 per cent when the LNP was last in government to 5.5 per cent in March. At the estimates 

hearing, the opposition questioned the Treasurer and Under Treasurer over the justifications that have 

been made for these cuts. 

At the hearing, it was conceded by the Treasurer and Under Treasurer that the government had 

never been advised that it was directly borrowing to pay the wages of 20,000 government workers, as 

has been repeated endlessly by the Premier. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Treasurer admitted 

this was all based on a hypothetical scenario of the potential savings that could have been made if the 

government had not hired more workers since the year 2000. The Premier has jumped on this 

hypothetical scenario to say that 20,000 government workers needed to be sacked and that they are 

paid from borrowings. This is not true and no evidence has ever been produced to substantiate the 

claim. 

This raises questions as to why the LNP government made up claims of a need to sack 

government workers. For this reason, I questioned the Treasurer in relation to his answer to an earlier 

question on notice, which stated that the LNP’s funding source for election commitments is to be found 

in the table of redundancies of 14,000 government workers. Just 48 hours before the election, the 

Treasurer said that all the LNP’s promises would be funded through an ‘employee expense cap’, which 

would be met through natural attrition and no forced redundancies. When asked if he stood by his 

answer that the employee expense cap to fund election promises is met by the forced redundancies of 

14,000 government workers, the Treasurer confirmed this position. 

The Treasurer was also unable to deny that the LNP budget involves $6.5 billion in new spending 

and cuts to revenue, while increasing debt by more than $20 billion. This means that cuts to services 

and jobs are simply about the LNP’s ideology and priorities. The Treasurer refused to even defend an 

increase in his own personal staff of four positions while overseeing one fewer portfolio in State 

Development than his predecessor. There was no answer from the Treasurer about state taxes per 

person increasing by $76 in the budget, despite earlier that morning the Premier saying taxes had not 

been increased. 

It is clear that the LNP budget has been framed on politics rather than good policy. It is a budget 

that extensively references a document by a political operative, Peter Costello, to justify its decisions 

while the government refuses to allow scrutiny of Mr Costello’s findings. Independent Federation Fellow 

and Professor in Economics John Quiggin has debunked those findings, concluding that the Costello 

audit did not find— 

‘... any “black holes” or substantial mis-statements in the budget estimates of the outgoing Labor government’. 

As much as they try to duck and hide, ultimately the LNP is responsible for the decisions it has 

made in this budget; decisions based on ideology and politics, not on what is in the best interests of 

Queenslanders. 

Hon. CKT NEWMAN (Ashgrove—LNP) (Premier) (3.56 pm): I thank the Finance and 

Administration Committee for the examination it has undertaken of the budget estimates of my portfolio. 

This year’s estimates hearings were an opportunity for the parliament to scrutinise the first budget of the 

new government, a once-in-a-generation budget. I welcome that scrutiny. When we took office the 

government’s finances were in a complete mess. We inherited a dire financial situation. We had to take 

urgent action to prevent Queensland from falling further into debt. 

The Commission of Audit interim report highlighted the former government’s lack of financial 

discipline and it predicted that the government’s debt would hit $100 billion in 2018-19 unless urgent 

action was taken. Such a debt would mean an interest bill of $115 million a week or $685,000 per hour, 

which all Queenslanders would have to pay back. This budget will put Queensland back on the path to 

prosperity. We have made the hard decisions and we will see them through for the sake of future 

generations of Queenslanders. We have restored fiscal discipline and we will return to a budget surplus 

in 2013-14, a year earlier than previously forecast. This budget turnaround will save Queenslanders 

$1.3 billion in interest payments alone over the next four years. 

The government has also been able to reduce payroll tax for business and stamp duty on the 

family home, and we have introduced a new first home buyers construction grant of $15,000. To cut the 

cost of living, we have already halved Labor’s public transport fare increases due in 2013 and 2014 in 

South-East Queensland. We have allocated $63 million to freeze the domestic electricity tariff which, 

along with tariff reform, is saving average families up to $120 on their annual electricity bill. We have 

also frozen registration on the family car. These are just some of the ways we are helping to push down 

the cost of living. While doing this, we have also delivered a record Health budget of almost $12 billion, 

which is an $816 million increase or around seven per cent, tackling mental health, staffing and patient 

travel. Education funding has also been increased to more than $9 billion, including $200 million over 

the next two years so our state schools can start fixing Labor’s massive maintenance backlog. 

I note that, sadly, the member for Mackay has submitted a statement of reservations to the report. 

What a surprise! I completely and totally reject the member for Mackay’s suggestion that I have not 

provided answers to questions that I took on notice. Sometimes the things that the mob opposite put on


the table are so spurious and are such complete and utter fantasises that it is breathtaking. All the 

matters were either addressed during the hearing or in my letter dated 11 October 2012. I refer the 

member for the Mackay to the hearing transcript and the tabled documents. 

Before I conclude, I will address a couple of the things that the member for Mulgrave just said. I 

do not recall ever saying it was fun to see people lose their jobs. That was the implication of what he just 

said. I totally reject that. He also said words to the effect that I said that 20,000 people had to be sacked. 

I challenge him to produce that quote because I did not say that either. I said that we had 20,000 more 

people than we can afford. I said that we would be fighting to save jobs. That is why we have achieved 

an outcome where we are seeing 14,000 positions lost in the QPS. We have done everything we can to 

get it down to that level. 

The point about this is that the people of Queensland should look at what these people opposite 

say because it does not stand up to scrutiny. Their modus operandi is spin, it is verballing and it is 

constantly saying things that are frankly not true. By saying them again and again and again they 

ultimately hope that over time it will punch through. It is a cynical political game. It is a cynical political 

Labor game. I think they must do training courses in how to do this. But, sadly, we will have to deal with 

that. I urge honourable members on this side of the chamber to do everything they can. 

I conclude by again thanking the Finance and Administration Committee, particularly the 

chairman, for their work in scrutinising the budget and the manner in which they undertook this scrutiny. 

I sincerely thank all those staff of the parliament, the department and the government who contributed to 

the estimates process. 

Mr GULLEY (Murrumba—LNP) (4.01 pm): I speak today about the estimates proceedings as a 

member of the Finance and Administration Committee. I specifically refer to the estimates proceedings 

of Tuesday, 9 October and the committee’s examination of the Appropriation Bill 2012 as it relates to the 

Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 

I note for the benefit of the House that my first estimates question in my parliamentary career 

related to the Premier’s open data initiative. As a corporate accountant in a prior life, I understand the 

benefit that full and frank reporting has for all stakeholders. In this regard, I applaud the Premier’s 

initiative of the open government e-revolution. That will give Queensland society and commerce new 

and unprecedented information to drive new benefits and wealth for Queenslanders. The government 

that I campaigned for is living up to its promise of open and accountable government. 

During the election campaign I was proud to campaign on the pledge to revitalise front-line 

services and hence my second question to the Premier was about his plans to renew the Queensland 

Public Service. I would like to say to members that I was very pleased to hear of the establishment of 

the Public Sector Renewal Board to identify and implement the best state government services in 

Australia. 

My next question to the Premier was with regard to the preparations for the G20 summit in 

November 2014. I point out to members that I was pleased to hear about the creation of the G20 state 

planning unit. As the member for Murrumba, I am looking forward to the benefits for my electorate. 

Back to my accounting experience in reporting and disclosure, my final question to the Premier 

was in relation to the progress in the development of the new ministerial code of conduct. As someone 

with corporate governance experience, I was fully satisfied with his response. 

In the afternoon we moved to the examination of the Appropriation Bill 2012 with regard to the 

areas of responsibility of the Treasurer and Minister for Trade. The Treasurer’s opening comments 

about the cost of living gave me great comfort. When I am out and about in my electorate of Murrumba 

that is arguably the most important topic for my constituents. I am pleased that this issue remains high 

on the Treasurer’s agenda. 

My first question to the Treasurer was with regard to the sale of QR shares. I was pleased to be 

told that the sale will save this state $180 million in interest. I note this against the member for 

Mulgrave’s suggestion that we keep those shares and only make some $60 million per year in 

dividends. As a corporate accountant in a prior life, may I say that I prefer the Treasurer’s decision. 

Members will see a theme today where I draw upon my prior background. Normal commercial 

practice when one takes over a new entity is to review the quality of financial reporting, particularly the 

balance sheet and borrowings. There should be no surprise that I asked the Treasurer about the 

appointment of the Commission of Audit and note the independent Office of Treasury’s statement to the 

incoming Treasurer was as follows— 

Queensland’s fiscal position and outlook is unsustainable and restoration must be an urgent priority for this term of government. 

Armed with that comment, I commend the Treasurer’s decision to fully audit the financial health of the 

Queensland government.


May I remind the House that Murrumba is the Aboriginal word for ‘good place’. I inform the 

Treasurer that no matter how many different thesaurus searches I did I could not see a connection 

between the words ‘Clayfield’ and ‘best place’. 

I would like to thank the Treasurer for answering my question with regard to Queensland’s 

building grants concessions for first home buyers. I note that the $15,000 will have real benefits for my 

local first home buyers as well as stimulating my local building and related jobs. 

Lastly, in a time of fiscal budget repair I note the Treasurer’s commitment to revitalising front-line 

services. I would like to compliment the Treasurer on his commitment to Health and the 7.6 per cent 

increase to that budget, to addressing the maintenance backlog in my local schools with funding of up to 

$160,000 for each state school and for the additional funding for policing and the 1,100 new police, 

including police for my electorate. Deputy Speaker, Treasurer and Premier, I thank you for listening to 

my speech on the estimates process. 

Mrs OSTAPOVITCH (Stretton—LNP) (4.06 pm): I feel very privileged to be part of the Finance 

and Administration Committee. I would like to praise all my colleagues and the hardworking staff who 

support us. The people of Stretton would be very interested in what we discussed in the budget 

estimates because they actually understand budgets. They understand how to be fiscally responsible. 

They understand that we cannot keep borrowing and cannot keep buying things that we do not have 

money for and that at some point we have to pay the credit card. 

They might be interested to know about the role of the committee. The Finance and 

Administration Committee’s areas of responsibility are the Premier and the Cabinet and Treasury and 

Trade. The committee also has oversight functions in relation to the Auditor-General and the Integrity 

Commissioner. 

On 1 September 2012 the Appropriation Bill 2012 and the estimates for the committee’s areas of 

responsibility were referred to the committee for investigation and report. On 9 October 2012 the 

committee conducted a public hearing and took evidence about the proposed expenditure from the 

Premier, the Treasurer and Minister for Trade and other witnesses. 

I will point out some of the highlights with regard to Queensland Treasury and Trade. We are 

establishing and pursuing a fiscal strategy for returning the state budget to fiscal balance by 2014-15 

and responding to the Commission of Audit’s recommendations. We have established Projects 

Queensland to deliver value for money from state infrastructure projects and are focused on service 

delivery to encourage private investment in Queensland infrastructure. We have established an Office of 

Best Practice Regulation to cut red tape and regulation by 20 per cent. We have monitored the 

government’s investment in government own corporations to deliver competitive, cost-effective and 

timely infrastructure and services. We have provided economic and statistical information services and 

products that contribute rigorous evidence in support of government programs. 

With regard to the budget highlights of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, some of those 

highlights include: working with other government departments to coordinate assistance to the 

Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry; working with other government departments to 

remove barriers to homeownership for Indigenous Queenslanders living on communal land; 

coordinatiing the implementation of recommendations from the Queensland Floods Commission of 

Inquiry and the government’s formal response to the final report; providing input to the state’s delivery of 

urban water reforms to deliver lower water prices; assisting the government to deliver on its key 

projects, including the CBD government administrative precinct; developing and leading, together with 

Queensland Treasury and Trade, cross-government initiatives to deliver the government’s commitment 

to getting business conditions right and to reduce red tape and regulatory burden by 20 per cent; 

improving accessibility and availability of information on the operation of fundamental legislative 

principles in legislation by publishing an FLP handbook; and, lastly, continuing the e-legislation project, 

which includes the authorised electronic legislation and the electronic publishing of pre-1991 legislation 

as made. 

As I said before, it has been a great privilege to be part of this Appropriation Bill. The objectives 

outlined in the 2012-13 budget include to strengthen and support a high-performing Public Service 

workforce within a contemporary legislative and policy framework and promoting high standards of 

integrity and conduct in the public sector. I am very pleased to have been able to speak to this 

Appropriation Bill. 

Mr STEWART (Sunnybank—LNP) (4.11 pm): I rise today to recommend that the proposed 

expenditure as detailed in the Appropriation Bill 2012 be agreed to without amendment to the Legislative 

Assembly. I would first like to thank and congratulate the member for Coomera for running the estimates 

with such professionalism. I would also like to thank the Premier, the Treasurer and Minister for Trade, 

along with their chief executive officers and associated staff, for the professionalism and cooperation in 

providing information to the members of the Finance and Administration Committee. 

There were a number of issues raised during the estimates hearing with the Premier, all of which 

are important. However, one particularly caught my attention and that was the establishment of the open 

data, open government, e-revolution, led by our new assistant minister, the honourable member for


Mermaid Beach. I take this opportunity to congratulate him on his new appointment. This incentive not 

only promotes open and honest government but has many benefits that will assist businesses to grow 

and to transform their business by taking advantage of information that has already been produced. I 

commend the cabinet for this incentive and look forward to the developments within this area. 

I would also like to mention the further development and implementation of various election 

commitments to promote our plan for Queensland’s four-pillar economy by further discussing the 

renewed focus on agriculture and tourism industries—two very important areas that with strong 

leadership and support will promote jobs and economic growth for Queensland. One of the areas that 

has received particular interest in the Sunnybank community was the appropriation of appropriate 

funding and resources for educational needs in schools. 

The Premier further discussed the importance to strengthen and support a high-performing 

effective Public Service, with better management processes and greater accountability for staff making 

decisions. Part of this reform will review the staffing model and organisational structure to ensure our 

government is focused on a service delivery strategy—a strategy that will ensure Queenslanders will 

receive effective service from government agencies. I am pleased to see that the Queensland Audit 

Office will be able to continue to deliver public sector expertise and identify and address expectation 

gaps with their clients, with additional funding allocated to minor works. 

There is no doubt that the Treasurer and his staff have worked very hard to produce 

Queensland’s strategy to manage the fiscal repair after the neglect of previous years. One particular 

area was to establish an office addressing best practice regulation and reducing red tape and regulation 

by 20 per cent. This is an incentive that the people of Queensland have been calling for for many years. 

The Treasurer also discussed the details of the further sale of additional shares in QR National. I was 

pleased to see that this decision was made as holding on to shares with an offset loan was costing 

Queenslanders money and reducing the effectiveness of good government. I was also pleased to see 

the Treasurer’s support for the health department. 

The economic incentives for the property and construction industry have been welcomed by 

many in the industry and have great potential to grow and encourage residential developments 

throughout Queensland. I must finish by congratulating the Premier and the Treasurer not only for their 

strong leadership but for providing additional information during estimates, and I suggest that the open 

and accountability displayed be commended as an important step in restoring accountability in 

government. 

Ms PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (4.15 pm): I rise to contribute to the 

debate on the report of the Finance and Administration Committee. This year marked the first 

appearance of the Premier, the member for Ashgrove, before an estimates committee of the parliament. 

Unfortunately for the people of Queensland the Premier’s performance fell short of what is expected 

from the leader of this state. He was evasive in his responses, which highlighted his lack of preparation 

for these important hearings and his inability to grasp the detail of his own government’s decisions. I 

was very concerned from the questioning at the hearing that it was quite evident that the Premier was 

lacking in showing compassion for the people that he was elected to serve. 

I also want to point out that the funding that has been slashed to the non-government 

organisations includes particularly $368 million in communities, $120 million in health and $60 million in 

local government. The Premier was unable to detail any information about the number of people in 

these community sector organisations who will lose their jobs or what services will go as a result of 

these funding cuts. The Premier did not provide the number of people losing their jobs as part of 

abolishing 14,000 FTEs from the Public Service. 

The Premier’s failure to understand the impacts of his decisions also extends to government 

owned corporations. When asked about job cuts in GOCs, the Premier deflected responsibility and said 

that it was a matter for the boards. Yet his government has direct impact upon board decisions and 

strategies by ripping $256 million out of Energex, Ergon and Powerlink. The opposition’s fears for jobs in 

GOCs was well founded—after estimates, it was revealed that 500 jobs are being cut from Ergon. 

The Premier’s refusal to tell Queenslanders how many people are losing their jobs rather than the 

number of full-time equivalents, as I mentioned earlier, demonstrates that either he is not committed to 

openness and transparency or he may not know. The Premier’s answer indicates that the LNP started 

on a program of job cuts without fully understanding who will be affected, what front-line services will be 

impacted and what the flow-on economic impacts of these job losses will be, particularly in regional 

communities. As many members in this House here represent regional communities, I am quite sure 

that over the coming weeks and months their impact will be felt. The LNP is showing all the hallmarks of 

a government focused on ideology and not evidence. 

The Premier’s vagueness extended to infrastructure. When asked a very simple question to 

identify new infrastructure projects funded in this year’s budget other than a new CBD office tower, the 

Premier listed two projects. Unfortunately, the two that he mentioned are not really detailed in the budget 

papers. However, there was one particular infrastructure project that the Premier had some 

understanding of and that should be no surprise to members here—and that is his plan for a brand-new


shiny office tower for himself and his ministers. Then the Premier was forced to admit that nearly 

$70,000 has been spent on refurbishments to the existing Executive Building since the election just six 

months ago, despite the plans to demolish it and build a brand-new tower. 

There was also another matter I wanted to address. However, I do want to put on record that that 

matter has now been referred by the Clerk to the Ethics Committee and it would not be appropriate for 

me to go into details in relation to that matter. 

I want to comment on the estimates process because it is a hallmark of transparency and 

openness where the opposition of the day and the government get to reflect on the budget and ask very 

important questions on behalf of the Queenslanders whose voices cannot be heard. The one thing that 

came out of this committee which I must emphasise is that people are unhappy about the job cuts that 

are occurring as part of this government’s plan. Unfortunately, the impacts from this are going to be felt 

for a long time and they will be felt right throughout the state over the years to come. Those people who 

have been sacked will not forget who made this happen. It did not happen through their own actions; it 

happened through the actions of this government—a government that does not understand people, a 

government that does not care about people, a government that does not care about the services that 

governments are supposed to undertake. 

Mr KRAUSE (Beaudesert—LNP) (4.20 pm): It is my pleasure to contribute to this debate on the 

Finance and Administration Committee’s examination of the estimates of various departments. Although 

I was not a member of the Finance and Administration Committee, I have read the report that was 

tabled in parliament. I wish to refer in particular to the budget highlights noted in the report for 

Queensland Treasury and Trade at section 4.1, where it states that budget highlights for the department 

include— 

• establishing and pursuing a fiscal strategy for returning the State Budget to fiscal balance by 2014-15 and responding to 

the Commission of Audit’s recommendations. 

I think this is the most important element of this budget in that we are pursuing a goal to balance 

the budget and put the state’s finances back on track. Government members on this side of the House 

know that the only way to have a sustainable economy—where people can invest with confidence, 

where the government can invest in infrastructure on a proper basis and where we can address the cost 

of living for people in Queensland—is to have a fiscally balanced budget. We understand that, and the 

people in my electorate understand that as well. That is the main highlight from this budget, and I 

congratulate the Treasurer and Premier for putting that forward in the budget. 

This is a once-in-a-generation budget. It will turn Queensland’s finances around from the 

unsustainable debt addicted path which Labor had put us on. It will build towards a stronger future 

where Queenslanders can achieve a future where costs of living are restrained and where people can 

invest with confidence and optimism in a stable regulatory and fiscal environment which supports them, 

not hinders them as the former government did. The establishment of the Office of Best Practice 

Regulation goes some way to dealing with the impact of red tape and regulation in that it will free up 

small businesses, in particular, around this state so that we can actually grow them and not get in their 

way. 

I am a member of the Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee. During our estimates 

hearings, we examined the budget estimates for three departments, and the chairman and other 

members of that committee will comment on those estimates a little later but I would like to touch on 

particular items in the budget at this time. The initiatives outlined by Minister Cripps in respect of mine 

safety and the streamlining of regulatory approvals for the resources sector will kick-start Queensland’s 

economy and let the resources sector get on with developing and contributing to the economic future of 

the state. We will also ensure that Queensland’s mining sector retains world’s best practice in terms of 

safety and works with the Mines Inspectorate to ensure that Queensland mines are safe. 

I thank the minister for his support in implementing the LNP’s commitments in respect of mining 

and CSG production in the Scenic Rim. It is reassuring to see that we have a government now setting 

the rules and regulations for the resources sector in this state, and not the other way around—as so 

often occurred under the former government where communities were ignored and resource companies 

called the shots. 

Minister McVeigh’s department’s estimates contained many commendable initiatives. I make 

particular mention of the investments in weed and pest management and the research funding to make 

Queensland the food bowl of Asia. The implementation of green-tape reduction measures by Minister 

Powell will cut the costs of many small businesses across my electorate and across the state. 

I will touch briefly on two other matters. State schools in my electorate have welcomed with open 

arms the government’s terrific investment in maintenance, with $200 million to fix the backlog which was 

left to them by the former government. Schools will go to market and will actually inject money into their 

community through local tradesmen and local businesses who will fix maintenance issues. This is a big 

shot in the arm. We are fixing these issues in state schools because it is the state government’s 

responsibility to fix those issues.


Can I also mention the Get in the Game funding. This is a great initiative for Queensland and a 

great initiative for my electorate. Clubs can apply for $100,000 in major facility grants and other grants to 

get people involved and participating in sport. This will lead to less pressure on our health system in the 

future. On that note, I want to congratulate a local league club in my electorate on their premiership win. 

In September, the Fassifern Bombers, led by Andrew Walker, won the Ipswich Rugby League 

competition by defeating Brothers in Ipswich, despite trailing 16-nil at half-time. They showed the true 

grit and determination of the Fassifern region and my entire electorate by clawing their way back from 

16-nil down. It is a bit like the task we have in putting Queensland’s finances back on track. I am sure 

the people of Fassifern and the people of Beaudesert commend this budget for its true grit and 

determination. I table certain documents in relation to that, and I commend the budget to the House. 

Tabled paper: Three pages from the Fassifern Guardian, dated 19 September 2012 [1453]. 

Mr KAYE (Greenslopes—LNP) (4.25 pm): I rise in this place today to speak to the Appropriation 

Bill as a member of the Finance and Administration Committee. First, I would like to thank the member 

for Coomera for his excellent leadership of the committee. To the other members, I would like to say 

thank you as well, and I also acknowledge the work of the staff attached to our committee. To the 

Premier, the Treasurer and the Minister for Trade, I thank you for your time and for answering our 

questions so thoroughly. 

Budget estimates are an interesting process. They are integral to the traditions we hold dear in 

Australia. It is an extra check and balance which is particularly necessary in a unicameral parliament. It 

also reaffirmed my belief that we are on the right track to restore the state of Queensland to its rightful 

place as the economic driver of the Australian economy. This is fundamental if we are to rein in out-ofcontrol 

debt and continue to deliver on our promise to help lower the cost of living for all Queenslanders. 

In my electorate of Greenslopes, I have already observed the effects of these initiatives. Even 

before the budget was delivered on 11 September, the people of Greenslopes had begun to see the 

results of sound fiscal stewardship through things like the freezing of tariff 11, the freezing of car 

registrations and a halving of the proposed rise in public transport fees. While people have had to deal 

with price increases due to the federal government’s carbon tax, the Newman government has been 

instituting things to help them with their cost-of-living increases. It is now as plain as the nose on your 

face, Mr Deputy Speaker, that the electricity price rise in July this year is a direct result of the carbon tax. 

This shameful, do-nothing tax hurts the constituents in my electorate. Unfortunately, the carbon tax not 

only hurts those who live in the Greenslopes electorate; it also hurts those who are conducting 

businesses. 

During the estimates process, I was pleased to hear that the Newman government is working 

very hard to implement cross-government initiatives to reduce the red-tape burden on businesses by 

20 per cent. I know that the businesses in my electorate will be very grateful for this news. I was also 

fortunate enough around the estimates period to receive confirmation from the Minister for Transport 

about the transport orientated development at Coorparoo junction. This ongoing saga has cost both the 

government and those businesses who operate in that area of my electorate an enormous amount of 

time, money and frustration. Minister Emerson, his Assistant Minister, Steve Minnikin, and I have had a 

number of conversations regarding this area. I would like to thank Minister Emerson and Assistant 

Minister Minnikin for their time and more importantly for listening to the Coorparoo community’s 

concerns. This area will now be given a boost it so desperately needs after the former government put 

the tender process on hold, leaving business owners and those who had been short-listed for its 

redevelopment in the lurch. The redevelopment of this site has been long awaited and when I speak to 

the businesspeople of that area they are thrilled to be provided with some certainty for their futures. 

This is what the Newman government is all about—planning for the future, getting Queensland 

back on track and giving people hope. We do not want to crush business with more regulation and red 

tape and we do not want to ask people to continually pay more tax. The Newman government is about 

giving people better front-line services, fewer burdens on the family budget and more focused 

community infrastructure planning. It is this that I would like to speak of next. 

Those in this place have heard me speak frequently about the wonderful schools I have in the 

Greenslopes electorate. I am incredibly fortunate to have Mount Gravatt and Seville Road state schools 

in the southern end of my electorate through to Coorparoo State School across the road from my office 

in the north and every school in between. These schools never cease to amaze me with their 

extraordinary results and achievements. I am sure many members in this place feel the same and a 

number of members will be feeling disappointed this week because they have not been able to go to 

some of the awards nights at their local schools. So with your indulgence, Mr Deputy Speaker, I 

congratulate all of the schools in my electorate and especially the class of 2012. 

I come back to the topic at hand. A number of schools in my electorate have received funding to 

fix the large multimillion dollar backlog of school maintenance. The teachers, students, parents and 

community take a lot of pride in our local schools, as does their local member. The parents associations 

should not have to try to fundraise to get doors painted or port racks fixed. Letting such a backlog 

accumulate is disgraceful.


Cavendish Road State High School in my electorate has also received funding to install flashing 

school-zone lights on what is one of the busiest roads in my electorate. Mount Gravatt State School will 

receive funding over the next two years to complete an upgrade of the pick-up and drop-off zones at the 

school. That school is also on one of the state’s busiest roads, Logan Road. These initiatives are very 

important to me not just as the local member, but also as a parent and a local resident. We can put no 

price on our kids’ safety. 

I could speak for a long time about my electorate, but it seems my time is almost up. I had best 

take this opportunity to commend the Premier and the Treasurer once again for assisting residents, 

students and businesspeople to make our community the best it can be. I commend the bill to the 

House. 

Mrs FRECKLINGTON (Nanango—LNP) (4.30 pm): I rise to speak in support of the Finance and 

Administration Committee report and the bill before the House. It was a pleasure to attend the estimates 

hearing as Assistant Minister for Finance, Administration and Regulatory Reform alongside the 

honourable the Treasurer on 9 October. It was a pleasure also to hear and see how the chairman of the 

committee, Michael Crandon, the member for Coomera, handled himself and the committee. The way 

the estimates process was run was an absolute credit to him and his committee. This was my first 

experience of estimates and it was a very well-run committee. I would also like to commend the Premier 

for how he handled himself throughout the estimates committee hearing. I was able to sit in for some 

time during his session, and he handled himself very well. I also commend the Treasurer for how well he 

handled all of the questions. He was able to answer every question that was put to him and to his staff 

as well. 

The difference between the current government and the previous government and how they 

handled the estimates committee hearing is extremely clear. The Treasurer was able to outline what we 

have, and that is a plan. He was able to outline the once-in-a-generation budget in relation to the core 

set of fiscal principles that the Treasurer clearly outlined. Throughout the process the Treasurer was 

able to note that the fiscal repair tasks that were set about by all of the departments have resulted in 

reduced borrowings. The improvement in the government’s fiscal balance will result in interest cost 

savings of over $1.3 billion over the forward estimates. This means a lot for the state of Queensland and 

for the people of Queensland because these savings can go into the most needed front-line services 

such as new hospitals, police stations, ambulances or maybe a dual carriageway for the Bruce 

Highway— 

Mr Johnson: Country roads. 

Mrs FRECKLINGTON:—and country roads, which are very important in the Nanango electorate. 

It is very pleasing to see the amount of money that is being allocated to country roads within this budget. 

It is very important and it is very good to see. 

I think some of the statements made by the opposition in relation to this committee need to be 

corrected. The amount of time that the opposition was given on this committee to have their questions 

answered amounted to some 55 per cent. The last time I counted, there was a very small opposition 

compared to the government, and I would consider that time allocated to be five per cent over and 

above the time that they possibly should have been allocated. 

I would also like to strongly dispute the statement of reservation in the committee’s report. I could 

easily go through it, but time precludes me because I would have to go through each line as clearly 

every statement is quite wrong. I really do not have the time. However, I would like to put on the record 

the fact that I completely disagree with this statement of reservation. 

This is a once-in-a-generation budget and for the people of the Nanango electorate it is a very 

important one. I have been out and about in my electorate. The feedback I am getting is that the 

decisions that this government has had to make because of the debt that the previous Labor 

government left us with are hard decisions but they are ones that are very much supported within my 

electorate. The Treasurer came and spoke at a dinner a couple of weeks ago and the feedback was 

extremely positive. The benefit that this budget will bring in future years is of extreme importance to my 

electorate. 

With the remaining time I would like to touch on the importance of the Office of Best Practice 

Regulation that has also been set up, which will work towards reducing red tape and regulation by at 

least 20 per cent. 

Mr JOHNSON (Gregory—LNP) (4.35 pm): Whilst I was not a member of the Finance and 

Administration Committee, which examined the estimates of the Premier and Cabinet, it is with pleasure 

that I rise to speak to this very important estimates committee report this afternoon. I was somewhat 

amazed to hear the contribution this afternoon of the Leader of the Opposition when she passed 

comment that she was very concerned about the lack of compassion shown by the Premier and that he 

was not across his brief. I think the Premier has a lot of compassion, as does this government. It is the 

former Labor government that never had compassion, because they drove this state into oblivion. That 

is one of the reasons in 1990 we saw the Goss government implement the budget estimates process


whereby the opposition and the parliament could scrutinise the accounts in the best interests of the 

state. The people of Queensland were not briefed by the former Labor government, which created that 

estimates process. The people of Queensland were sick of the contempt. That is why they spoke on 24 

March—at the last state election. 

The audit report commissioned by this government under Peter Costello, Doug McTaggart and 

Professor Sandra Harding has created the template that is going to progress the forward balances of 

this state for generations to come. That template has been set by the hard decisions made by the 

cabinet of the Newman government. It has not been easy and I know there has been pain across 

Queensland. However, there is no gain without pain. I know that my electorate has suffered some of that 

pain. 

This budget has created confidence in this state again. I know that there are people who want to 

invest in my electorate. It is one of the great wealth generators in this state. The bankcard management 

strategies of the Labor Party are doomed to failure. Bankcard strategies do not work. Anyone who has a 

credit card knows that they are a failure. You have to be able to afford what you buy and know how you 

will pay for it. The former government did not seem to understand that. As the Premier said here today, 

we will be saving $115 million a week in interest alone. What a magnificent, responsible development 

that is for the finances of this state. This budget also provides first home buyers with a $15,000 grant. 

This is really going to inject and encourage the construction industry of this state. As part of our fourpillar 

policy, we believe that the construction industry is an integral player in making the state move 

forward again and in creating jobs. We know what has happened in the mining industry in this state in 

relation to the developments that have been announced by the government in the last week relating to 

uranium mining. That is another positive—more jobs. Another of the four pillars, agriculture, is enjoying 

great developments and has been making progress in moving forward. Tourism is another integral 

industry to Queensland. 

The real issues in this budget are, under revitalising front-line services, state funding for specialist 

disability services, up three per cent on last year to $959 million; $15 million to assist elderly parent 

carers of people with a disability; $44 million to provide better access to emergency specialist care; 

$51.6 million to improve and upgrade health facilities; and $34.7 million to provide 300 police as part of 

the additional 1,100 front-line police over the next four years. 

It goes on. There will be $750,000 over three years to support the Women’s Legal Service to 

support vulnerable women in Queensland; $2 billion for recovery and reconstruction projects, in 

partnership with the Australian government; $1 billion over 10 years for the Bruce Highway—another 

program that the last state government did not pay any attention to; $1.3 billion to construct, expand and 

redevelop hospitals across Queensland; and—this is the doozy—$200 million over two years to address 

maintenance in Queensland schools. Schools will receive up to $160,000 a year. This is about keeping 

dollars in local communities, forging relationships with local contractors and giving people jobs. This is 

the LNP way, not the Labor way. 


State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee 

Report 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Dr Robinson): The question is— 

That the report of the State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee be adopted. 

Mr MALONE (Mirani—LNP) (4.41 pm): It is a real pleasure to speak on behalf of the committee. 

Firstly, I congratulate the committee on their support. I acknowledge Tim Mulherin, the deputy chair; Rob 

Katter, the other non-government member of the committee; and of course all of the committee 

members from the government side. I think the committee’s examination of the budget was very intuitive 

in terms of the outcome. I must say that I was surprised by the statement of reservations by the Labor 

Party. It seems to me that it is so easy to criticise all that is going on. Our deficit is close to $5 billion, yet 

they criticise where and how we make cuts. During the committee hearing, support for small business 

was clearly identified. Ultimately, the grunt portfolio areas of industry and state development were well 

and truly covered. 

It will take some time, but unless we actually turn this state around, in the current economic 

climate not only in Queensland but also across Australia and indeed the world, there will be real 

concerns. Obviously we have to make some hard decisions. That was clearly identified at the estimates 

hearing. Most fortunately, the three ministers who appeared before the estimates committee were able 

to clearly identify some real gains in terms of extra funding and some real changes in the programs 

under their control—most importantly, programs that can push this state forward, initiatives that can 

bring prosperity back to Queensland. We all clearly understand that that is not going to happen 

overnight, but we have to start somewhere. Indeed, this budget is the keystone to make sure we get 

back on track.


Quite frankly, I think it is very fortunate that the estimates committee I chaired was able to 

highlight many of the things the departments and the ministers are trying to put back in the stream. I 

refer to Royalties for the Regions, the legislation that will fully operationalise the GasFields Commission, 

the planning of the next stage of the incremental expansion of Abbot Point—in contrast to the absolutely 

ridiculous expansion project the Labor government had in hand—and extra housing developments in 

the mining areas of Moranbah and Blackwater, which are close to my electorate. For so long the Labor 

government sat on its hands and did not look at the outcomes in those mining communities. It did not 

develop any extra land for the mining industry such that at Moranbah rents went up to $3½ thousand a 

week—without any support whatsoever from the previous government. 

Mr Choat: Ted, I think they were sitting on their backsides. 

Mr MALONE: I am not sure they even did that; I think they just went to bed. Of course, the Surat 

Basin coal line will deliver 214 kilometres of brand-new line to deliver coal to port—obviously a step in 

the right direction. It will ultimately be a big export industry for Queensland. 

In the small industry category, we will be working with investors and project proponents to 

encourage the development of new tourism projects across Queensland. We are very fortunate that we 

have a wonderful environment in Queensland. It is so important that we push forward with tourism 

projects. I recognise that yesterday the minister and the Deputy Premier went to Cairns to welcome the 

first direct flight from China by China Eastern. I also mention the flights from Sydney to the Gold Coast. 

They are great achievements in just a few short months of this government coming to power. I support 

the estimates hearing into infrastructure, industry and investment. 

Ms PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (4.46 pm): The estimates hearing for 

the state development committee was quite revealing, because we learned a lot about the high-flying 

ways of the Deputy Premier, ‘Jetset’ Jeff. It was at estimates that we learned that the Deputy Premier— 


Ms PALASZCZUK: They do not like to hear it. We learned that the Deputy Premier has no 

qualms about using charter flights to go to and from his electorate, even if this jet-setting habit cost the 

taxpayers of Queensland $64,000 in just three months—equivalent to an annual bill of almost a quarter 

of a million dollars. Initially the Deputy Premier— 

A government member interjected. 

Ms PALASZCZUK: That works out to be roughly $5,000 a week. Where could you go for $5,000 

a week? I have done a bit of research. For $3,989 you could go around the world. You could go from 

Brisbane to Singapore, London, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Auckland and Brisbane. Or you could 

go around the world twice—from Brisbane to Hong Kong, Zurich, London, Zurich, New York, Los 

Angeles and Brisbane—for $2,550. It gets better: you could go to New York. For $5,220 you could fly 

business class from Brisbane to New York. Unfortunately, this is no laughing matter. 

Mr Choat interjected. 

Mr Malone interjected. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Members will cease interjecting. 

Ms PALASZCZUK: I am quite sure that members would love to speak in this debate. They have 

every opportunity to put their name on the list, stand here and actually put forward their views. 

We put questions to the Deputy Premier about his use of charter flights. Now, I acknowledge that 

he is the Deputy Premier and that he needs to get around—some documents were tabled in relation to 

the use of the Government Air Wing—but I understand that he is also one of the most frequent users of 

the Government Air Wing. I do acknowledge that a Deputy Premier needs to get around this state but, 

instead of using charter flights, when there are commercial flights available to and from his electorate 

the Deputy Premier should use those commercial flights. I think any reasonable person would accept 

that situation. 

We questioned the Deputy Premier in relation to some of this. The diary shows that when the 

Deputy Premier used a charter flight on Friday, 13 April 2012 there was a QantasLink flight available at 

virtually the same time but at a fraction of the cost. We must remember: these are taxpayers’ funds. 

The Deputy Premier tried to insist that there was a reason he could not make the QantasLink 

flight, but there were no conflicting diary entries for this time and the reason obviously still escapes the 

Deputy Premier as he did not furnish the committee with any further explanation. So the people of 

Queensland were confronted with the spectacle of the Deputy Premier racking up expenditure of more 

than $64,900 on charter flights from 26 March to 30 June this year. Despite the clear evidence that 

many of these charter flights could have been avoided through the use of commercial flights, did the 

Deputy Premier admit any wrongdoing? No, of course not! Rather than trying to find ways to save 

taxpayers’ dollars, he has insisted that he will continue using the public purse to fund his own taxi 

service to and from his electorate. I remind the chamber that the Minister for Natural Resources and 

Mines manages to catch commercial flights and then take an hour-long drive to his home in North


Queensland each week. But the Deputy Premier obviously feels as though he deserves special 

treatment, regardless of the impact. I note that the Minister for Health is in the chamber. He is a regional 

member and I do not think that there are commercial flights to and from his electorate. In fact, I have 

heard that he travels quite regularly by car. The Minister for Health also has a busy portfolio and we 

understand that his time is valuable, but yet he seems to be able to undertake that long drive to and 

from his electorate. The Deputy Premier revealed in estimates that— 

Mr HART (Burleigh—LNP) (4.51 pm): It gives me a great deal of pleasure to rise to speak in 

support of the estimates committee for the State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee, 

especially after that five minutes of drivel that has just come from the Leader of the Opposition. The 

Leader of the Opposition had five minutes to tell us about her experience at our estimates committee. 

What did we get? We got one particular subject that she just waffled on and on about. I start by thanking 

the chair of our committee, the member for Mirani, for the way he showed the new members of our 

committee exactly how a committee works and for leading us through this process. I also want to thank 

the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and member for Mackay, the member for Mount Isa, the member 

for Keppel, the member for Pine Rivers, the member for Sandgate and the member for Redcliffe for their 

assistance with the committee. It is also important to point out that we have wonderful staff on our 

committee ably led by Kathy Munro, the research director. Margaret and Rhia are also a very valuable 

part of our team. 

During the estimates committee hearing we heard from the Deputy Premier and Minister for State 

Development, Infrastructure and Planning and member for Callide, the Minister for Energy and Water 

Supply and member for Caloundra, and the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the 

Commonwealth Games and member for Currumbin. What did we hear from those ministers? We heard 

that Queensland is now open for business, and that is echoing everywhere I go in my electorate of 

Burleigh. Whether I go to a chamber of commerce meeting or just walk down the street or visit schools, 

I am getting distinct feedback from the people of Burleigh that they are aware that Queensland is open 

for business, they are enthusiastic and they are looking forward to the future. Why are the people of 

Burleigh excited about the future? 

Mr Malone: Are they? 

Mr HART: They are very excited, and that is because they have a progressive and new 

government. On 24 March they were absolutely sick of the last government—the last government that 

led them into a massive amount of debt, a debt that we have heard again this morning was fast 

approaching $100 billion. One only has to look at the amount of interest that that money takes away 

from this state. How many policemen, how many doctors and how many nurses could we be spending 

that money on instead of wasting it on paying extra interest? We heard that the Deputy Premier is 

looking at the Sustainable Planning Act, and there is quite a bit of excitement on the Gold Coast about 

that. Obviously the Gold Coast is the home of development in Queensland and we have not seen a 

crane on the skyline for the past year. I can tell members that I look forward to seeing those cranes and 

seeing the end of the procession of utes heading out to Ipswich every morning from the Gold Coast. 

Mr Choat interjected. 

Mr HART: I understand that the members for Ipswich West and Ipswich will not be real happy 

about that, but we would like to keep those people on the Gold Coast. So the Deputy Premier is looking 

to fast-track major projects. The committee also heard from the Minister for Energy and Water Supply. 

Two of the issues that greatly impact on the cost of living are the price of water and the price of 

electricity and of course the minister is moving quickly to allay the fears of many Queenslanders to do 

what he can to minimise those costs. The other issue that is very important to the Gold Coast is tourism, 

so I have had a perfect outcome with this estimates committee with development, tourism and the cost 

of living. That is exactly what this committee has investigated. We look forward, as the Minister for 

Tourism said, to more flights coming into the Gold Coast. We are already seeing them come into Cairns 

from China and other places around the world, and we look forward to changes being made in that area 

so that more tourists come to the Gold Coast. 

Ms MILLARD (Sandgate—LNP) (4.56 pm): As a member of the State Development, 

Infrastructure and Industry Committee, I rise on this occasion to speak to the Appropriation Bill 2012 for 

the parliamentary committee 2012-13 budget estimates. I note that this is my first parliamentary 

committee budget estimates experience and I personally valued the opportunity to be able to participate 

in the budget estimates process for a committee with scrutiny over such a diverse range of economic 

interests. I want to acknowledge the contribution provided by the committee chair, the member for 

Mirani, Mr Ted Malone, committee members, committee secretariat, parliamentary staff, ministers, 

assistant ministers and staff from their ministerial offices and departments. 

The portfolios of the committee that I am a member of represent State Development, 

Infrastructure and Planning; Energy and Water Supply; and Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and 

the Commonwealth Games. Today, due to limited time, I will briefly mention just some of the budget 

highlights. Some of the highlights for the State Development, Infrastructure and Planning portfolio 

include working with industry to develop the framework to increase local industry participation in major

2280 Privilege 31 Oct 2012 

resource and infrastructure project supply chains; streamlining and fast-tracking the assessment of 

major projects; releasing draft statutory regional plans for the Darling Downs and Central Queensland; 

development of a single Queensland state planning policy which will be released for public comment 

and then adoption in early 2013; and progressing the strategic assessment for the Great Barrier Reef. In 

saying that, I commend the efforts of Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney to cut red tape and regulation and 

develop a single Queensland state planning policy for adoption in early 2013. I welcome the transferring 

of land use powers back to the local government for better coordination with other development 

functions, as ongoing separation of development planning and assessment functions between council 

and state government does not make economic or structural sense and has been an example of 

unnecessary inefficiency and duplication of development functions. 

I turn now to the Energy and Water Supply portfolio. Savings of $35.6 million will be achieved 

through initiatives including energy sector reform, sustainable energy projects, water and sewerage 

planning, water supply and water demand regulatory arrangements, cessation of redundant carbon 

schemes and efficiencies as a result of organisational review. We will also deliver a flexible workforce by 

ensuring accountable, transparent and effective corporate governance; building a skilled and 

performance oriented workforce; valuing staff through effective communication and engagement; 

fostering a zero harm culture; ensuring business continuity; retention of corporate knowledge; and 

developing systems to support robust advice, decision making, monitoring and reporting. I also 

commend Minister McArdle, as this report highlights one of the reform strengths of this government— 

energy reform. Related programs will lead to budget savings of $35.6 million in 2012-13. 

The rising cost of utilities has been crippling, particularly for vulnerable groups including 

pensioners and single-income families. Reforms like the creation of the bulk water entity are designed to 

directly address the inefficiencies that are driving these cost pressures, while the 30-year plan 

acknowledged the need to evolve with market dynamics and technologies. I look forward to the 

opportunity to further promote the benefits of these reforms to businesses and consumers when the 

Minister for Energy and Water Supply, Mark McArdle, hosts an energy forum at the Sandgate Town Hall 

during the month of November. 

In regard to the portfolio of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth 

Games, some of the highlights are: negotiating to attract new aviation businesses and routes into 

Queensland, streamlining our service to small businesses by making it simpler to do business with 

government, supporting key partners in improving access for tourism and ecotourism operators in and 

near national parks, progressing preparations for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, and 

working with investors and project proponents to encourage the development of new tourism products in 

Queensland. Last, but certainly not least, I commend Minister Stuckey and welcome over $40 million for 

tourism and events development. 

As the member for Sandgate, I am keen to work with the government and local stakeholders in 

finding ways to promote the potential of the idyllic bayside suburbs that I represent, as I believe that the 

Sandgate electorate has so much to offer with regard to tourism which, of course, would greatly assist 

the small business owners in the area as well. I note that funding for training courses for small 

businesses have been cut in this budget, but the $9.6 million for business-to-government services will 

assist these businesses to access otherwise scarce information and resources through the use of 

technology. 

So where to from here? Ultimately, I think all of this means that we have a government that is 

willing to work with individuals, a government that is willing to work with businesses and a government 

that has a plan. We can roll all of this into our four-pillar economy and I am proud to say that 

Queensland is open for business. 

Debate, on motion of Ms Millard, adjourned. 

PRIVILEGE 

Release of Cabinet Documents 

Ms PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (5.01 pm): I seek leave of the House 

to table various redacted cabinet minutes of meetings which considered the cabinet documents of the 

previous government relating to the IBM contract and the Health payroll which I tabled in the House 

earlier today. 

Leave granted. 

Tabled paper: Cabinet Budget Review Committee—Minutes of Meeting held on 8 July 2010 [1426R]. 

Tabled paper: Cabinet Budget Review Committee—Minutes of Meeting held on 18 November 2010 [1426S]. 

Tabled paper: Cabinet Budget Review Committee—Minutes of Meeting held on 14 October 2011 [1426T]. 

Tabled paper: Cabinet Budget Review Committee—Minutes of Meeting held on 1 December 2011 [1426U].


MOTION 

Publication of Cabinet Documents 

Ms PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (5.01 pm), by leave, without notice: I 

move— 

That the documents tabled by the Leader of the Opposition be published, in accordance with standing order 33(2). 

Question put—That the motion be agreed to. 






State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee 

Report 


Resumed from p. 2280. 

Mr YOUNG (Keppel—LNP) (5.02 pm): I rise to make a comment on what was my first estimates 

committee hearing. I wish to acknowledge the chair, Mr Ted Malone, and my fellow members of the 

State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee. I also want to acknowledge our staff and 

research officers who help us. They are very capable. 

It was indeed enlightening to see the ministers and ministerial staff beset by questions. I wish to 

thank the Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning; the Minister 

for Energy and Water Supply; the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the 

Commonwealth Games; directors-general; chief officers and departmental staff for their cooperation in 

providing information to the committee. As a committee member, I was particularly interested to have 

the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning administer the funding in Central 

Queensland. 

One of the budget highlights is the Royalties for the Regions pilot funding round, which will 

distribute $60 million across the Resource Community Building Fund, Roads to Resources and flood 

plain security for infrastructure in Queensland’s resource communities. This pilot funding is part of the 

program to invest $495 million over the next four years, which will benefit those who live, work and 

invest in our resource regions, to improve community infrastructure; enhance safety, connectivity and 

capacity of roads servicing resource communities; and provide flood mitigation through levies, flood 

bypasses, dams and flood retention basins. Under the Royalties for the Regions Program, 14 councils 

are eligible to apply for funding. I have been working with the Rockhampton Regional Council to apply 

for the first round of funding. One area of need in Rockhampton is the Gracemere Industrial Area. This 

industrial precinct resides on the outskirts of Rockhampton on the western Capricorn Highway. This 

industrial area is in desperate need for funding to install roadworks and trunk infrastructure, with the aim 

to tap into the mining, manufacturing, component repair facility and mining supply and logistic hub. 

Mining and earthmoving companies have indicated a desire to relocate to the Gracemere Industrial 

Area once the land development has been completed. 

Other highlights in the budget that are of interest to me as they relate to Central Queensland are 

the implementation of the Galilee Basin infrastructure framework and assistance for the Surat Basin Rail 

project proposal to develop a greenfield 214-kilometre railway to open up the estimated four billion 

tonnes in thermal coal reserves from the Surat Basin for export through the Port of Gladstone. This 

corridor is known as the missing link from Wandoan to Banana. 

I wish to comment on how professional the ministers and ministerial staff were in the public 

hearing. They acted with dignity and transparency. The committee made the recommendation that the 

proposed expenditure, as detailed in the Appropriation Bill 2012 for the committee’s area of 

responsibility, be agreed to by the Legislative Assembly without amendment. 

Mr KATTER (Mount Isa—KAP) (5.05 pm): I rise in this House to speak to the estimates 

committee report as part of my involvement in the State Development, Infrastructure and Planning 

Committee. I pass on my thanks to our chair, the member for Mirani, for providing what I consider to be 

a very balanced approach to this process. He did a fine job.


The big shortfall that I found in the budget that I wanted to raise in the estimates committee 

hearing was the lack of investment in strategic infrastructure following some 20 years of neglect. The 

most relevant activity of this government relating to this issue is the Royalties for the Regions program, 

which is being trialled. It is widely acknowledged that this program falls grossly short of the mark in 

being able to deliver anything significant, as it is a trial. Issues that I see in the Mount Isa electorate that 

would be a sensible investment for this money include contributions towards land, sewerage and water 

to address both the shortage of housing and the fly-in fly-out issue, which is destroying many mining 

communities. Other investments include the enhancement of supply chains including rail, power and 

roads, all of which are both payment for past wealth that the region has contributed to the state and 

investment in the future of the region, with substantial potential sitting there waiting to yield again. 

The $60 million being made available in the first year as part of the Royalties for the Regions 

program will provide facilities such as swimming pools and tennis court lights, but regrettably little more. 

I say this in appreciation of the government’s intention to save its way out of the current financial 

situation. However, my contention is that the projects that I am advocating will provide a return over time 

on that investment through jobs and industry growth and general optimism created in the economy at a 

time when it is critically needed to grow our way out of this situation. The difference between frittering 

away money into the economy to keep it circulating and what I am advocating is that on the back end of 

such development our industries will be more competitive through enhanced supply chains and a more 

competitive energy supply. This is the right direction for Queensland. 

I am not talking about setting up a commission to just identify infrastructure, as Infrastructure 

Australia has done in the past, but actually commit to investing in it. On this basis I put to the Deputy 

Premier a pragmatic question dealing with the existing program and that was to consider employing 

discretionary powers when dealing with council applications under this program. The existing proposal 

requires a dollar-for-dollar commitment from councils. However, this may not see the most efficient 

allocation of these funds where some smaller councils do not make it across the line with their available 

funds for critical projects that are of regional significance. It was acknowledged in the response that this 

is a pilot program. In my opinion, unless the program becomes more substantial and is able to deliver 

real infrastructure programs, it falls well short of having any significant effect. 

The other question put forward along this theme was to the Minister for Energy and Water Supply. 

It disturbs me that in our forward projections for energy supply there is no consideration or even inprinciple 

support for the transmission line connecting the north and mid-west with the national electricity 

grid. To provide an overview of this proposal, it is a $1 billion to $1.5 billion undertaking with $345 million 

already committed from the federal government over the past couple years just sitting there. 

The project was originally driven by the main user. However, after passing many hurdles and with 

constant support from all levels of government, the main end user chose a solution for their energy 

supply to best suit themselves, much to the detriment of all other users in the towns and cities in the 

region. The state government at the time were quick to remove themselves of this responsibility as well, 

with Ergon following suit and also committing to this short-term solution. This proposal, dubbed the 

clean energy corridor, has one critical aspect that is widely not acknowledged and was the basis for my 

question—that is, the clean energy corridor proposal incorporates many clean energy sources offsetting 

the commitment Queensland has for renewable energy certificates in approximately 10 years time, a 

projected cost of approximately $300 million per annum. This cost could be halved with the 

development of the transmission line and its associated clean energy projects. This may seem some 

way off, but given the mutual benefit of offsetting this cost with the commercial benefit of energy supply 

feeding into the transmission line it can be seen that this project should be viewed in a different light. 

There is a shortfall of approximately $600 million at present, which ironically is close to the amount 

being spent on a new concrete building in Brisbane. Renewable energy projects incorporated in the 

clean energy corridor are estimated to at least halve the cost of the certificates. That is $150 million a 

year once that comes into effect. If we do not build these projects what we are doing is subsidising 

investment and jobs in other states. We should be investing in projects in Queensland before we invest 

in other states. 


Mr HOLSWICH (Pine Rivers—LNP) (5.11 pm): I thank the House for this opportunity to speak 

about the estimates process and about the hearings held by the State Development, Infrastructure and 

Industry Committee. I think what we heard in our committee’s estimates hearing and what we have 

heard again this afternoon from the Leader of the Opposition was a stark contrast between the priorities 

of the Newman government and those of the floundering Labor opposition members with their ongoing 

delusions of adequacy. What we saw was a government with a plan, a well-thought-out and highly 

strategic plan to strengthen the Queensland economy and a plan to build our state’s future around the 

four pillars of construction, resources, tourism and agriculture.


In my brief contribution today I want to highlight a few aspects of this positive plan that were 

discussed during the estimates process. The Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, 

Infrastructure and Planning addressed some of the major initiatives being undertaken by the Newman 

government to boost economic development in our state. There are multiple initiatives to ensure 

Queensland has the most competitive business environment of any Australian state, these being things 

such as the implementation of a comprehensive program of planning reform, halving the approval time 

for major projects, abolishing the waste levy and increasing the payroll tax threshold over the next six 

years. These last two items particularly are resonating with small and medium business operators in 

Pine Rivers. You can almost hear the sighs of relief when they hear that this government is lifting many 

of the burdens placed on them by the previous government. This government is getting out of the way of 

Pine Rivers businesses and letting them get on with their jobs. We also have marquee projects planned, 

such as the 1 William Street redevelopment. Whilst the opposition want to sit here day after day and 

bemoan the fact that we are providing opportunities such as this to strengthen the industry, we will just 

keep getting on with the job of building a better Queensland. 

The tourism industry is one of many industries that suffered at the hands of the previous Labor 

government so it has been pleasing to hear more detail on some of the Newman government’s 

initiatives to make Queensland the No. 1 tourism destination of the country again. As the minister for 

tourism is well aware, I have a particular passion for the local tourism industry in the Pine Rivers and 

Moreton Bay region. I am excited about the potential under this government’s leadership to see my local 

tourism grow and strengthen and to see the number of local tourism jobs increase significantly in 

coming years. It is encouraging to hear that the Newman government is more than doubling total grant 

funding for Queensland’s regional tourist organisations from $3.11 million to $7 million in 2012-13. It is 

also a positive move for Queensland’s tourism industry that specialist units such as the Tourism 

Investment Attraction Unit have been established as part of the government’s strategy to double visitor 

expenditure to $30 billion per year by 2020. The DestinationQ forum held in Cairns in June this year was 

an important catalyst event that showed the tourism industry the strong intent of this government to 

strengthen our tourism sector. Whilst the small minded opposition during estimates seemed fixated on 

every dollar of the $220,062.96 that it cost to put on DestinationQ, this government knows that this 

investment has no doubt already paid for itself many times over in its benefit to the Queensland tourism 

industry. 

Small businesses are also significant winners out of this budget and under the Newman 

government in general. This budget shows, amongst other things, that our government will be 

innovative and responsive to the needs of small businesses in an endeavour to assist them to succeed. 

The renewal of small business training programs is one area that highlights this government’s 

understanding of how small business operates. We understand that many small and micro businesses 

do not have the capacity to send staff to whole-day or half-day seminars no matter how beneficial they 

might be. It is a reality of small business that if staff are away then your ability to service your customers 

is severely diminished or extinguished completely. For this reason I am excited to see the renewal of the 

business.qld.gov.au website and the increased provision of webinars and internet based resources for 

small businesses. This use of technology in my opinion is a much more efficient and effective way of 

spending government money and gives much needed flexibility to business operators who want to take 

up training and learning opportunities. 

As I said in commencing this short contribution, this estimates process has highlighted the stark 

contrast between the Newman government and the Labor opposition. It demonstrated that this 

government has a well-thought-out strategic plan for Queensland’s future and that we have wasted no 

time in getting on with the job of building a better Queensland. 

Mr WALKER (Mansfield—LNP) (5.15 pm): I am pleased to rise to engage in this debate and in 

particular to concentrate on that part of the committee’s hearings that related to the Department of State 

Development, Infrastructure and Planning, which is the department in which I serve as assistant minister 

to the Deputy Premier. As a new member I came here with I suppose a very innocent and wide eyed 

view of the role of the committee system, which I expected was a fair dinkum question and answer 

session attempting to gain some information as to the government’s position in relation to the budget 

that had been presented. I must say that for some of the time that is exactly what happened, and I will 

come back to that a little later. But it was surprising to me to see so much of the committee’s time taken 

in concentrating on the airfares of the Deputy Premier as he travelled to and from his place of residence. 

I felt that was disappointing and a cheap shot. 

The Deputy Premier is a member of this House representing a regional area of Queensland and 

he is entitled to take reasonable travel provisions to allow him to do his job. I more than anybody else 

know how hard the Deputy Premier works. I work with him every day. I know the late hours that he 

works. I know the fact that his schedule is not such that you will know from the beginning of the day as 

to when that day will end. To say that he could arrange his schedule around a very limited number of 

commercial flights to his place of residence is unrealistic. I think that instead of criticising the Deputy


Premier for what he has been doing, we should applaud the fact that we are providing, through this 

budget, appropriate support to regional members of this House to enable them to hold high executive 

office within this state. I believe that this House should support that position. 

Having said that, we did move on to what I thought the real role of the committee was and that 

was to understand where the government is heading in the area of state development, infrastructure 

and planning. In my area of planning reform we were able to inform the committee of the great steps that 

we have been able to take since we were elected to make sure that our planning system is made 

smoother, is made more transparent and is made easier for people to access. We have done things 

such as introducing the temporary state planning policy called Planning for Prosperity. That planning 

policy requires government departments and local governments, in preparing town plans and in making 

planning decisions, to not only look at all the other range of state planning policies that there are—and 

these are generally cast in the negative, ‘You won’t do this. You won’t do that’—but also ensure that their 

decisions provide for the economic wellbeing and advancement of their communities. That needs to be 

one of the key features balanced in the whole planning process. The Deputy Premier has promulgated 

the Planning for Prosperity temporary state planning policy and it is already making a difference to the 

way in which decisions are made within the planning system in this state. 

We are moving towards a single state planning policy that will be easier to come to grips with, will 

not have the complicated provisions of the present 14 or 15 state planning policies and will provide for 

higher level planning requirements and not prescriptive requirements as are presently in the suite of 

state planning policies. We have lowered referral triggers. These are the triggers that cause planning 

applications to come up from local government to the state government where there is a state interest 

involved. We are requiring our own agencies to put their planning requirements upfront into town plans 

and regional plans, and not to be involved in each and every planning application as it comes before 

councils. The departments have done a great job in reducing those triggers. Our advice is that 1,500 

applications that would have come to us last year will not come to us this year because those triggers 

have been reduced and there is no need for state involvement at the individual planning application 

level. 

There is statutory regional planning, into which the Deputy Premier is taking a great interest and 

putting a lot of effort. That is going to change the face of planning within this state. There is the reform of 

the Sustainable Planning Act through legislation that is presently before the House. We look forward to 

the report of the committee that has examined that legislation. That gives us another great opportunity 

to improve our planning system and to make it, as the Premier has required it to be, the best in 

Queensland. I was pleased to be able to present to the committee and I look forward to its report being 

accepted by this House. 

Mr PITT (Mulgrave—ALP) (5.20 pm): Firstly, I thank the committee chair, the member for Mirani, 

for allowing me the opportunity to ask questions during the estimates hearing. I bring to the attention of 

the House a number of concerns that the opposition has regarding the appropriation for and 

management of the Energy and Water Supply portfolio. The opposition holds concerns that the Newman 

government is planning to privatise electricity assets in the future. Under questioning, the minister was 

unable to give assurances that the government would not seek a mandate from the people of 

Queensland for the sale of electricity assets. Despite the minister referring to long-term planning in the 

sector—30 years—he seemed not to have given any thought to the issue of privatisation or was 

unwilling to share his thoughts with the committee. 

It certainly appears that Ergon Energy and Energex are being prepared for a potential sale. Only 

eight days after the estimates hearing took place, a decision by Ergon Energy to cut 500 jobs was 

announced in the media. During the hearing, I asked the CEO of Ergon Energy how many jobs would be 

lost at the company. That question was taken on notice as the information was not readily available. We 

are yet to receive a response. Common sense tells you that the idea to sack 500 workers did not simply 

pop into the heads of the board and executives of Ergon Energy only the day after the estimates hearing 

or that the plans were finalised within the one-week period between the estimates hearing and the 

media announcement. In light of the information that has been made public since the hearing, the 

answer given on the day was very disappointing. We now have to question whether similar job losses 

have been planned at Powerlink and Energex. 

During the hearing, I asked the minister a series of questions about his review of the bulk water 

price path in South-East Queensland. On 13 April the minister announced that the government would 

conduct an immediate review of the bulk water price path and committed to take options for a new price 

path back to cabinet for decision by the end of May. In his answers to questions, the minister confirmed 

that this deadline had not been met. We now know that the review has been referred to an 

interdepartmental committee.


The minister’s answer to non-government question on notice 15 confirmed that a review of sorts 

had been undertaken. However, its outcome was not a new bulk water price path, but rather a 

determination that the government’s election promise of an $80 water rebate would need to be funded 

from consolidated revenue, instead of through other savings as promised. The actual review of bulk 

water prices will not be completed until early 2013, which is much later than the minister’s initial 

intention to report back to cabinet by the end of May. The minister has raised community expectations 

and has been unable to meet them. 

I also asked about a statement in the regional budget statements that residents across the state 

would enjoy water savings whenever they ‘turn on their taps’. After being asked specifically whether 

residents in every region would receive savings on their water bills as indicated in the regional budget 

statements, the minister refused to comment on the documents and could not confirm that the promised 

savings would eventuate. That this was a typographical error would have sufficed. 

It was also revealed that the LNP’s election policy to repay water grid assets over a 40-year price 

path rather than the current 20 years will, in effect, double the level of peak debt incurred. The Costello 

Commission of Audit states that the peak debt under the current repayment path will be $3.1 billion in 

2016-17. However, the minister’s answer to non-government question on notice No. 14 revealed that 

the change to a 40-year repayment path would effectively double the level of debt, with the peak of 

$6.8 billion occurring in 2029-30. The LNP election commitment was to adopt a 40-year price path. This 

policy has now been shown to be poorly thought out, ineffective and one that will actually increase the 

cost of water for Queenslanders. 

The modelling for the cost of the LNP’s election commitment to save every household $120 on 

their electricity bill was revealed to be simplistic and calculated based on publicly available information. 

The minister has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation of the amount required to ensure every 

household saves $120. The allocation of $63 million suggests that slightly more than 500,000 

households would be able to share a $120 saving. The fact that there are more than 1.83 million 

households on tariff 11 suggests that there will be a considerable shortfall in funding and that not every 

household will receive a $120 saving. 

I place on record these concerns and I hope that the minister can address some of the issues the 

opposition has raised. I ask him for assurances that there will be no future privatisations or job losses in 

the energy sector and to guarantee that the LNP will not double the water grid debt and impose higher 

water prices on households. 

Mr MULHERIN (Mackay—ALP) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (5.25 pm): During the State 

Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee’s estimates hearing, a number of issues were 

raised and I will touch on a few of them today. First of all, I congratulate the committee secretariat for the 

wonderful job they have done in supporting the committee. I also acknowledge the work of the chair and 

other committee members. I thank Hansard and the parliamentary attendants for making the estimates 

process run as smoothly as possible. 

In answer to question on notice No. 11, the Deputy Premier said that the Waratah Coal’s China 

First rail corridor project is still being considered. This means that the LNP government’s position is 

unchanged from that of the previous government. It raises questions as to why, in his media release of 6 

July 2012, the Deputy Premier was so vague when mentioning a project that has been promoted by a 

significant LNP donor. The media release entitled ‘Two rail corridors defined for Galilee Basin’ was 

framed to imply that the government was considering only two railway lines. However, as confirmed by 

the Deputy Premier in his answer to question on notice No. 11, approval for a third line being promoted 

by an LNP donor is still being considered. When the Deputy Premier was asked why his media 

statement was not clear about the fact that more than two rail corridor approvals are being considered, 

he stated that— 

I can’t understand how the member would reach the conclusion that I did not make it clear. 

The Deputy Premier went on to say that his reference to two rail corridors referred to the state using 

compulsory acquisition powers only in relation to these corridors. That is different to allowing the 

approval of only two rail corridors. The Deputy Premier has been unclear on this matter. 

The Deputy Premier admitted that he had a one-on-one meeting with the Galilee rail proponents 

and that he did not trust the departmental staff with commercial issues. The Deputy Premier has not 

specified what ‘commercial issues’ are not in the ambit of the Office of the Coordinator-General and 

other senior departmental officers. It has been a longstanding practice for ministers for state 

development to involve departmental staff in meetings with proponents, rather than conducting one-onone 

engagement. It is particularly concerning that the Deputy Premier admitted to having a one-on-one 

meeting with Professor Clive F Palmer, a significant LNP donor. The Deputy Premier also refused to rule 

out more one-on-one meetings on projects being promoted by LNP donors in the future.


The Deputy Premier has criticised previous royalty increases as a ‘greedy golden goose attitude 

to mining’, while assisting to introduce the $1.64 billion in royalty increases in the 2012-13 budget. 

Clearly, the Deputy Premier’s political circumstances dictate his response on this issue. The Deputy 

Premier has also received economic modelling on the impact of royalty increases on the Queensland 

economy but has refused to release that modelling. The hearing confirmed that the LNP’s Royalties for 

the Regions policy is nothing more than a political stunt. It involves no hypothecation of royalties and is 

a fixed fund, just like the previous government’s Sustainable Regional Communities fund. This means 

that any future increases in royalty revenue will not automatically flow through to regional communities 

and the LNP is misleading Queenslanders by calling it a ‘royalties for the regions’ scheme. In the 

hearing, the Deputy Premier refused to confirm whether an environmental scientist or other members of 

the community will be consulted on the LNP’s plans for the streamlining of mining regulations. 

In the committee the Deputy Premier made it clear that only industry had been invited to make 

submissions on streamlining mining regulations as part of the Resources Cabinet Committee. This is 

potentially the same Resources Cabinet Committee that will be making recommendations on uranium 

mining in Queensland. The Deputy Premier needs to explain why he will only consult with industry in 

relation to these decisions which impact on all Queenslanders. 

The chief executive of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority was asked why staffing was cut 

by 22 positions in a year of record expenditure on natural disaster recovery. The Deputy Premier stated 

that the cuts to Queensland’s reconstruction staffing in the largest year of expenditure on record were a 

result of the LNP government’s decisions. The Deputy Premier further advised the committee that 

despite his Service Delivery Statements showing that the Queensland Reconstruction Authority was to 

wind up this financial year, a decision was not made to extend the life of the Queensland Reconstruction 

Authority until after this had received attention in the media. 

These are just a few issues raised by the Deputy Premier during the questioning in the state 

development committee, but they raise some serious questions about the Deputy Premier’s arrogant 

attitude in which he places himself above scrutiny by the media, the parliament and the people of 


Hon. JA STUCKEY (Currumbin—LNP) (Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and 

the Commonwealth Games) (5.30 pm): I rise to address the report of the estimates hearing of the State 

Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee in relation to my portfolio of Tourism, Major Events, 

Small Business and the Commonwealth Games. I would like to add my thanks to those of many already 

to all of the members of the committee, particularly the chair, the member for Mirani, along with all the 

departmental, parliamentary and ministerial staff who assisted in the estimates process this year. 

Finally the Labor Party has shown a sliver of interest in tourism and small business, albeit for a 

brief period of only 2½ hours on a Wednesday night at estimates. Those members opposite have not 

even been bothered to ask a question during any question time prior to estimates regarding my 

portfolio—nothing on tourism, nothing on major events, nothing on small business and nothing on the 

Commonwealth Games. This speaks volumes on where these important items rate on their radar. 

On the other hand, what we saw at estimates this year was a can-do government focused on 

getting Queensland back on track. A can-do government focused on restoring the state’s finances. A 

can-do government that is working to restore Queensland to its rightful place as Australia’s No. 1 

tourism destination. 

The 2012-13 state budget includes an allocation of $20 million to implement the tourism 

investment strategy, focusing on destination marketing and tourism attraction. Tourism Queensland is 

currently working with partners to develop the strategy. The strategy will include activities as well as key 

performance indicators. The activities to be delivered under the strategy are currently being finalised. I 

look forward to updating the House on the strategy in the future. This will bring our commitment to 

Tourism Queensland to more than $68 million. This includes our $20 million tourism investment 

strategy. 

In this year’s budget we have more than doubled funding to our regional tourism operators from 

$3.1 million to $7 million. The extra $3.9 million takes the form of a contestable fund aimed at leveraging 

other partner contributions with the state funding. This additional funding will encourage collaboration— 

something unheard of under the Labor government—flexibility, performance, benchmarking, tailoring 

and joint decision making between other RTOs, local government, Tourism Queensland and other 

partners to maximise the impact of the funding. 

We recognise the importance of air travel in this great state and our Attracting Aviation Investment 

Fund is already kicking goals, with $8 million over four years. The fund aims to develop stronger 

partnerships between aviation stakeholders and incentivise new airline routes through cooperative 

marketing efforts.


In the budget we have provided an eight per cent funding boost to take funding for Events 

Queensland to $49.67 million. Events Queensland has increased the number of major events in 

Queensland from 21 in 2010 to 39 in 2012. Events Queensland has a proven track record and provides 

a significant economic benefit to the state—$237 million per year to be exact. 

For the Commonwealth Games we provided $20.9 million to continue the planning for what will 

be a sensational event in 2018. I recently had the honour of opening the new corporate offices at 

Bundall to accommodate the growing number of staff. While this year will see the completion of the 

business plan for the village and other venues, from 2013-14 onwards the real action will begin. 

Substantial work is occurring on ensuring an accurate and reliable budget for the games village and 

master planning for all other games venues is in place. 

We have not forgotten small business, unlike those members opposite, in this year’s budget. The 

412,000 small businesses across the state will benefit from our $9.6 million commitment to Business to 

Government Services—the centrepiece of which is our business and industry portal which I relaunched 

in June this year. 

I wholeheartedly reject the comments by the opposition in their statement of reservation. What 

they did not mention was the inability of their leader to even understand the progress of the Gold Coast 

Aquatic Centre. They highlighted the fact that several programs have ceased but they failed to highlight 

that these programs had a limited funding life and were scheduled to finish—a decision made by their 

government. I also reject other aspects of their statement of reservation and commend this report to the 

House. 

Hon. MF McARDLE (Caloundra—LNP) (Minister for Energy and Water Supply) (5.35 pm): I rise 

to make a contribution to the debate on the report of the State Development, Infrastructure and Industry 

Committee with regard to my portfolio of Energy and Water Supply. I start by acknowledging the great 

work of the chairman, the member for Mirani, and all those who sat on the committee on the day in 

question. 

The portfolio of Energy and Water Supply is a critical component in the development and growth 

of this state economically and for families right across Queensland. Without energy and water there will 

in fact be no economic growth. Understanding the needs of Queenslanders with regard to both is 

essential for this government. 

I was asked on 4BC radio on the morning of the estimates committee hearing what I expected 

from the committee process. I said that I expected to be given some hard questions to deal with. Given 

the opposition have 22 staff positions available to them—that is a ratio of over three staff to one 

member—I would have thought that I would have had more questions of a serious nature than those 

that dribbled from their lips for a period of 2½ hours. In fact, I would have to say that the questioning 

would not have pulled the skin off a rice pudding it was so weak and ineffectual. 

To say the least, they were facile and did not go to some of the important issues on the minds of 

many Queenslanders at this point in time. There was no questioning in relation to the approach we have 

taken with the Solar Bonus Scheme. There was no questioning of why we have taken the step we have. 

There was no questioning of the long-term impacts of the approach we have taken. I would have 

thought that given a Labor government put in place the Solar Bonus Scheme that that would have been 

a crucial component of questioning. One opposition member was not slow in coming forward and 

making a statement about this last night in the House but did not have the gumption to ask questions 

about this in the estimates committee process. I would have thought it was a crucial component of 

questioning. 

The opposition did not even have questions about the amalgamation of the bulk water entities. I 

would have thought that those in the former government that put in place the water grid and the current 

entity process would have been very curious to find out what we are doing in that regard, why we are 

doing what we are doing and what the ins and outs of that process are. The opposition was very quiet in 

terms of questioning what I would have thought was a radical differentiation between ourselves and 

them and in looking for facts and figures to take us to task on. 

They did not even raise the issue of the review of power prices that we have put in place since 

coming into government on 24 March 2012. I would have thought that that was a given. I would have 

thought that that was a no-brainer. The problem is that they made the disaster that we now have to fix. I 

think they are concerned about hearing the truth when it comes to the outcomes of what they put in 

place over the past 12 years and what we are now trying to fix. 

They did not even raise the issue of the 30-year water plan or the 30-year energy plan. I am 

amazed that they did not take the opportunity to question me or departmental officers in relation to what 

those two 30-year plans were going to achieve. The opposition was silent again on what I would have 

thought was very fertile ground for questioning. They seemed to take the attitude, ‘We’ll ask the simplest 

questions.’ I think the reason was that they did not know what they are talking about. They simply had


no idea as to how to approach the process. They did not really have any idea of how to pose the 

questions. Yet they have a ratio of three staff members to each member in the parliament—one to write 

their questions, one to write their speeches and one to write their media releases. I wish we had that 

ratio when we were in opposition. 

Mr Crisafulli: Plus a spare. 

Mr McARDLE: I take the interjection of the honourable minister: they had a spare as well. He was 

running around buying coffee for the boys and girls, making certain they were staying awake at night, 

making certain they were looking for the hard punching questions. I have to admit they certainly were 

not there at the committee. I do not know where they were. They were languishing perhaps between the 

other estimates committees, but I suspect that was not the case either. A healthy robust democracy 

requires a healthy robust opposition. This mob are on life support at this point in time. 


Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee 

Report 

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Miss Barton): Order! The question is— 

That the report of the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee be adopted. 

Mr HOPPER (Condamine—LNP) (5.41 pm): In rising I would like to thank the ministers who 

appeared before the committee: the Attorney-General and the Minister for Police. I would like to thank 

their staff, the research officers and all the members on my committee. I think we had a very good day. It 

was a very long day. It was a marathon day in fact—over 13 hours. It was quite a day, especially trying 

to control the member for Bundamba which we did eventually. It was quite a good hearing. I would like to 

personally thank the staff: Brook Hastie, our Research Director; Mrs Sharon Hunter, our Principal 

Research Officer; Mrs Ali Jarro, our Principal Research Officer; Ms Kelli Longworth, our Principal 

Research Officer; and Mrs Gail Easton, our Executive Assistant. You guys do a great job and are very 

bipartisan. 

I will start with the Minister for Police. I note that the opposition in their statement of reservation 

certainly were scathing of the police minister for his long answers. However, if you took note of the 

issues raised by both departments, they were pretty equal. So he might have taken a bit of time to 

answer questions but he covered a lot of his portfolio. So well done, Minister for Police. 

I would like to touch on a few of the issues raised. I will start with the confirmation of 

circumstances around the announcement of the staffing reductions for the Rural Fire Service. What a 

farce that was. The minister himself came out to my electorate and met with our rural firies and 

reassured them that the LNP was behind them—the LNP wants to strengthen our rural fire brigades, 

wants to cut red tape, wants to implement hazard burning and wants to give them the rights that they 

always wanted but could not have under a Labor government. The fallacy that is out there about this 

issue is beyond belief. The minister has since appointed the member for Mirani to more or less set up a 

task force to go around Queensland to find out exactly what is needed in those areas. 

Mr Dempsey: Five hundred people already. 

Mr HOPPER: How many, Minister? 

Mr Dempsey: Five hundred so far. 

Mr HOPPER: Five hundred already. He will report back. I have every confidence that the member 

for Mirani will do an excellent job and the minister will implement his recommendations. The member for 

Mirani has been around for a very long time. 

Another issue that was raised was the budget for the Rural Fire Service and the savings 

proposed by the government in relation to the RFS. Controlled burns were also discussed. Strategies to 

support the continued availability of Emergency Management Queensland helicopter services are also 

very much needed. The minimisation of red tape and bureaucracy for our Rural Fire Service is going to 

be of great benefit. Those guys go out and fight a fire and then they spend the next two days doing 

paperwork. It is just ridiculous. They are the guys who know how to do it; they are out there protecting 

us. Last week we saw what happened on the Darling Downs, on the north coast and in other areas. I am 

very proud to be part of a government that is going to loosen a few things up for them. 

We also discussed with the Minister for Police the use of GPS technology in tracking dangerous 

sex offenders. This is something we have been wanting for a long time. I congratulate the police minister 

for this initiative. Those vile, foul people certainly need to face the full wrath of the law and this minister 

is going to allow that to happen.


It was great to see the number of flood boats purchased. Other issues raised were the 

revitalisation of front-line community crime stopper prevention services through Neighbourhood Watch; 

funding allocated to providing helicopter policing support to criminal investigations and high-speed 

pursuits; measures taken to address issues of illegal guns, armed robbery and other firearm offences— 

and we know what is going to happen there; it will be the criminals who are chased after and the laws 

will be not strengthened but more in favour of rightful gun owners. 

We also discussed fixed speed cameras. I am a great believer in them and I think we need more 

of them. I think visual presence is the greatest form of deterrence, and the way Queensland is going the 

more we do that the better off we are. 

Let me touch quickly on the Westbrook site. We need to keep a part of the Westbrook correctional 

centre site for two prisoner work camps. They can stay within that facility and that would be a wonderful 

thing. Prisoners have done thousands of hours of work at Jondaryan Woolshed and also at the steam 

train museum in Toowoomba. We need two prisoner work camps at Westbrook. I am sure the minister 

will come our way and let that happen for the people of my electorate, the electorate of Condamine. 

Mr WELLINGTON (Nicklin—Ind) (5.46 pm): It gives me a great deal of pleasure to rise to 

participate in the debate on the report of the estimates committee hearing of the Legal Affairs and 

Community Safety Committee for the portfolio of Justice and Attorney-General. I start by acknowledging 

the great work that the staff did to support the committee members. I note that one of the first series of 

questions that we put during the hearing was to the Crime and Misconduct Commission chairman, 

Mr Ross Martin. I think Mr Martin is doing a very good job with great staff, and it is a credit to him that he 

is able to get some real results for Queenslanders. 

It is a little bit disappointing that many people do not really understand what the Crime and 

Misconduct Commission does and the good work they do. It is interesting to note that on the very 

morning of our estimates committee hearing—at six o’clock I understand—a press release was issued 

from the Attorney-General’s office to announce that the government was going to undertake a review of 

the Crime and Misconduct Act. Talk about timing! 

Isn’t it amazing that in the Crime and Misconduct Commission’s annual report, which runs to over 

125 pages, at page 67 I understand they refer to the oversight and review of the CMC’s activities. They 

noted that the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee commenced an investigation into the 

CMC’s activities and it started, believe it or not, in May 2011. It was completed in May 2012 this year and 

was tabled in parliament. I understand that we still have not had a response from the Attorney-General, 

the chief law officer, to the range of recommendations. If I remember rightly, there were 38 significant 

recommendations. So in May this year the report was tabled. The estimates committee hearing was 

held on 11 October. At six o’clock on the morning of that hearing the Attorney-General announced that 

the government was going to undertake an investigation into the CMC Act. Yet in September this year 

the Deputy Premier was reported in the Courier-Mail as saying that the government would look at 

legislation with regard to the CMC. I table that for the benefit of all members. 

Tabled paper: Courier-Mail article, dated 28 September 2012, titled ‘Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney wants legislation to remove 

Crime and Misconduct Commission from political process’ [1454]. 

I believe that what we are seeing here is quite clearly a deliberate strategy by this government, by 

the chief law officer of this state—the Attorney-General—by the Premier to try to change the powers of 

the CMC Act. Why else on the very morning of the estimates hearing did they announce that they were 

going to undertake an investigation of the powers of the CMC when they have not even responded to 

the range of significant recommendations that members of this parliament and members of the previous 

parliament supported in relation to that very legislation? 

I note that the day after our committee hearing the ABC’s 7.30 followed up the issue about the 

estimates committee and put a question to the chairman of the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct 

Committee, the member for Gladstone, Liz Cunningham. My recollection of that interview is along the 

lines that the interviewer noted that Mrs Cunningham was the chairman of the Parliamentary Crime and 

Misconduct Committee and that one of the jobs of the committee was to oversee the Crime and 

Misconduct Commission; in fact, her words were that the committee reviews the CMC every three 

years. She was then asked, ‘Do you need another separate review?’ That was the specific question put 

to the chairman of the PCMC, and the member for Gladstone is on the record with her response. 

I certainly do not want to go into the inner discussions of the PCMC because I am a member of 

that committee, but can I say quite frankly that I believe the member for Gladstone should have said that 

the committee has not formed an opinion in relation to the government’s agenda to review the CMC. 

The comments that the member for Gladstone went on to give were her own personal views, so I put 

that on the record here and now. We have not got a committee meeting until Friday and I will certainly 

take this matter up with my colleagues then. I just want to put on the record now that I believe the views 

the member for Gladstone put on the public record the day after our estimates hearing were not the 

views of the PCMC; they were her own personal views, which coincidentally seem to be lock, stock and 

barrel side by side the views of the Deputy Premier and the government of this state.


Members, we need to look at what is the bigger agenda that this government is pursuing on this 

issue. What is the bigger issue? How much will it cost to have this further investigation of the CMC? I 

think these are real questions that Queenslanders need to ask because, as I stand here, I understand 

that we still have not got a response from the Attorney-General to the 38 recommendations. 


Miss BARTON (Broadwater—LNP) (5.51 pm): I do not know what it is this week but I seem to be 

following the most emotive contributions every single day, and again I am not quite sure how I am going 

to be able to follow— 

Mr Hathaway: It is because you are a calming influence. 

Miss BARTON: I will take that interjection from the member for Townsville. Thank you very much. 

I will return to the matter at hand, and I do rise today to speak to the report of the Legal Affairs and 

Community Safety Committee. At this time I would like to put on the record my thanks and gratitude to 

the chair, the honourable member for Condamine. As a new member of the parliament, it was an 

unusual experience for me to be a member of an estimates committee— 

Mr Hopper interjected. 

Miss BARTON: I will take that interjection from the member for Condamine as well. It was 

certainly a novel experience, and the great leadership that the member for Condamine demonstrated 

certainly made the process a lot easier for me and my colleagues. I would also like to put on the record 

my thanks and gratitude to the committee secretariat. Brook, Kelli, Ali and Gail do a fantastic job for us 

week in, week out, and we certainly would not have been able to carry off such a fantastic estimates 

hearing if it were not for the great work that they do. 

Mr Choat: And Sharon too. 

Miss BARTON: I will take the interjection from the member for Ipswich West—and Sharon. The 

estimates hearing for the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee illustrated just how committed 

the Newman government is to law and order and community safety right across Queensland. We have 

seen significant funding commitments not only for the legal affairs sector but also for the Department of 

Community Safety and the police department, particularly on the Gold Coast. I would like to highlight 

that we have received significant funding with regard to the community safety and police areas. We 

have received $1.1 million for a Major and Organised Crime Squad, and that particular squad will also 

incorporate an illegal firearms squad. I know that members of my community in the electorate of 

Broadwater have been calling out for funding for this kind of organised crime squad for a very long time, 

and it is nice to be part of a government that is actually listening to what the community wants and 

offering them real solutions. 

Whilst I am talking about the funding commitments in terms of the police sector on the Gold 

Coast, it is also important for me to note that the police minister was able to guarantee $18 million worth 

of funding over the next four years for the police helicopter on the Gold Coast. I think what is really 

significant about this $18 million worth of funding is that this $18 million has been funded through 

savings. This is a clear sign that our government is committed to getting the economy back on track, 

that we are committed to stopping the economic waste and mismanagement and that we are committed 

to offering real commitments for the people of Queensland and making sure the dollars we do spend are 

spent in the right areas and for the right reasons. 

There was also a significant amount of funding from the Attorney-General. As a woman who 

studied law, I am particularly pleased to see that the— 

Mrs Frecklington: Did you study law? 

Miss BARTON: Yes, I did, member for Nanango. I am particularly pleased to see that the 

Women’s Legal Service in Brisbane has received funding of $750,000. This will enable them to offer 

their services right across Queensland. When I was able to ask the Attorney-General further questions 

about that particular funding, he informed the committee that this funding will mean that not only will we 

see some more lawyers at the Women’s Legal Service in Brisbane but they will be able to restart their 

telephone help line which will be of particular benefit for those in rural and regional areas. Whilst I am 

not from a rural or regional area, I do understand that some of my colleagues from those regional areas 

will be very appreciative of this funding because it will mean that women who are suffering from family 

and domestic violence will have someone they can turn to who will be able to talk them through anything 

they may need. Coincidentally, I was able to go to Bond University just the other day to launch the Gold 

Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence STEP program. This is a program which is designed to help 

women through the processes when they have suffered domestic and sexual violence. There was a 

representative from the Women’s Legal Service there who expressed her deep gratitude to the 

government for that particular funding.


In the time that is remaining, I think it is important for me to highlight that this government has a 

plan to get Queensland back on track. As all of my government colleagues have illustrated today, this 

government is committed to making sure that funds get to the areas where they are needed. We are not 

going to see economic waste and mismanagement across Queensland. We are committed to ensuring 

that the state gets back in the black and is able to offer real, common-sense solutions for the people of 

Queensland and real, revitalised front-line services. 

Mr BYRNE (Rockhampton—ALP) (5.56 pm): Providing a budget for the police and emergency 

services is a serious matter. It actually has real life or death implications for members of our community 

and emergency workers themselves. Therefore, the integrity of the budget requires a serious level of 

scrutiny, but in my view this was sadly missing from the process. I can say today without doubt that I 

agreed wholeheartedly with something the Premier said in this House. He stood in here and made a 

series of comments and statements regarding the appointment of the new Police Commissioner. His 

effort was only required to redeem the statements made by the minister in a press conference earlier 

today. It seems that the minister, without a prepared script, is unable to provide appropriate information 

and messages to those who want to know. 

Mr Dempsey interjected. 

Mr BYRNE: Well, this is a fact. You had the Premier come in and sweep up your comments about 

the police union. 

Mr Dempsey interjected. 

Mr BYRNE: It is the truth. That is what happened. The Premier came in here and swept up the 

mess again. 

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Miss Barton): Order! Member for Rockhampton, please direct your 

comments through the chair. 

Mr BYRNE: Madam Deputy Speaker, the 2012 estimates for the portfolios of Police and 

Community Safety can only be characterised as a monotone of prepared scripts designed to comatose 

the members of the committee. This was a brilliant tactic in many respects that very nearly succeeded. 

The level of scrutiny of the budget was suboptimal by any measure and raised more questions about the 

future direction of policing and emergency services than it answered. I will give this example to illustrate 

my point. In an equivalent time, our good comrade the Attorney-General answered over 200 questions 

but the police minister managed to get through just over 60. While it may have been a very interesting 

tactic to limit scrutiny of this slash and burn budget, the public ought to be given a bit more respect and 

have important questions answered by the minister. 

If I do not make some sort of stand here today, little by little, inch by inch, all of those opposite will 

further undermine transparency and erode public confidence in the police and emergency services. So 

far we have highlighted the reduction in staff members of the CMC and questioned the reduction of 

investigators and other staff in the police Ethical Standards Command, and this was achieved despite 

the limiting of scrutiny of the budget at estimates. 

Mr Dempsey: You just said that you liked the new commissioner and now you’re bagging him. 

Mr BYRNE: If there is no script there, you do not know. I promise those opposite that I will 

continue to expose the shortcomings of this government and not for some sort of political point scoring 

but because I intend to stand up for the public who are being betrayed. I will stand up for police officers, 

ambos, firies, custodial officers, the SES— 

Mr Dempsey: You voted against assaults on police. 

Mr BYRNE: We can talk about that some other time. I will also stand up for the RFS. Unlike those 

opposite, I will stand up for the young Emergency Services cadets whom those opposite have failed. 

Some of the delaying tactics used by the minister included answering questions in the most 

verbose manner using scripted answers for over 10 minutes, interrupting questions from the opposition, 

answering questions that were not asked, answering questions about the Ambulance Service by 

answering about Corrective Services and having the commissioner answer the same question just after 

the minister had answered it. I even helped the minister out a bit with the list of things that we did not 

have a chance to get to at estimates. Maybe you ought to take some notes about the things that we are 

going to be asking about in the future such as the loss of staff from the police, ambulance, firies, Rural 

Fire Service particularly and the SES not just in relation to this budget but also into the future. I have 

already spoken last night about firearms training and we have not forgotten recruiting.


Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Miss Barton): Order! Member for Rockhampton, I have already 

reminded you once today to direct your comments through the chair. Please do so. 

Mr BYRNE: I will finish off by making a couple of straight points. Firstly, the minister displayed 

during estimates that he does not listen to experts. The Police Commissioner and the director of human 

services know that recruits should be over 21 years of age and that if you are going to allow younger 

people into the academy then you need to support them with expanded, sponsored, long-term 

education. What has happened? We have new guidelines for entry, lower age limits and less education. 

I will leave the House with the words of an expert, Dr Samantha Jeffries, who is a senior lecturer of 

justice at QUT. She said that this government is going to create a spike where people with lower 

socioeconomic pressures are going to increase the crime statistics. 


Mr CHOAT (Ipswich West—LNP) (6.01 pm): I rise to make a serious contribution in reflection of 

the estimates hearings. Firstly, I would like to state that it has been an honour to serve on the Legal 

Affairs and Community Safety Committee as the portfolio areas in its focus are extremely important to 

me and to the people of Ipswich West. 

In my maiden speech to this parliament I reflected on the feelings of my people with regard to law 

and order and their sense of disappointment about the past inadequacies of Labor strategies for 

addressing such matters. Sadly, many people across Queensland feel intimidated and even harassed 

whilst out in the general community and even in their own homes as a result of years of Labor’s ‘go soft 

on crime’ ideologies. I am so pleased to see that, after only seven months of this very determined and 

responsible LNP government, legislation has been passed which makes a huge difference in dealing 

with criminals and their activities. My role on the committee has enabled me to see firsthand the 

overwhelming public support for the bills which have come before it and to gain a good understanding of 

the positive impacts that such legislation will have. 

I must say that I was thoroughly impressed by the attentive and obviously serious consideration 

that the Attorney-General and the Minister for Police and Community Safety displayed throughout the 

hearings. Both ministers have a very obvious and comprehensive understanding of their respective 

portfolios and are both very well advised by their staff. The Attorney-General demonstrated just how 

much he values the work of the Crime and Misconduct Commission when he was able to speak 

confidently about the funding of approximately $50 million a year for this important commission and its 

activities in relation to law and order. 

It was also very pleasing to hear the Attorney-General speak just as confidently about the budget 

allocations to various parts of his department and the numerous activities undertaken that support 

grassroots community initiatives. The Attorney-General was very clear about his determination to 

ensure that the Crime and Misconduct Commission is fair and thorough in all of its endeavours and that 

it applies natural justice to all people. The review which was also announced by the Attorney-General 

will ensure that it is a completely independent body and that it is appropriately resourced now and into 

the future. 

The Attorney-General impressed me with his response to my questioning about the new boot 

camp pilots, which will form an innovative strategy to get young people out of detention centres and 

back to contributing positively to our community. For too long Queensland youth justice was not a 

priority of past Labor governments. The new government immediately moved youth justice from the 

department of communities to the Attorney-General’s department. There is an exciting opportunity here. 

Boot camps will be trialled in Cairns and at the Gold Coast. The Attorney-General revealed to the 

hearing that about 32 per cent of young people in our detention centres have been there up to five times 

before. I look forward to seeing the success of the trials, which I am confident will bring about the 

intervention and deterrence we have longed for in this most serious area of law and order. 

I have to say that I could not have been more impressed by the Minister for Police and 

Community Safety and his superior knowledge of the workings of his department and its various 

divisions. As he was a serving police officer himself for some 20 years, it was no surprise to witness the 

minister’s confidence in speaking about aspects of the Queensland police force. Even more impressive 

was the ease with which the minister was able to go into great detail about other areas of his 

department. Whether it was the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Queensland Ambulance Service, 

Emergency Services or Corrective Services, the minister displayed to the hearing great insight and 

there was little his able commissioners and heads of department could add. 

I was, of course, stoked about the allocations to my electorate, including the great new fire and 

rescue station at Brassall, the new mini police station being constructed at Riverlink Shopping Centre, 

the new ambulance delivered to Lowood Ambulance Station and the additional police officers we will


have on the ground across Ipswich West. I very much enjoyed my participation in the estimates process 

and would like to take this opportunity to thank our chairman, Mr Ray Hopper—great job, Ray—and my 

fellow committee members who are here, Bill Byrne, Jason Woodforth, Madam Deputy Speaker, 

yourself— 

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! When referring to members please use their correct title. 

Mr CHOAT: Okay, Verity Barton, I do apologise—Madam Deputy Speaker, I apologise. I would 

also like to take an opportunity to thank the fantastic and competent staff who work with the committee 

led by Brook Hastie, Sharon Hunter, Ali Jarro, Kelli Longworth and, of course, the hardworking Gail 

Easton. They make the work so much easier. They are a delight and a credit to this parliament. I 

commend the report to the House. 

Mr JUDGE (Yeerongpilly—LNP) (6.06 pm): I rise to speak as a member of the Legal Affairs and 

Community Safety Committee. In doing so, I acknowledge the positive and constructive relationships 

that have been quickly established among all members of the committee. No doubt this has been 

influenced by the guidance of the very competent committee chair, Ray Hopper, the member for 

Condamine. I also acknowledge the professional and dedicated parliamentary staff members who 

consistently and reliably support the committee. 

I highlight that the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Community was effectively established by 

the Queensland Legislative Assembly on 18 May 2012 with responsibility for the following areas: 

Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Queensland Police and Department of Community Safety. 

I also highlight that one of the main tasks of each of the parliament’s committees is to conduct a 

thorough budget estimate inquiry and scrutinise the proposed expenditure. The Legal Affairs and 

Community Safety Committee recently undertook this process with the Attorney-General and the 

Minister for Police and Community Safety. Both were questioned extensively regarding the proposed 

expenditure and services to be delivered by their relevant portfolio areas. In my view, they each 

responded comprehensively and openly to the committee. 

Despite the need to find significant savings due to the unprecedented state debt inherited from 

the former government, both the Attorney-General and the Minister for Police and Community Safety 

demonstrated commitment to making the tough decisions required to pay down debt while also working 

to strengthen front-line service delivery by their departments. Some of the highlights for my electorate of 

Yeerongpilly include, under the Justice and Attorney-General portfolio, the LNP government’s 

commitment to providing an additional $750,000 to the Women’s Legal Service so that they can 

continue to support vulnerable Queensland women. The Annerley based Women’s Legal Service 

assists around 5,000 women each year. Staff and volunteers provide free legal information and advice 

to women not only in my electorate but also throughout Queensland on areas of law, including domestic 

violence, protection orders, rape and incest. 

Under the police portfolio, additional police with a firm focus on front-line policing and combating 

crime in our community have been provided. The LNP government has committed to recruit an 

additional 1,100 new police over the next four years over and above the attrition rate and will provide 

$275 million for this surge in police numbers. The budget allocated funds for 300 police to be recruited in 

the first year of the LNP government. The LNP government will also move out up to 200 existing police 

from behind desks back into front-line services, resulting in a total of 1,300 new front-line police officers 

working to keep communities safe throughout Queensland. 

Turning to the community safety portfolio, my electorate of Yeerongpilly was heavily impacted by 

the 2011 floods, so I would especially like to highlight the LNP government’s commitment to provide 

$22 million towards the cost of operating EMQ Helicopter Rescue in 2012-13. EMQ Helicopter Rescue 

service personnel and pilots played a critical role in saving lives during the floods and they continue to 

do so today, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week from three bases—Brisbane, Townsville and 

Cairns. I recently had the pleasure of attending the opening of the new Archerfield helicopter hangar 

near my electorate in Brisbane with the Minister for Police and Community Safety. Among those at the 

opening was the chief pilot, Mr Trevor Wilson. He is a very highly regarded rescue pilot and we are very 

fortunate to have his services to hand in Yeerongpilly and elsewhere throughout Queensland. 

In closing, I commend the Attorney-General and the Minister for Police and Community Safety. 

Having been a police officer myself for 20 years before entering parliament, I feel it is appropriate for me 

to also recognise and commend the retiring Police Commissioner, Mr Bob Atkinson APM. It was an 

honour to serve under his leadership, and today I thank him on behalf of the people of the Yeerongpilly 

electorate for keeping our community safe under his watch.


Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Miss Barton): Order! Before calling the next speaker, I 

acknowledge the presence in the public gallery of Rotarians from the electorate of Burleigh who are on 

a vocational study trip to parliament. Welcome. 

Mr GIBSON (Gympie—LNP) (6.10 pm): I rise to make a contribution to debate of the report of the 

Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee. Whilst I was not a member of that committee, I thank 

both the chair and committee members for the opportunity they extended to me, when I sought leave, to 

appear to ask some questions of the Minister for Community Safety with regard to two issues that are 

very close to my heart, both of which are connected to the deaf community. One relates to the smoke 

alarm subsidy scheme that is currently in place in Queensland. The second relates to an SMS 000 

emergency service. I want to touch on both of those issues. 

At the outset I thank the minister for his honest and very comprehensive answer to my question 

about the smoke alarm subsidy scheme. I know that he has been working closely with the deaf 

community on this issue. There has been some concern within the deaf community as to the program 

itself and how it would continue to roll out. It was great to hear from the minister that that subsidy will 

continue and will continue to be supported by the Newman government. As with all things, there will be 

a review to ensure we are getting the best value for money and enhance the process. 

Most of us who are hearing can duck down to any hardware store and pick up the most basic 

smoke alarm for in the vicinity of $20. However, that smoke alarm will do nothing the save the life of a 

person who is deaf or hearing impaired. That includes people with cochlear implants, because obviously 

they take the devices off at night, those who rely on hearing aids—that covers a larger section of our 

community as baby boomers grow older and experience health issues—and those who are born deaf 

and who for their whole lives have not had that support. In order to rely on a smoke alarm, they require 

one that has a flashing light and a vibrating pad that sits under the pillow, not just one that provides a 

loud, piercing noise. Those smoke alarms, whilst they are available, cost in the vicinity of $500, so the 

subsidy that is provided is one that is highly regarded by the community. It is great to hear that it will be 

continuing, and I thank the minister for that. 

The other element that would be of surprise to many in the hearing community is that the deaf 

community do not have a dedicated 000 emergency service for use with SMS. If those of us with a 

mobile phone find ourselves in a situation, anywhere in Australia, in which we need to call 000, we can 

do so. But that is not the case for a deaf person. Deaf people have been very early adapters of 

technology. My mother, who is 70, was texting long before my teenage boys ever thought about texting. 

She has been very comfortable with mobile phone technology but she cannot make a 000 call. 

Responsibility for this does not sit at the state level, but it is an issue that crosses into state 

responsibility because the funding for the National Relay Service, which is a service that is provided for 

the deaf community to engage with the hearing community via telecommunications, is provided across 

all of Australia by the Commonwealth. In 2010, the deaf community and many who are interested took 

great confidence in Senator Conroy’s remarks that it would be a priority for him to ensure that there 

would be an SMS 000 alert service. We were grateful that that was to occur. However, in the most 

recent request-for-tender documents—they came out only a couple of months ago—from the federal 

government for the next round of the National Relay Service, there is no reference to an SMS 000 

service or an obligation to provide one. This is totally unacceptable. It says to the deaf community 

across Australia that they are second-class citizens, that the federal government does not see a 

requirement to provide a basic level of service for those in the deaf community to call an ambulance, the 

fire brigade or the police in a time of emergency. To highlight how ludicrous this is, if a deaf person 

breaks down at the side of the road they can SMS for roadside assistance, but if they are in a motor 

vehicle accident they cannot SMS for police, ambulance or fire brigade. That is totally unacceptable. 

In Queensland we have seen recently—again, I commend the minister for it—SMS on Policelink, 

but that is for non-emergency services. Again, we have this ridiculous situation where people can text to 

say, ‘I can see a burglar outside my neighbour’s property,’ but they cannot text for an ambulance when 

their spouse is having a heart attack. This is an issue that needs to be addressed. The federal 

government needs to step up and address this. The technology has been rolled out across New 

Zealand, the United Kingdom and some states in America—a whole range of places. It is time for 

Australia to have this technology as well. 

Mr WOODFORTH (Nudgee—LNP) (6.15 pm): I am pleased to rise to speak on the estimates 

process of the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee. First, I thank my fellow MPs who were 

part of this committee, especially the chair, the member for Condamine, Mr Ray Hopper. I also thank the 

committee staff—Sharon, Kelli, Ali and Gail and led by Mr Brook Hastie—for their dedicated work.


In general, the people of Nudgee have welcomed the whole budget, from electricity tariff and car 

registration freezes to the halving of the public transport price rise and, for the many businesses in the 

Nudgee electorate, items such as the increase in the payroll tax threshold. 

The people of Nudgee also welcome the likes of extra policing as part of the budget. Just this 

week two new police officers began their careers at Boondall Police Station. I know that 

Superintendent Kelly will welcome the new officers to keep the streets of Nudgee safe. I will continue to 

fight for more police in and around the Nudgee and Banyo areas. I wish the recently retired 

commissioner, Mr Bob Atkinson, all the best and welcome our new commissioner, Mr Stewart, and look 

forward to working with him and my three police stations at Boondall, Hendra and Banyo as community 

safety is of the utmost importance to the people of Nudgee. I also thank the police minister for his very 

in-depth answers throughout the hearing. 

I thank the Attorney-General and congratulate him on the policy changes already put through, 

such as the abolition of administrative funding for political parties. Electorates such as Nudgee and its 

people welcome these types of changes that benefit the Queensland taxpayer. I applaud the youth boot 

camps we are initiating and look forward to these putting our youth back on the straight and narrow and 

keeping them out of jail. 

I applaud the government in general for getting this great state back on track. The people of 

Nudgee are grateful for this. This was of course my first estimates process. I enjoyed the process—all 

13 long hours of it—and look forward to working in more detail on future estimates. I commend the 

report to the House. 

Dr DAVIS (Stafford—LNP) (6.18 pm): I was concerned at the estimates hearing on 17 October to 

be the subject of assertions by the member for Bundamba. The chair of the Health and Community 

Services Committee, the member for Redlands, deemed that these assertions impugned me. I thank 

him for obtaining a withdrawal accordingly. However, I did not have an opportunity to reply to the 

assertions, so it is opportune that under the legal affairs discussions tonight I assert my right to the first 

principle of natural justice, specifically the right to be heard. 

The statement from the member for Bundamba as it appears in Hansard of 17 October, page 54, 

mentions ‘the assistant minister’s antagonism towards the new Queensland Children’s Hospital and with 

his obvious conflict of interest’. Well, I do have an antagonism to bad health services planning, because 

it risks patients’ lives, denies the opportunity for optimal health and wastes scarce health resources. 

Is the new Queensland Children’s Hospital a bad plan? The latest instalment on that question 

was as recent as the Courier-Mail of 27 October, when an eminent paediatrician and recently retired 

medical superintendent of Brisbane’s Royal Children’s Hospital described it as a bad plan—so bad that 

what started life as a $690 million project is now quoted at $1.5 billion and, according to Dr Slaughter, 

will make the $2 billion mark. So when we look at estimates, this is yet another example of the frightful 

legacy of grossly irresponsible waste by the former Labor government. One can hopefully understand 

my antagonism to such incompetence and waste. As members of this government will understand, if the 

previous government could not even get the basic bricks and mortar right, there was no proper 

consideration of the complex service planning that should underpin a critical decision to close the Royal 

Children’s Hospital, with its vital links to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and all of the worldclass 

teaching and research investments on the Herston campus and indeed all of the needs of the 

north side of Brisbane, including my seat of Stafford. 

The member for Bundamba asserted that I have a conflict of interest in relation to the Queensland 

Children’s Hospital. My wife is a paediatric neurologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital. She is one of the 

very many consultants and other healthcare professionals who are totally opposed to the process by 

which the purely political decision to relocate all paediatric services from the Royal Children’s Hospital 

site to the electorate of the former member for South Brisbane and later Premier was made. This is not 

a conflict of interest for me. She and her colleagues are more than able to advocate for the best 

interests of their patients without my involvement, as again so well demonstrated by Dr Slaughter’s 

media statements a few days ago. 

My conflict of interest in relation to the Queensland Children’s Hospital goes back to my 

commitment to uphold the recommendations of the 2005 Queensland Health Systems Review, the 

Forster review. That specifically requires that all future decisions regarding the location of health 

facilities be based on a transparent patient focused process that ensures wide community and 

stakeholder involvement together with relevant advice from technical experts. All decisions should be 

supported by full documentation to enable independent review and ensure accountability and probity of 

decisions. We know very well that no sooner had the Labor government welcomed and accepted the 

Forster report than it started to systematically ignore recommendations that did not serve ALP 

members’ interests. Specifically, if you wanted to put a massive hospital in Anna Bligh’s electorate, to


hell with good governance that would serve the public interest! I am pleased that the member for 

Bundamba used the estimates process to identify that I remain opposed to monuments to bad planning 

and I confirm that I will continue to fight for the public interest, even if the Labor Party chooses to call it a 

conflict of interest. 

Debate, on motion of Mr Nicholls, adjourned. 

MINISTERIAL PAPERS 

Annual Reports 

Hon. JA STUCKEY (Currumbin—LNP) (Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and 

the Commonwealth Games) (6.22 pm), by leave: I table the following annual reports: firstly, the annual 

report for the Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games; 

secondly, the annual report for Tourism Queensland; and, lastly but certainly not least, the annual report 

for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation. 

Tabled paper: Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games: Annual Report 2011-12 

[1455]. 

Tabled paper: Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation: Annual Report 2011-12 [1456]. 

Tabled paper: Tourism Queensland: Annual Report 2011-12 [1457]. 






Report 


Resumed. 

Ms PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (6.23 pm): I rise to make a 

contribution to debate on the Appropriation Bill for the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee, 

and I will be restricting my comments to the Attorney-General’s part of the portfolio. One of the most 

disconcerting aspects of the Attorney-General’s estimates hearing was the section dealing with the 

Crime and Misconduct Commission. On the morning of the hearing the Attorney-General announced 

that he would be appointing a committee to review the CMC. This was a frightening deja vu experience 

for anyone who recalls the Borbidge government taking over the treasury benches and almost 

immediately announcing a review of the then Criminal Justice Commission. This government has 

dusted off the Borbidge government play book and run with it in a manner that is breathtaking. Then the 

Attorney on a number of occasions linked funding and reassuring of the CMC with the CMC undertaking 

reviews of matters which are not a priority for the government. His answers seemed to indicate that he 

failed to understand that the CMC is an independent body and the government should have no view as 

to what reviews the CMC undertakes. 

This statement by the Attorney clearly illustrates his lack of respect for the independence of the 

CMC— 

At the same time that I am having discussions with the CMC about funding and how it is going to contribute to the efficiency 

targets set by the government, I just say perhaps some resources could be reprioritised. 

The Attorney-General made comments about the continual complaints he receives from 

barristers about the provision of transcripts by the State Reporting Bureau. When asked for details, he 

took the question on notice and then provided advice that he had received three letters. To make a 

decision about government expenditure such as that provided for court transcription services on the 

basis of three written complaints must be unprecedented. The Attorney also failed to provide any 

comfort to the committee that there will be an appropriate level of protection for confidential and 

sensitive information, particularly in matters such as those involving the PIM and the COPIM or criminal 

organisations. This is particularly in light of the New South Wales experience. In fact, his comment that 

‘the member ought not be concerned about these issues’ certainly failed to allay any of my fears.

31 Oct 2012 Classification of Computer Games & Images & Or Leg. Amend’t Bill 2297 

The Attorney also spoke at estimates about the closure of the specialist courts, including the 

Murri Court, the Drug Court and the Special Circumstances Court. When asked if he had visited them, 

he answered that he had poked his head into the Murri Court once over 12 months ago but could not 

recall how long that was for. He also said that he had not visited the Special Circumstances Court and 

that such a visit was ‘highly unlikely now because I have abolished it’. In a total embarrassment to the 

Attorney, I was able to advise him that the Special Circumstances Court was actually sitting that same 

day. In fact, his lack of knowledge of what the spending cuts will mean to organisations because he does 

not even know what they do showed that his decisions to cut spending will have unforeseen 

consequences across the whole of Queensland. 

Budget Paper No. 4 shows a saving from the changes to the specialist courts and referrals as 

being $35.7 million over four years. I am therefore puzzled by an article in the Courier-Mail dated 27 

October 2012 titled ‘Closures court trouble’ which quotes the Attorney’s office as saying that it has 

released new figures and its total savings from axing these diversionary courts is $7.827 million over 

four years. I ask the Attorney if he would please explain how that figure has been revised and how the 

budget documents will now be reviewed and where cuts will be made to compensate for the additional 

nearly $30 million in savings that was budgeted for but will not be realised. 

There are many aspects of the estimates hearing that I could highlight but time constraints 

prevent me from doing so, so I will finish by referring to the disdain shown by the Attorney in relation to 

the changes to the May Day holiday. The Attorney was questioned about what consultation had been 

undertaken by the previous government and the fact that an online survey was conducted with 85 per 

cent of the 24,000 responses in favour of moving the Queen’s Birthday holiday to October. The 

response by the Attorney was misleading in that he said the move to October was in the interests of 

Queenslanders who want a public holiday in the second half of the year. This had clearly been achieved 

by moving the Queen’s Birthday holiday to October. However, more worrying was his admission that he 

had failed to consult communities likely to be adversely affected by the change and the fact that he 

laughed and sniggered when asked questions about Labour Day. However, his disdain for the workers 

of Queensland was clearly evident in the fact that his director-general was unable to answer a question 

about the historical significance of celebrating Labour Day in May and when providing the response on 

notice furnished a two-sentence response that was simply not good enough. 

Debate, on motion of Mr Nicholls, adjourned. 

Sitting suspended from 6.29 pm to 7.30 pm. 

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER GAMES AND IMAGES AND OTHER 

LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 

Introduction 

Classification of Computer Games & Images & Or Leg. Amend’t Bill 

Hon. JP BLEIJIE (Kawana—LNP) (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) (7.30 pm): I 

present a bill for an act to amend the Classification of Computer Games and Images Act 1995, the 

Classification of Films Act 1991, the Classification of Publications Act 1991, the Criminal Code, the Land 

Act 1994, the Neighbourhood Disputes Resolution Act 2011 and the Recording of Evidence Act 1962 for 

particular purposes, and to make consequential or minor amendments of other acts as stated in 

schedules 1 and 2 for purposes related to those particular purposes. I table the bill and the explanatory 

notes. I nominate the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee to consider the bill. 

Tabled paper: Classification of Computer Games and Images and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 [1458]. 

Tabled paper: Classification of Computer Games and Images and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, explanatory notes 

[1459]. 

I am pleased to introduce the Classification of Computer Games and Images and Other 

Legislation Amendment Bill 2012. The main purpose of this bill is to amend the Classification of 

Computer Games and Images Act 1995 to provide for the demonstration, sale, supply and 

advertisement of R18+ computer games in Queensland. Under the National Classification Scheme, the 

classification of computer games, films and publications is jointly regulated by the Commonwealth and 

the states and territories. The Commonwealth legislation outlines how material is to be classified and 

establishes the classification board which makes the classification decisions. The states and territories 

enforce the classification decisions and regulate the sale, supply and advertisement of material in their 

respective jurisdictions. 

Last year the censorship ministers agreed to introduce an R18+ category for computer games, 

bringing the classification of computer games into line with the regime for films. This followed extensive 

public consultation, which indicated an extremely high level of community support for an R18+ 

classification. For example, in 2010, almost 60,000 individuals and organisations made written

2298 Classification of Computer Games & Images & Or Leg. Amend’t Bill 31 Oct 2012 

submissions in response to a discussion paper on the issue. Of these, 98 per cent of the respondents 

supported the introduction of an R18+ category for computer games. In a subsequent telephone poll, 

80 per cent of the 2,000 people polled across Australia expressed support. 

The Commonwealth legislation allowing computer games to be classified as R18+ has been 

passed and will come into force on 1 January 2013. The introduction of the R18+ classification will give 

parents clear and unambiguous guidance about what material is unsuitable for their children, hence 

protecting them from being exposed to material that may harm them. It will also give adult gamers the 

right to make informed choices about what they want to see and hear in a computer game. 

The bill creates a range of new offences that generally reflect the enforcement regime for films. 

The bill prohibits the public demonstration of an R18+ computer game in the presence of a minor; 

prohibits the private demonstration of an R18+ computer game in the presence of a minor unless the 

person demonstrating the game is a parent or guardian or has their consent; and prohibits the sale or 

delivery of an R18+ computer game to a minor. R18+ computer games cannot be demonstrated in a 

public place unless the games are clearly marked and the markings displayed before they are 

demonstrated. 

On 26 September this year, the Commonwealth gazetted the new Guidelines for the 

Classification of Computer Games. These guidelines incorporate the new R18+ computer game rating, 

which is legally restricted to adults. R18+ content can contain high-impact violence, but violence that is, 

in context, frequently gratuitous, exploitative and offensive to a reasonable adult will not be permitted. 

Actual sexual violence and implied sexual violence that is visually depicted, interactive, not justified by 

context is also not permitted, nor are depictions of simulated sexual activity that are explicit and realistic. 

Material which exceeds the R18+ category will be refused classification and will not be able to be legally 

sold anywhere in Australia. In accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement on Censorship, I now 

table these guidelines. 

Tabled paper: Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games [1460]. 

In addition to establishing the new regime for R18+ computer games, the bill will also amend the 

Neighbourhood Disputes Resolution Act 2011 to add the additional words ‘dividing fences and trees’. 

This will remove any ambiguity which currently exists about the act and will make it clear that the 

legislation only applies to fence and tree disputes and not general neighbourhood disputes. 

The bill also amends the Recording of Evidence Act 1962 to enable implementation of the 

government’s decision to outsource the recording and transcribing of legal proceedings in Queensland. 

Proceedings in the Supreme Court, the District Court, the Magistrates Court, the Queensland Civil and 

Administrative Tribunal, the Queensland Industrial Court, the Queensland Industrial Relations 

Commission, the Childrens Court, the Coroners Court, the Planning and Environment Court, the Land 

Court, the Land Appeal Court and the Mental Health Court will be able to be recorded and transcribed 

under the outsourced model. Preparations are already well underway in the Department of Justice and 

Attorney-General to put the outsourced work to tender. The government is confident that outsourcing will 

result in a more timely service for judges, magistrates, tribunal members and parties to proceedings. 

Outsourcing is also anticipated to save the government up to $6 million per annum. This move will bring 

Queensland into line with other states like New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, which 

already outsource some or all of their court recording and transcription. These amendments are about 

enhancing the delivery of justice in Queensland and simultaneously achieving savings and assisting in 

returning the state to a sound fiscal position. I commend the bill to the House. 

First Reading 

Hon. JP BLEIJIE (Kawana—LNP) (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) (7.36 pm): I 

move— 

That the bill be now read a first time. 

Question put—That the bill be now read a first time. 


Bill read a first time. 

Referral to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Ruthenberg): Order! In accordance with standing order 131, the bill 

is now referred to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee.

31 Oct 2012 South East Qld Water (Restructuring) & Or Leg. Amend’t Bill 2299 

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND WATER (RESTRUCTURING) AND OTHER 

LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 

Message from Governor 

South East Qld Water (Restructuring) & Or Leg. Amend’t Bill 

Hon. MF McARDLE (Caloundra—LNP) (Minister for Energy and Water Supply) (7.37 pm): I 

present a message from Her Excellency the Governor. 

The Deputy Speaker read the following message— 

MESSAGE 

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND WATER (RESTRUCTURING) AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2012 

Constitution of Queensland 2001, section 68 

I, PENELOPE ANNE WENSLEY AC, Governor, recommend to the Legislative Assembly a Bill intituled— 

A Bill for an Act to amend the South-East Queensland Water (Distribution and Retail Restructuring) Act 2009, the South 

East Queensland Water (Restructuring) Act 2007, the Water Act 2000, the Water Fluoridation Act 2008 and the Water 

Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008 to facilitate the restructuring of the South East Queensland bulk water industry 

and for other purposes, and to make minor or consequential amendments of Acts as stated in the schedule. 

(sgd) 

GOVERNOR 

Date: 30 OCT 2012 

Tabled paper: Message, dated 30 October 2012, from Her Excellency the Governor recommending the South East Queensland 

Water (Restructuring) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 [1461]. 

Introduction 


present a bill for an act to amend the South-East Queensland Water (Distribution and Retail 

Restructuring) Act 2009, the South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) Act 2007, the Water Act 

2000, the Water Fluoridation Act 2008 and the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008 to 

facilitate the restructuring of the South East Queensland bulk water industry and for other purposes, and 

to make minor or consequential amendments of acts as stated in the schedule. I table the bill and the 

explanatory notes. I nominate the State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee to 

consider the bill. 

Tabled paper: South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 [1462]. 

Tabled paper: South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, explanatory notes 

[1463]. 

The South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 

delivers on the government’s commitment to amalgamate the three South-East Queensland—SEQ— 

bulk water entities and establish a single integrated water authority responsible for delivering water to 

the region. This first step will deliver significant savings at the corporate level, with the abolition of three 

boards and executives. 

The new entity and its board has one primary deliverable: a supply network that delivers highquality 

water at the lowest cost possible. The decision to consolidate the businesses into a single supply 

authority simplifies the complex and costly industry structure put in place by the previous government. 

The bill will allow the businesses of LinkWater and the SEQ Water Grid Manager to be integrated into 

the Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority, with the amalgamation expected to take effect by 

regulation from 1 January 2013. 

The move from three bulk water businesses to one will deliver immediate benefits by cutting the 

bureaucracies put in place by the previous government, reducing the number of board members and 

senior executives across the industry and allowing the new business to progressively target duplication 

in administrative and corporate costs. Importantly, the appointment of the new board will very much be a 

trigger for a new and positive way to do business—that is, planning for the future to ensure a strong 

Queensland that supports industry investment and growth, engaging with stakeholders to ensure 

customers’ needs are met and ensuring the optimal use of infrastructure to drive efficiencies and 

savings to ultimately reduce water bills. 

The bill also provides for the abolition of the Queensland Water Commission. Unlike the bulk 

water businesses, the Queensland Water Commission has no operational role in the South-East 

Queensland water market. It was established by the previous government at the height of severe 

drought conditions to develop and implement appropriate policies, actions and restrictions to manage 

the region’s rapidly dwindling water supplies. The Queensland Water Commission has played an 

important role in developing long-term supply plans and demand management strategies for South-East 

Queensland and, with the hearts and minds of the community, delivered water savings at the household 

and business level that were unheard of. The Queensland Water Commission also managed the

2300 South East Qld Water (Restructuring) & Or Leg. Amend’t Bill 31 Oct 2012 

legislative and contractual framework governing the South-East Queensland water market, as well as 

providing independent advice on the impacts of petroleum tenure activities on underground water. 

South-East Queensland has now nearly full water storages and a strongly embedded water efficient 

ethos within the community. The continuing need for a commission, a stand-alone, dedicated source of 

policy advice, has receded. 

The aggregation of ownership and operational responsibility for all grid assets across the region 

will give the bulk water authority the capacity to fulfil its rightful role in planning for South-East 

Queensland’s supply needs. The bill marks a decisive break with the central planning approach 

favoured by the previous government, devolving decision making to the entity that will ultimately be 

accountable to its bulk water customers. The bill provides for direct bulk water supply agreements 

between the merged business and its customers, including the two South-East Queensland distributorretailers 

and the water businesses of Gold Coast, Redland and Logan City councils. The direct supply 

relationship will help reset accountabilities, ensuring customers properly identify their demand needs 

and the bulk water entity plans and times the construction and maintenance of infrastructure to meet 

that demand. The bill also allows for a regulation to set appropriate levels of service objectives for the 

region, ensuring a clear linkage with the South East Queensland Regional Plan and enabling service 

levels to reflect community expectations on water security and infrastructure investment required to 

meet growing or changing demand. The bulk water authority will need to demonstrate how it will achieve 

these objectives. The community will have the opportunity to make comment on the regulation, on their 

views on water demand and water security. 

There has been some media comment about the potential removal of South-East Queensland’s 

water restrictions. Again I stress that the South-East Queensland community continues to use water 

efficiently. The demise of the Queensland Water Commission does not mean that South-East 

Queensland will forget the memories of the millennium drought. With the dissolution of the Queensland 

Water Commission, the specific powers and functions of service providers will be more closely aligned 

with arrangements outside South-East Queensland. For instance, business customers will no longer be 

subject to direction from the Queensland Water Commission to prepare and comply with water 

efficiency management plans. This will be a matter for the service provider to decide. South-East 

Queensland service providers will be empowered to apply restrictions where necessary and may be 

subject to a direction from the Water Supply Regulator. 

What we have now is time to consider the best way to manage and implement future restrictions 

and any necessary compliance programs. We are not losing or throwing anything away. Rather, the 

water businesses, the bulk and the council water businesses together, must keep the community 

engaged and informed on water security and water usage. A fair and equitable restriction regime will be 

developed and consulted on within the next 12 months. The current market rules, which prescribe 

detailed procedures, approvals and protocols governing the activities of South-East Queensland bulk 

and council water businesses, will be replaced by a South-East Queensland Bulk Water Supply Code 

focusing on key areas of interaction between the bulk entity and its customers. The overriding objective 

is to simplify the complex operating and regulatory environment while allowing government to maintain 

appropriate oversight and policy responsibility in key areas such as water pricing. 

The Queensland Water Commission’s functions as they relate to obtaining and analysing data 

about the impacts of underground water rights will be taken over by a new statutory office, the Office of 

Groundwater Impact Assessment. The functions of the office will be separated from those of the 

departmental chief executive under the Water Act 2000, ensuring a proper segregation of roles—that is, 

one agency will not be charged with the dual roles of preparing and approving underground water 

impact reports. The bill also removes a number of costly processes imposed on South-East Queensland 

councils under the previous government’s Fairer Water Prices for SEQ Amendment Act 2011, including 

the preparation of a five-year price path commencing 1 July 2013. South-East Queensland councils 

have strongly argued that such mandated token processes fail to recognise their responsibility and 

accountability to residents. The one-off publication of a five-year price path by councils does nothing to 

reduce prices or improve their accountability to residents. The South-East Queensland councils and the 

government both have a job to do to keep water prices as low as possible. 

The bill also amends the Water Fluoridation Act 2008, which imposes a mandatory obligation on a 

public potable water supplier to fluoridate a relevant public potable water supply for which they are 

responsible if the supply services at least 1,000 members of the public. Since April 2012, a number of 

water suppliers have requested deferral or exemption from the requirement to fluoridate due to the 

upfront and ongoing cost of fluoridation, the lack of appropriately trained staff to operate the fluoridation 

infrastructure and the need to rectify ongoing water quality problems as a matter of priority. While the act 

enables a water supplier to apply for an exemption from the requirement that they must fluoridate, the 

current criteria do not adequately recognise some of the challenges being faced by water suppliers. 

In response to this situation, it is proposed that the act be amended to expand the criteria under 

which a water supplier may apply for an exemption. The new grounds for exemption have been 

developed having regard to the challenges facing water suppliers as well as the object of the act, which 

is to promote good oral health by the safe fluoridation of drinking water. The underlying object of the act

31 Oct 2012 Weapons and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2301 

is to provide the greatest number of Queenslanders access to fluoridated water. The proposed 

exemptions will not detract from this intention as it is intended, for example, that if a water supply 

provides drinking water to more than 10,000 people it will be fluoridated. I commend the bill to the 

House. 

First Reading 


move— 





Referral to the State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee 


is now referred to the State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee. 

WEAPONS AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 

Introduction 

Hon. JM DEMPSEY (Bundaberg—LNP) (Minister for Police and Community Safety) (7.47 pm): I 

present a bill for an act to amend the Weapons Act 1990 for particular purposes and to make 

consequential amendments to the Corrective Services Act 2006 and the Penalties and Sentences Act 

1992. I table the bill and the explanatory notes and I nominate the Legal Affairs and Community Safety 

Committee to consider the bill. 

Tabled paper: Weapons and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 [1464]. 

Tabled paper: Weapons and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, explanatory notes [1465]. 

I am pleased to introduce the Weapons and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012. The bill 

fulfils the government’s commitment to crack down on the unlawful use of firearms by introducing 

mandatory minimum sentencing for serious firearm offences. The introduction of this new sentencing 

regime will give Queenslanders the toughest gun laws in Australia. The bill amends the Weapons Act to 

introduce mandatory minimum periods of imprisonment where a person unlawfully and without a 

reasonable excuse carries on the business of trafficking weapons where one of those weapons is a 

firearm; supplies firearms where one of those firearms is a short firearm; possesses a firearm that has 

been used in the commission of an indictable offence; possesses a firearm for the purpose of 

committing or facilitating an indictable offence; and possesses a short firearm in a public place including 

a vehicle. 

The mandatory penalties dovetail into the existing tiered penalty regime. The new provisions are 

supported by amendments to the Corrective Services Act and the Penalties and Sentences Act to 

ensure that any date set for parole does not fall before the expiry of the mandatory minimum term of 

imprisonment. The mandatory minimum sentencing will not apply to any person under the age of 18 

years. The new sentencing regime is not intended to capture licensed firearms owners who fail to renew 

their licence or find themselves unlicensed due to administrative processes beyond their control. 

In this regard, the bill provides each person charged with an offence to which a mandatory 

minimum sentence applies with the opportunity to raise a reasonable excuse. While what constitutes a 

reasonable excuse for the purposes of the mandatory sentencing provisions will be objectively 

determined by the courts, the bill explicitly states that it will be a reasonable excuse to a charge under 

the new mandatory sentencing provisions for a person to show that in the 12 months preceding the 

commission of the offence the person possessed a valid and appropriate licence and that licence had 

not been surrendered, suspended or revoked under the act. This reasonable excuse does not abrogate 

a person’s obligations under the Weapons Act and so where a person raises a reasonable defence the 

court will retain the capacity to impose a penalty from the existing sentencing provisions. 

A firearms amnesty will coincide with the introduction of the new sentencing regime. The amnesty 

will comprise a voluntary hand-back and registration scheme. Any member of the community who does 

not hold a firearms licence will be able to surrender their firearms during the amnesty period without 

penalty. Similarly, a person with an unregistered firearm will, during the amnesty period, have the 

opportunity to register that firearm without penalty. Previous firearms amnesties have proved successful 

in Queensland.


The government has identified a range of specific initiatives to reduce the red tape associated 

with weapons licensing in Queensland. In this regard, I would like to thank the Departments of National 

Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Health; and Natural 

Resources and Mines. I particularly thank Vaughan Johnson, Howard Hobbs and their staff for their 

valued contribution to identifying these initiatives. I also thank the Weapons Advisory Panel for the work 

it has undertaken examining these initiatives. 

The initiatives will extend the term of a firearms licence for category A and B firearms from five 

years to up to 10 years; remove the obligation for an approved pistol club to provide an annual report 

under section 140 of the act; extend the reporting time for licensed dealers to provide an annual return 

under section 72 of the act; extend the reporting time for theatrical ordnance suppliers to provide an 

annual return under section 121 of the act; introduce a power of delegation under a new section 18D of 

the act to allow the representative of a shooting club to delegate functions to a member of the club’s 

governing body or board; double the term of a permit to acquire from three months to six months; 

remove the obligation under section 24 for licensees to automatically deliver their firearms licence to the 

officer in charge of police when a change in the licensee’s circumstances occurs; allow an interstate or 

international firearms licence to be used as a criterion in deciding whether an applicant for a firearms 

licence has an adequate knowledge of a firearm; and extend the term under which a licensee with an 

expired licence is required to demonstrate an adequate knowledge of a weapon. These initiatives 

demonstrate the government’s commitment to reducing the red tape associated with legitimate firearms 

ownership. It is anticipated that further red tape reduction initiatives will be identified by the Weapons 

Advisory Panel, which has agreed to continue to work with me during a second phase of weapons 

review. I commend this bill to the House. 

First Reading 


move— 





Referral to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee 


is now referred to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee. 






Report 


Resumed from p. 2297. 


would like to thank the committee chair, the member for Condamine, for his management of the budget 

estimates proceedings and the other members of the committee for their questions. This estimates 

process provides an important opportunity for scrutiny of government business. This government has a 

powerful mandate for change from the people of Queensland and we have energetically set about 

implementing many important initiatives. In the portfolio of Police and Community Safety, I welcomed 

the opportunity to explain and outline a number of issues, and I thank the committee for the opportunity 

to do this. 

One of the most important initiatives is our commitment to provide 1,100 new police over the next 

four years at a total cost of $358.3 million. We aim to revitalise front-line policing services and deliver 

safer streets for Queensland communities. Since April 2012 recruit intakes have been increased to


achieve an additional 300 police officers inducted before 30 June 2013. As at 30 September 2012, 459 

recruits have commenced in the recruit training program and a further 336 are scheduled to commence 

training over the next four months to ensure the additional officers are inducted before 30 June 2013. 

I would also like to thank the committee for the opportunity to explain why we are cracking down 

on the problem of hooning. This government is set to introduce tough new laws designed to get those 

offenders off our streets. Under these laws, anyone committing a hooning offence could face 

automatically having their car clamped and off the road, at their own expense, for three months for their 

first offence. Anyone who commits another hooning offence within a five-year period after the first 

offence faces forfeiture of their vehicle, which can then be sold or crushed. 

Another major initiative I was pleased to explain to the committee was our weapons amendment 

legislation. The new bill aims to do two things: crack down on criminals who use guns and ensure they 

serve jail terms for their actions; and free up legitimate firearms owners, such as sporting shooters and 

farmers, from pointless red tape and bureaucracy. Therefore, we will be amending the Weapons Act to 

introduce mandatory minimum jail sentences for the illegal use of firearms. Offenders convicted of 

unlawfully trafficking in concealable or military grade firearms will serve a mandatory minimum of five 

years in prison. Offenders convicted of unlawfully supplying five or more firearms where at least one of 

those is a short firearm will serve a mandatory minimum of three years in prison. Offenders convicted of 

unlawfully possessing a short firearm in a public place will serve a mandatory minimum of one year in 

custody. 

The legislation will also make provision for a voluntary hand-back scheme and 

registration amnesty. The government’s tough stance on crime and illegal firearms is focused on people 

who choose not to obey the law, so there will be no erosion of the rights of law-abiding firearm owners. 

The removal of red tape and bureaucracy for legitimate gun owners does not mean a watering down of 

our laws. People who legally possess firearms, such as farmers and sporting shooters, have already 

passed the most rigorous tests to gain their licences. However, once these requirements have been met 

it seems unreasonable to expect people to have to wade through endless red tape before they can 

acquire their firearm. Not only is this process proving frustrating and costly for dealers and shooters, it is 

tying police officers up in administration and keeping them from general duty policing or firearms related 

enforcement. It is for this reason that I set up a Ministerial Weapons Advisory Panel to investigate ways 

of unravelling the sea of red tape. The views of this panel have been extremely useful to me as we have 

sought to implement an initial raft of red tape reduction measures. 

These are just some of the highlights from a budget that provided funding for the Queensland 

Police Service in 2012-13 of $1.979 billion, an increase of $90.6 million on the previous budget. The 

total budget for the DCS in 2012-13 was $1.9 billion, an increase of $85.8 million from the 2011-12 

estimated actual. In addition, the budget provided for DCS capital spending of $174.5 million. 

Other highlights include: $1.1 million for the establishment of the major and organised crime 

squad on the Gold Coast, incorporating an illegal firearm team; $30 million for a camera detected 

offence program; $3 million to deliver police helicopter services—the first instalment of our $18 million 

plan to have two permanent helicopters for the Gold Coast and South-East Queensland; $2.5 million to 

replace three water police catamarans based in Cairns, Townsville and the Whitsundays—the first 

instalment of a $12.7 million pledge over the next three years; and $1 million for Neighbourhood Watch 

and Crime Stoppers—the first instalment of $4 million over the next four years. 


Hon. JP BLEIJIE (Kawana—LNP) (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice) (8.00 pm): In 

responding to the estimates committee inquiries can I thank all the members on the estimates 

committee on the day. I particularly pay tribute to the chairman, the member for Condamine. 

Mr Rickuss: He made you look good! 

Mr BLEIJIE: Absolutely. I think he did a fantastic job in chairing the committee. My part of the 

committee hearing went for five hours, so it was not short. I certainly concur with the comments of the 

member for Condamine who said that the committee was going well until the member for Bundamba 

showed up for the last half an hour and carried on with her usual theatrics, and then the committee went 

quite sour. I thank the member for Condamine for chairing the committee. It was a long committee 

hearing—some five hours—and then they had the honourable police minister for another few hours after 

that. So it was a full day. 

Can I pay tribute to my department for getting through what has been a difficult period for all 

departments. There are some great highlights for the Department of Justice and Attorney-General that 

were noted in the estimates hearings. I will talk about a couple of those in the short time that I have. 

The government moved straight away to deliver our commitment that we want Queensland to be 

the safest place in which to raise a child. One of our large commitments in the election campaign was 

the establishment of a commission of inquiry. Governments do not establish commissions of inquiry 

light-heartedly or unadvisedly because they are an expensive exercise, but we know we have a


particular problem in Queensland. We want Queensland to be the safest place in which to raise a child. 

Therefore, we set up the Carmody inquiry. I know that yesterday they were out at Ipswich. I fully 

anticipate that that commission of inquiry will come up with some great recommendations for the future 

and for the protection of children in Queensland. 

I was very pleased to join the Premier at Gadens legal where we announced funding of $750,000 

for women’s legal services. 

Mr McVeigh interjected. 

Mr BLEIJIE: Yes, Paul Spiro is the partner there. 

Mr Nicholls interjected. 

Mr BLEIJIE: The managing partner he is, Treasurer, yes. This will really help disadvantaged 

women across Queensland. The $750,000 that this government has given because they were 

underfunded by previous Labor governments certainly will go some way towards helping them 

reestablish their rural phone line for rural and regional women right across Queensland. Hopefully, they 

can reopen their Friday session so they do not have to turn seven women away a night. 

We will soon establish boot camps in Queensland for those in the juvenile justice system. This will 

see a commitment of $2 million. This is an exciting opportunity for participants in the youth justice space. 

Yesterday I was pleased to host at Parliament House a second round table with youth industry leaders 

and some MPs from right around Queensland. We were looking at how we get these young kids back 

on track and get them out of our justice system and living a fulfilled life with a job and an education. We 

want them to turn their lives around and get out of the college of crime. Boot camps will go a long way 

towards achieving that. 

Mr Nicholls interjected. 

Mr BLEIJIE: I take the interjection from the Treasurer. The CMC has been the subject of debate. 

I was pleased to establish a reference group led by former High Court judge the Hon. Ian Callinan. I 

table a copy of the terms of reference for the advisory panel. 

Tabled paper: Crime and Misconduct Act 2001, Advisory Panel, Terms of Reference [1466]. 

I look forward to receiving their remarks, recommendations and advice early next year. 

If we look at some of the comments made by some members in the House we find the opposition 

leader criticised the establishment of the CMC inquiry. The CMC received $50 million of Queensland 

taxpayers’ money. It should be open to accountability and of the highest integrity. That is why I have set 

up an independent advisory panel to the Attorney-General to look at those issues. 

I thank and pay tribute to the member for Broadwater for her contribution in terms of the Women’s 

Legal Service. The member for Rockhampton talked about the number of questions asked. I sat there 

for five hours and the member for Rockhampton never even got to ask a question in the estimates 

committee. He was not allowed by the Leader of the Opposition. He never got to ask me a question. 

I pay tribute to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. I pay particular tribute to the 

honourable Treasurer in really getting this state’s finances back on track. My department and I have 

been particularly pleased to be a part of the big fiscal repair task that we have ahead of us. 


Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee 

Report 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Ruthenberg): The question is— 

That the report of the Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee be adopted. 

Hon. JJ McVEIGH (Toowoomba South—LNP) (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) 

(8.05 pm): I thank the Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee for their scrutiny of the 

budget, for their interaction during the estimates hearing and, of course, for their resulting report. I note 

the comments from the member for Dalrymple about staff. I must really redirect his comments to the 

former minister in the Labor government because given the massive state debt of $65 billion that was 

left by Labor there have been significant pressures and challenges that our government has had to face 

up to on behalf of all Queenslanders. 

The decision to close the Townsville vet lab, along with the Toowoomba vet lab, and centralise 

disease testing at the state-of-the-art Coopers Plains facility was taken on the best scientific advice 

available. I will state again for the benefit of the member for Dalrymple and those opposite that the 

decision will not put any additional risk on our animal industries. The decision to find savings at the 

Charters Towers Tropical Weeds Centre was made for the same reason and was made because the 

research programs had come to an end.


I was also interested in the fact that the member for South Brisbane issued a statement of 

reservation, partly because she did not even attend the estimates hearing. Her comments are hardly 

original. On fire ants, for example, they are wrong. The LNP government is fully meeting its commitment 

under the national cost-sharing agreement. This was confirmed at the Standing Committee on Primary 

Industries meeting just last week with other Australian ministers. 

Turning to Coopers Plains and the costs to bring animal testing to the main central lab, on this the 

member for South Brisbane, like her deputy leader, is entirely wrong. Labor had sold off the old lab at 

Oonoonba for residential development. It was gone. Labor had not fully funded a proposed new lab, 

which under their own estimates, had blown out from 13 to 17 to 21 million dollars. I have repeatedly 

updated the costs to accommodate additional staff at Coopers Plains on many occasions—and they will 

be roundly $2 million and not $10 million. Under the restructure of operations, an additional area is now 

available to accommodate any additional staff needed in the expanded lab testing roles. 

The member for South Brisbane’s comments about the recreational use fee, the RUF, funds being 

diverted away from recreational fishing services are wrong as well. RUF revenue has never been 

quarantined or structured to enhance specifically recreational fishing. The law states that the RUF fee 

must be paid when registering a boat. Failure to do so will result in a boat not being registered. How the 

government chooses to spend those funds it receives is up to the government of the day. Since 

introduction in 1994, RUF revenue has been provided to Fisheries Queensland. While there is no legal 

requirement to do so, the funds, under our government, have been and will be used to help pay for costs 

attributable to recreational fishing. 

The RUF revenue has typically represented less than 40 per cent of the total amount spent on 

providing services to the recreational fishing sector. Over $5 million in funding is coming directly from 

government in recognition of that sector. That effort will continue given the acknowledgement of 

recreational fishers and the enjoyment they have and the advantages to our local economy. 

I totally reject the member for South Brisbane’s claims that front-line services will be 

compromised under the Newman government. Under our restructure, critical front-line services—wild 

dog officers, stock inspectors and plant protection officers—have been boosted rather than the Brisbane 

CBD based admin, corporate services, policy and PR positions that Labor was so very fond of. 

The member for South Brisbane clearly takes her notes from the ramblings of the former minister, 

who had a few serious questions to ask. Indeed the member for Mackay asked a series of inane, 

repetitive questions and then finished off with him mouthing off, ‘You are a bunch of agrarian socialists.’ 

That is the best he could do on the day—resort to pathetic, personal, baseless abuse—very sad. We are 

trying to protect farmers such as pineapple growers threatened by disease from overseas under Joe 

Ludwig and his federal Labor mates. 

Putting aside the churlish comments of the member for Mackay and the member for South 

Brisbane, I wish to put on record my overall thanks to the committee, particularly the committee 

chairman, the member for Lockyer, Mr Ian Rickuss. I applaud the Treasurer on this budget that he has 

handed down on behalf of Queensland, and I and my department have been pleased to play our small 

role. 

Ms TRAD (South Brisbane—ALP) (8.10 pm): I rise to contribute to the Agriculture, Resources 

and Environment Committee estimates report. The AREC hearing highlighted the LNP’s failure to live 

up to its promise of being an open and accountable government. Ministers continually dodged questions 

and the hearing was plagued by unnecessary and time-wasting interruptions from government 

members during opposition questioning. Government members were also allowed to submit questions 

on notice to the environment and mines ministers a day late. It is totally unacceptable that deadlines for 

parliamentary committee proceedings differ according to members’ political persuasions and it 

diminishes the committees process and the parliament as a whole. I have written to the Speaker on this 

issue and I look forward to her response. 

What we have here is a government that has relegated the environment to the bottom of the pile. 

The Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee hearing revealed that we do not have an 

environment minister who is in charge of protecting the Great Barrier Reef. We do not have a mines 

minister in Queensland who is in charge of water in mines. We do not have a natural resources minister 

who can actually see the connection between the clearing of native vegetation and the loss of koala 

habitat. This is a government intent on ‘aggressively’ and ‘ruthlessly’ slashing regulations that have 

been put in place to balance industry development with environmental protection with no regard for 

community or our environment. Why? Because they claim the Labor government’s onerous regulations 

were strangling the resources industry. Well let’s interrogate this rhetoric just a little bit, shall we? 

The number of people employed by the resources industry increased from 27,380 in 2005 to 

48,714 by 2011. By my calculation this is just under an 80 per cent increase in just five years. Between 

1 July 2005 and 30 June 2011 investment in the industry increased by $38.5 billion. The source of those 

figures is the ABS. A record $1.127 billion was spent on exploration activity in 2011—an increase of 

almost 320 per cent on the $353.9 million spent in 2005. Again, the source is the ABS. These are hardly 

indices of an industry that is crippled by regulation.


So the government have used hyperbole and rhetoric to create and elevate a problem that does 

not actually exist—something they are very competent at doing. Then they have set up a closed 

committee out of cabinet to kill off the regulatory framework around ensuring that there is balance 

between industry development and environmental protection. They have given themselves 100 days to 

come back with the list to slash. We are halfway through the 100 days and we are yet to hear of any 

substantial regulations that they are cutting, but maybe again they just want to refuse consultation with 

the community as they have been shown to do. All we have to do is look at the Mines Legislation 

(Streamlining) Amendment Bill and remember how many days the community had to consult on that bill. 

I will remind the parliament again how many days communities actually had to be aware that this 

government was taking out of law the protection of urban areas from mining exploration and extraction. 

So what regulations do we think the Newman government’s resource subcommittee will find 

unnecessary and onerous? What is on the cutting board? Will it be that mining will be allowed in national 

parks or the Great Barrier Reef region or World Heritage management areas? Will the committee 

remove the local workforce component from mining applications? Will the committee allow for the 

release of untreated mine water? These protections are all part of the regulation. So which ones will go? 

This government is now so convinced by its own rhetoric on regulatory ruin. This was on greatest 

show when the police minister announced a panel to review and water down gun controls in this state. 

And surprise, surprise! The panel originally announced by the minister was stacked with people from the 

gun lobby and excluded other key stakeholders including the Police Union. What did Mr Leavers, the 

President of the Police Union, say about regulation, which is what we are discussing? ‘If anything, we 

shouldn’t reduce red tape for gun owners but increase it. A reduction in red tape around gun ownership 

will simply mean more people will die.’ Well if regulations save lives they are good enough to save the 

environment. 

This government is intent on ensuring that the people of Queensland do not know what 

environmental regulations they are slashing from the resources industry in this state. This government is 

committed to making decisions that will affect generations to come and after the uranium decision— 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Ruthenberg): Order! The member’s time has expired. 

Ms TRAD:—we know that any environmental commitment— 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The member’s time has expired. 

Ms TRAD:—made by the LNP is not worth a second of consideration. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member’s time has expired. Member for South Brisbane, I expect 

you to follow direction. 

Mr RICKUSS (Lockyer—LNP) (8.15 pm): I rise to make a brief comment on the Agriculture, 

Resources and Environment Committee’s consideration of estimates. It was very interesting to see this 

process in place. It was great to see the ministers doing a great job of explaining expenditure which 

comes to some $863 million—almost $1 billion of expenditure. That is very important. I congratulate the 

Treasurer on a fine budget, which is what we are examining here. 

I note the comments of the deputy chair of the committee, the member for South Brisbane, who 

has just had a rant about the gun laws. The committee did not actually examine anything to do with the 

gun laws. So I do not know why that was brought into her contribution. I realise that Jackie is new at the 

whole process and she has a lot to learn. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Lockyer, please refer to members by their correct 

titles. 

Mr RICKUSS: The member for South Brisbane has a lot to learn and she is still trying to get the 

process right. She has to work out that we were actually looking at the portfolios of Agriculture, Fisheries 

and Forestry; Environment and Heritage Protection; and National Resources and Mines. That is what 

we looked at in our examination of this bill. I congratulate the ministers for the fact that they answered 

the questions clearly and succinctly, particularly the questions related to their portfolios. They did 

struggle a bit with the questions that were not related to their portfolios simply for the fact that they 

probably did not have the issues before them. 

I note one of the dissenting reports from the member for South Brisbane complaining about the 

number of questions that she asked. The member of Katter’s Australian Party and the member of the 

ALP make up 25 per cent of the committee. They asked 60 per cent of the questions; they asked 60 per 

cent of the questions. 

Mr Cox: What percentage of the committee did they make up? 

Mr RICKUSS: Twenty-five per cent of the committee and they asked 60 per cent of the questions. 

They are still stuck in this old paradigm of ‘It’s our turn to ask questions.’ I realise that we have new 

members on the committees but the CLA is not in that paradigm of ‘It’s your turn; it’s my turn’ or 

whatever. It is about how we actually manage the process. The process I think was managed very


efficiently. If a question was asked by a member of the opposition or a member of the Katter party then a 

supplementary question could come from one of our members who had an interest in that same area. 

That, to me, was common sense and made the examination of the estimates flow much more 

realistically. 

Ms Trad: So what about questions on notice, Ian? 

Mr RICKUSS: I take the interjection of the member for South Brisbane about questions on notice. 

I rang her up on the day that questions on notice were due to be in and we had discussions. I had a 

discussion with Shane too about their questions on notice. We could have just knocked out a heap of 

their questions on notice because they had made one question into three questions, so instead of 

having 10 questions they actually had about 15 questions. So instead of doing that I rang the member 

for South Brisbane and the member for Dalrymple so they could put in the appropriate questions on 

notice. I realise this is a new process and it does take a while to get around these sorts of issues. 

I actually gave the same leeway to some of our members who were a bit late getting their 

questions in, so that worked all right. This is a learning process. This government has only been in place 

for 200 days, I think it is now. I must admit that I am sure the process will be more streamlined next year, 

but I really do take issue with some of the poor comments made by the member in her conclusion—such 

as that the three ministers were anxious to avoid sustained questioning. I find that hard to believe. The 

opposition were actually starting to run out of questions. I would refer to the members opposite and say, 

‘Have you finished?’ and their answer would be, ‘Yes.’ They would be finished before I had asked our 

members to ask their questions, so I cannot see how they can sustain that. Like I said, 25 per cent of the 

committee asked 60 per cent of the questions. With that, I congratulate the ministers and the Treasurer. 

Mr COSTIGAN (Whitsunday—LNP) (8.20 pm): I rise in the House as a member of the 

parliament’s Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee and I wish to begin by thanking the 

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines and the 

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and their respective directors-general and staff, both 

ministerial and departmental, for their cooperation and professionalism during the estimates process. I 

reiterate what the member for Lockyer just said: it was quite clear that all three ministers had an 

excellent grasp of their respective portfolios. I would also like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the 

professionalism and fine work of the secretariat, headed by Mr Robert Hansen. It would be remiss of me 

not to thank all members of the Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee under the 

chairmanship of the member for Lockyer. 

Personally, I thought the highlight of the estimates process was the fact that we had questions 

being asked of a minister of a stand-alone agriculture department. This was in stark contrast to what 

happened previously at estimates when the Australian Labor Party were running the show. Let us not 

forget that it was Labor who dumbed down primary industries in Queensland. The former DPI, which 

was a world-class department from years gone by, was effectively dismantled—in fact, ripped apart— 

and put in ruin by the previous Labor administration. 

As the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry would be well aware—and I have seen the 

member for Hinchinbrook interjecting in here, backing me up—along with other regional MPs, such as 

the members for Burdekin, Mirani, Bundaberg and Burnett, the mighty sugar industry is one of 

Queensland’s great primary industries. In fact, it is worth about $1.2 billion annually. As I have 

mentioned before in this place, the sugar industry has underpinned the economy of the Mackay- 

Whitsunday region since our early days of European settlement, and ditto other regional communities 

around Queensland, like the Herbert, the Burdekin and Bundaberg. 

Even after the rationalisation of the sugar industry in my home town of Mackay in the late eighties, 

sugar is still a big economic driver in my region, so much so that within 90 minutes of Mackay we still 

have five mills, a refinery, an ethanol plant, a co-generation plant and a large bulk sugar terminal at the 

port of Mackay which at one stage was reputed to be the biggest in the world. 

With that in mind, I was delighted to join the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 

alongside the Premier and the member for Mirani, on Mackay’s outskirts on 27 September 2012 for the 

signing of a memorandum of understanding in relation to the government’s additional $4.6 million for 

sugar research. This historic occasion took place on the grounds of the BSES experiment station at Te 

Kowai, with the BSES represented by chairman, Paul Wright. He joined the minister in the signing of this 

very important document, which I might add honours a pre-election commitment made by the now 

Premier while standing alongside people such as me in cane fields not far from nearby Walkerston. Also 

in attendance for this signing were the following: Peter Allsopp of BSES and many of the wonderfully 

talented people from that organisation; Alf Cristaudo, the chairman of Canegrowers Queensland; Paul 

Schembri, the chairman of Canegrowers Mackay and the man we call Mr Sugar in our part of the world; 

and representatives of the Australian Cane Farmers Association, namely Don Murday and Stephen 

Fordyce. It was also terrific to see millers in attendance, with Mackay Sugar chairman, Andrew 

Cappello, and chief executive officer, Quinton Hildebrand, both on hand. I candidly remarked to the


latter that I always have two teaspoons of sugar in my coffee—one for Farleigh and one for Prossie. I 

have said this a couple of times. It is a little cheeky perhaps, given that Proserpine Mill is actually owned 

by Sucrogen and not Mackay Sugar. 

Mr Cripps: Ha, ha! 

Mr COSTIGAN: Putting those rivalries aside—and I take the humour being displayed by the 

member for Hinchinbrook, who is one of the aforementioned ministers—this $4.6 million package is 

good news for sugar and good news for communities such as Mackay and the Whitsundays, given that 

our communities would not be where they are today without sugar. Furthermore, this package will go 

some way to fulfilling the government’s commitment to doubling agricultural food production by 2040. 

As government members would know—in fact, they are probably saying it in their sleep by now— 

it is part of our four-pillar approach to fixing the Queensland economy after that terrible damage inflicted 

by two decades of Labor. I might point out that this $4.6 million in extra funding for R&D will eventually 

flow on to Sugar Research Australia, that new entity that is being put together after growers and millers 

voted overwhelmingly to get with the times and have one single body. I think the ministers handled 

themselves superbly during the estimates process and we are well and truly getting sugar back on the 

map. 


Mr COX (Thuringowa—LNP) (8.25 pm): As a new member of the House in the 54th Parliament, I 

found the process of the estimate hearings as part of the Agriculture, Resources and Environment 

Committee a responsibility that was taken very seriously by most participants in AREC’s hearings, with 

the exception of some of those opposite. The member for Bundamba was up to her usual antics, which 

I found inappropriate in such a forum. The member wasted valuable time that could have been better 

used on committee business, not her song and dance routine. Likewise, the member for South Brisbane 

persisted in asking questions to the wrong minister who was obviously absent. The member for South 

Brisbane has included in her statement of reservations her ‘concerns regarding the conduct of the 

estimates hearings’. Member for South Brisbane, it was disappointing that you and your comrades did 

not consider these ‘reservations’ regarding your own conduct. You stated— 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Ruthenberg): Order! Member for Thuringowa, please address your 


Mr COX: The member stated— 

When the wholesale and bipartisan changes to the committee system were introduced last year there was widespread optimism 

that they would improve government accountability and increase proper scrutiny. 

The current LNP government is maintaining that accountability by ensuring that the number of 

government and non-government members in each committee is actually in favour of non-government 

representation based on the make-up of the 54th Parliament. I remind those in opposition that the 

people of Queensland gave us a mandate for change and this budget is part of the process to get our 

state back in the black. Increasing ‘proper scrutiny’, as you put it, was not part of the bipartisan changes 

Labor agreed to or you would have spent more time asking questions to the correct minister at the 

appropriate time. You were concerned the process was— 

... overly weighted towards Government questions when compared to equivalent estimates hearings during the term of the 

previous Government. 

Again, I put to the member for South Brisbane that these are two very different governments in 

terms of numbers on both sides of this chamber. Considering those ratios, the opposition members are 

more than fairly represented on the committee. Perhaps the reason the member for South Brisbane is 

complaining that she did not get enough time for questions is that the committee gave leave to other 

members, including the Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who rank 

higher in her party, to participate in the hearing. Maybe that is what is frustrating the member for South 

Brisbane. I use my time representing my constituents, not climbing the party ladder. The people of 

Thuringowa expect no less. 

I also see that the member for Dalrymple made a comment in his ‘Statements of Reservation’ 

about the hearings. He said— 

... while fitting the Government’s agenda of cutting costs, indicated that there has been very little consideration of the broader 

economic and social costs of these decisions to rural communities. 

He then went on to state— 

I disagree fundamentally with the Government’s approach to the budget. 

The member for Dalrymple apparently does not understand the fundamentals of good 

government and must be confused with the model provided by his new partners as the representatives 

for the north-west Labor block. If we are to correct the ‘broader economic and social costs’ imposed by 

the opposition when they ran this state into the ground, it is this once-in-a-generation budget that will 

return us to the fundamentals of good government—that is, to balance the books. We have done this by 

ensuring those front-line services for the deserving people of Queensland and Thuringowa are still 

provided, including to those in regional and rural communities.


The LNP government recognised the importance of agriculture by making it one of the four pillars 

and recreating the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as a stand-alone department in 

direct support of rural communities. Issues addressed at the public hearing by the department included 

a 30-year strategic plan for agriculture, a proposed abattoir for Cloncurry, transport and logistics in the 

beef industry, and fish stocks to which the minister gave very open and transparent responses. 

The budget addressed various services in the Department of Natural Resources and Mines such 

as weed and pest control, repealing the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (Land Holding) Act 1985 

and a load-out facility servicing mining projects in Cloncurry. These are all very important to people in 

my part of the world—in Thuringowa and North Queensland. They are integral to fixing the mess left by 

Labor and will go a long way to increasing state revenue. 

The Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection pledged funding for the likes of the Healthy 

Waterways Program and the employment of 40 additional Indigenous rangers. Issues raised by the 

committee included the protection of Queensland’s environment, which is important to our tourism 

industry, and mine water releases, with the members for South Brisbane and Bundamba finally 

addressing the appropriate minister. 

As a first-time MP participating in the estimates hearing on the AREC legislative committee, I can 

assure all Queenslanders that this government will be accountable for responsibly spending their hardearned 

taxes. I commend the report to the House. 

Mr MULHERIN (Mackay—ALP) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (8.30 pm): The Agriculture, 

Environment and Resources Committee was overly weighted towards government questions and 

showed that the Newman government is intent on using its massive majority to ride roughshod over due 

process. Furthermore, after a brief adjournment of the hearing, the committee allowed Minister McVeigh 

to make a second ‘opening statement’, which further chewed up valuable time that should have been 

devoted to proper scrutiny of the budget. This is a further indication of a government that is determined 

to quash scrutiny. 

It was refreshing to hear the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry talk up a number of 

projects in his portfolio initiated by the previous Labor government. The opposition finds it extremely 

troubling that some 45 full-time equivalent positions have been retrenched from the fire ant eradication 

program, particularly in light of the new infestation recently discovered in the Lockyer Valley. Moreover, it 

is worrying that the Newman government is refusing to fund the full $6 million in additional funding for 

the fire ant eradication program agreed to through the Standing Council on Primary Industries. This 

decision jeopardises the entire national cost-sharing agreement. The threat that fire ants pose to the 

Queensland agricultural sector is immense. The government’s short-sighted cost-cutting measures 

exacerbate that threat. 

The government’s decision not to proceed with the construction of a new, state-of-the-art 

biosecurity laboratory at James Cook University is reckless and irresponsible. It is interesting that, under 

questioning, the minister walked back from his previous statements that the project was entirely 

unfunded, recognising that a budget allocation of approximately $17 million had been made by the 

previous government. In response to a question on notice from the member for Dalrymple, the minister 

indicated that the transfer of biosecurity functions from the existing Oonoonba facility to Coopers Plains 

would cost less than $2.2 million. This is in direct contradiction to a ministerial briefing note released 

under right to information, which indicated the cost of upgrades to the Coopers Plains facility and to 

relocate it from Townsville was at least $10 million. Under questioning, the minister claimed that the 

figure of $10 million was an initial estimate which subsequent work by his department managed to 

reduce. The idea that the cost of upgrading the Coopers Plains facility could fall by a factor of five in just 

a matter of months is incredible. 

The opposition believes the minister should give a full parliamentary update on this project and 

detail the scope of the works planned for the Coopers Plains facility. Given the minister’s claim that the 

cost of those works has fallen by some $8 million, it is most likely that the government has significantly 

altered the scope of the works recommended by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. 

The decision to axe the JCU biosecurity lab significantly reduces North Queensland’s biosecurity 

capacity and the minister has ignored departmental advice on the required work at Coopers Plains. His 

decision will drastically reduce the biosecurity capacity of the entire state. 

In relation to fisheries, the opposition is concerned about the re-allocation of funding from the 

recreational use fee and does not believe it accords with the intent of the fee. It does not provide 

sufficient focus on recreational fishing activities. It is important to note that a number of programs have 

been defunded, including the recreational fishing enhancement and Fishcare volunteers program. 

It was telling that the minister refused to answer, or even properly consider, a question on the 

competition between the forestry and agricultural industries for the use of scarce land. This is a 

legitimate area of concern, and government planning decisions to privilege one industry over another


has the potential to greatly distort the Queensland economy away from the most efficient market 

allocation. In refusing to answer this question, the minister refused to rule out a return to the agrarian 

socialist tradition of the old National Party, which has always been a feature of Queensland conservative 

parties. 

In an answer to a question taken on notice during the hearing, the minister was forced to reveal 

that the Newman government’s massive job cuts will directly affect front-line service delivery in the 

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Under the current definition of a front-line employee, 

some 55 front-line staff have been fired. Even this does not show the full extent of these job cuts as the 

Newman government, in their zeal to fire as many public servants as possible, has fiddled with the 

definition of ‘front-line’. According to the definition used by the previous government, some 180 front-line 

positions will disappear from the department. 

Mr GIBSON (Gympie—LNP) (8.35 pm): I rise to make a contribution to this debate with regard to 

the examination by the Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee of the expenditure of the 

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines and 

the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. At the outset I give thanks to the three 

ministers who were involved for their professionalism and that of their directors-general and 

departmental staff who made themselves available to the committee. In all cases we found that they 

held themselves to an incredibly high standard and we thank them for that. 

I also put on record our thanks to the committee chair, the member for Lockyer, for doing a 

wonderful job. I also thank the new committee members who were involved—the new members from all 

sides of parliament. Whilst obviously there were some games being played, overall there was a desire 

to do what the estimates process was designed to do, and that is to examine the expenditure of 

government. 

At this time I make the point—and we have heard much from the Labor Party—that their 

ignorance of parliamentary procedure is nothing short of outstanding. They fail to recognise that it is the 

parliament’s role to hold the executive to account, and the parliament does that—both government and 

non-government members. It is appropriate for the non-government members to have over 50 per cent 

of the time, but it is also a requirement for the parliament—both government and non-government 

members—to hold the executive to account. The failure of the Labor Party to grasp that simple concept 

of the Westminster system highlights their ignorance of how parliamentary procedure works. That is 

evident in the way in which they have run this state as we now see the challenges. 

The examination of the various departments that we had the opportunity to undertake was 

comprehensive. The estimates process that we have now—the new design of portfolio based 

committees that sit throughout the whole year and come to examine at the time of estimates—has 

shown that there is a greater consolidation of corporate knowledge and we are able to utilise that, both 

government and non-government members, in examining expenditure. I do not intend to go through the 

various portfolio areas and their expenditure. That is outlined in the report as are the highlights of those 

various areas. 

I do wish to touch on a couple of areas that are pertinent to my electorate. I know that the people 

of Gympie have been particularly excited by the Newman government’s commitment to agriculture and 

tourism because they have a major impact on our area. Agriculture is an area in which my electorate 

has had a strong involvement. The commitment to doubling agricultural production is one that we 

recognise can occur. The history of Gympie is that in the past it was a mining area. We were very 

pleased to hear the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines and his departmental officers give a 

comprehensive review of the mine-capping program. Whilst no active mining is occurring in the area, 

from time to time as mine shafts collapse we find there is a need for the capping program to continue. It 

has been in place for a long time. Certainly the work that is carried out in that area is valued by all 

members of my community. 

Finally, I wish to touch upon the portfolio of Environment and Heritage Protection. Gympie has a 

great interest in both areas of this portfolio. In terms of heritage protection, we continue to preserve 

those buildings from the gold rush in the mid to late 1800s—a gold rush that saved the state of 

Queensland. My electorate also has a great affinity with the environment. We remember the days when 

Labor tried to destroy the Mary Valley and embarked on a process of environmental vandalism and 

ignoring the science. We commend the minister for his science based approach. Unlike what we saw 

with ideology from those opposite, we now have a minister who understands the importance of making 

policy decisions based on science. That is the way we need to move forward every time. 

I again thank all members of the committee. I thank our chair because without his guidance we 

would not have been able to go through the portfolios that we did in the time that was allocated to us. 

Mr KNUTH (Dalrymple—KAP) (8.40 pm): The foundation of the 2012 budget was the 

Commission of Audit conducted by former Treasurer Peter Costello which recommended to immediately 

reduce the size of the Public Service and cut government expenditure. The audit also recommended a 

continued privatisation and asset sale agenda. The Appropriation Bill 2012 endeavours to follow two of


those recommendations. This has led to the loss of 14,000 full-time workers and the abolition of a raft of 

programs that the government decided were redundant. I assume that the government is itching to 

follow the third recommendation, which is the sale of our remaining assets. 

Prior to the 2012 election the LNP stated that it would be Public Service friendly and reduce the 

Public Service through natural attrition, and it committed to retain services in rural and regional 

Queensland. Yet we have seen an unprecedented loss of services in rural and regional Queensland. 

During the AREC estimates hearing, I questioned the rationale of cutting funding from the farm financial 

assistance program, moving Townsville’s biosecurity lab to Coopers Plains and removing five positions 

from the Charters Towers Tropical Weeds Research Centre, amongst other things. 

I believe that the response to those questions, while fitting the government’s agenda of cutting 

costs, indicated there has been very little consideration of the broader economic and social costs of 

these decisions. The decision to close the Townsville Tropical and Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory 

has demonstrably not been fully evaluated. The minister has provided very few answers on how the 

government believes that the Coopers Plains facility is better placed to deal with an incursion of 

diseases such as foot-and-mouth in the Far North and Gulf Country. 

Modelling has indicated that a delayed response to a foot-and-mouth incursion could mean the 

difference between a contained outbreak in Queensland and devastation of the whole Australian lamb 

and beef market. In 2002 the DPI demonstrated that a worst case scenario would involve key beef and 

lamb export markets being closed for 15 months. The cost of a foot-and-mouth disease incursion would 

be between $8 billion and $13 billion of gross domestic product and the consequences would be felt 10 

years after the event. Even an isolated outbreak that was brought rapidly under control was estimated to 

potentially cost $3 billion of gross domestic product. 

The government promised to recognise agriculture as one of the four pillars of the Queensland 

economy, but it has demonstrated that it is not prepared to invest in protecting primary industries and is 

willing to expose Queensland to unacceptable levels of risk, all for the sake of a few dollars. The anger 

of the region is demonstrated by the petition I tabled yesterday with nearly 4,000 signatures calling for 

the retention of the Townsville Tropical and Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory facility in Townsville. The 

four members representing the Townsville area have been dodging, weaving and hiding to the point of 

invisibility. The four members representing the Townsville region should never call themselves 

representatives. Representatives would fight tooth and nail to stop a vital service being moved to 

Brisbane. Moving this essential front-line protection against disease outbreak in Far North Queensland 

to South-East Queensland is negligent. 

I also questioned the amount of water released for the Flinders River Agricultural Precinct. I 

welcome the initiative and the minister’s response; however, CSIRO studies have shown that a 

100,000-megalitre irrigation extraction from the Flinders River is just 2.1 per cent of the annual flow— 

just a drop. To attract investment to the region, stakeholders have indicated that there needs to be 

enough water to support the construction of food and fibre processing plants such as the $12 million 

cotton gin at Julia Creek. 

I also appreciate the fact that I had the opportunity to talk to the minister in relation to bats. I 

acknowledge that the minister has acted in good faith and has said that he is prepared to work with me, 

work with the council and direct his department to find solutions to the bat issue. The minister did come 

to Charters Towers and say that he will remove the bats by whatever means possible. The bats are still 

there. It was on the front page of the Charters Towers newspaper— 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Ruthenberg): Order! The member’s time has expired. 

Mr KNUTH: The minister has acted in good faith, instead of— 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member’s time has expired! 

Mr KNUTH: That is far greater than what has been offered in the past. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Dalrymple, I called you three times to cease speaking. 

Members, this chair needs to be respected. If members continue to disrespect the chair, I will talk with 

Madam Speaker. Please, members, respect other people in this chamber with regard to your time. 

Mr KNUTH: I withdraw those comments and I apologise. 

Mrs MADDERN (Maryborough—LNP) (8.46 pm): I rise to speak to report No. 11, titled 2012-13 

budget estimates, of the Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee, of which I am a member. 

I offer my thanks to all who contributed to the work of this committee. 

First I will address the dissenting report lodged by the member for South Brisbane. In her report 

the member has tried to demonstrate that the opposition, including the Independents, had been unfairly 

treated and denied the opportunity to cross-examine the minister and the department heads. I have 

carried out a count from the transcript of the number of questions that government and non-government 

members asked during the hearing. While I will not guarantee that the count is 100 per cent accurate,


my calculations show that the non-government members, comprising one-quarter of the committee, 

asked approximately double the number of questions asked by members of the government, and the 

majority of the non-government questions were asked by members of the Labor Party. So on that basis 

I do not think the member for South Brisbane’s contention of unfair treatment has any basis or credibility. 

Several of the issues which were investigated by the committee are of particular relevance to the 

Maryborough electorate. Maryborough is the headquarters for Hyne timber, which is the second largest 

timber-milling company in Australia. In addition, there are numbers of small timber millers and the 

supporting industries for the logging and carting of the timber. To Maryborough, the timber industry is 

highly significant. It was therefore pleasing to be advised by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and 

Forestry that the LNP government is working on a timber industry plan. The focus of the timber industry 

plan is to deal with current challenges and to develop a long-term plan to ensure the sustainability and 

viability of the timber industry. Nationally the timber industry is struggling with such issues as a high 

Australian dollar and low demand for timber product. 

The minister also advised that the department is currently working to reopen previously logged 

state forest that had been locked up by the former government. These forests had been sustainably 

logged for very extensive periods of time, yet timber is still available. I commend the timber industry plan 

and other supporting programs, including the First Home Owner Construction Grant and the removal of 

red tape in the Sustainable Planning Act and the appropriation of funding to support these programs. 

Agricultural primary production is one of the four pillars of the economy that the LNP is working to 

increase. Under the previous Labor government our robust state forests had been locked up to 

productive activities such as beekeeping and grazing and timber harvesting, as mentioned. In addition, 

activities such as quarrying and recreational uses can be carried out in an environmentally sustainable 

way while adding value to the economy. I have had both beekeepers and graziers approach me seeking 

to again access state forest to support their industries. As pointed out by Minister McVeigh, state forest 

areas of high conservation value will be maintained by the LNP government. 

One other area addressed by the committee related to the commitment by the LNP government 

to support grassroots environmental activities with a program called Everyone’s Environment grants. 

The Maryborough electorate has a number of very active environmental groups with a major focus on 

the Mary River and surrounding catchments. These groups include the Tiaro and District Landcare 

Group, the Greater Mary Association and the Burnett Mary Regional Group and they continue to work to 

stabilise the banks of the Mary River, to remove pests and weeds, to establish a koala corridor and to 

carry out research on the very unique Mary River turtle. The support of government grants of $3 million 

in this first year and $12 million over a three-year period shows just how committed this LNP 

government is to caring for the environment and to supporting the volunteers who carry out this valuable 

work. I know that at least one application has been made for a grant under this program and I am hoping 

that of the 200-plus applications received it will be one of the successful applicants. While the matters I 

have addressed are only a small portion of the matters considered by the committee, I believe it shows 

that the appropriation legislation as presented by the LNP government achieves the aims of fiscal 

responsibility while working to grow the economy and at the same time looking after the environment. I 

commend the bills to the House. 

Mrs MILLER (Bundamba—ALP) (8.50 pm): I rise to speak to the estimates committee report in 

relation to Natural Resources and Mines because I am the shadow minister for mines on behalf of the 

Australian Labor Party in this parliament. I want to talk briefly about a couple of issues, one of which 

relates to untreated water in mines going into the river systems, an issue which has been flagged in 

numerous media reports throughout Queensland, and also the fact that many people, particularly those 

in Central Queensland, believe that a deal was done between this government and the mining 

companies with regard to discharging water into waterways in relation to royalties. It was very sad that 

the minister dodged all of these questions in this regard. In fact, in August this year the Rockhampton 

Regional Council raised the issue in relation to untreated water in mines. It is a very serious issue. It is a 

very serious issue for mining companies, it is a very serious issue for the environment movement and it 

is a very serious issue for local councils as well. It is my view that we were treated with absolute 

contempt during that estimates committee hearing. 

Mr Powell interjected. 

Mrs MILLER: I take the interjection from the environment minister. All we had on that day was 

ping-pong: it was ping-pong between the Minister for Mines and the Minister for Environment. That was 

what it was. It was ministerial ping-pong between you and neither of you took any responsibility. Neither 

of you took any responsibility at all. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Ruthenberg): Order! Member for Bundamba, please address your 


Mrs MILLER: Thank you very much, and I think the same should go for them. In relation to— 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Bundamba—


Mrs MILLER: Yes? 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:—is that a reflection on the chair? 

Mrs MILLER: No, it is not. There would be no-one in this parliament more dedicated to mine 

safety than me. My great-grandfather was killed in an Ipswich coalmine. It is something that my family 

has lived with forever in terms of mine safety. My father himself was trapped down coalmines in Ipswich 

several times. We have had friends, uncles, grandfathers and many people who suffered from mining 

injuries down those mines in Ipswich. It is something that is very close to my heart and it is close to my 

family’s heart. I am very pleased that the minister has put mine safety at the front of the agenda of this 

government. It is something that we always must have at the front of coalmining in particular and it is 

something that the CFMEU Mining and Energy Division puts significant resources towards as well. 

I am also very proud to have SIMTARS, the Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station, 

located in my electorate. Harrow and the boys do an absolutely wonderful job trying to keep not only the 

coalmines throughout Queensland safe but also coalmines throughout the world safe. Something that 

really should be acknowledged by all governments throughout Australia is the contribution that 

SIMTARS makes around the world to coalmining safety. In fact, a lot of the technology that has been 

developed at SIMTARS is exported around the world because it is actually so good. The Commissioner 

for Mine Safety and Harrow and all of the boys and girls at SIMTARS do an absolutely fantastic job. 

Mr Cripps: We went through it in detail. 

Mrs MILLER: Yes, we did and I just want to put on record our support for SIMTARS and say that 

we would always want to see that the number of public servants who work at SIMTARS remain. The 

Commissioner for Mine Safety also spoke in relation to smoking down mines. I think he mentioned one 

case about that. We must always be forever vigilant in relation to mine safety. It is my clear view that we 

can never go back to the disasters that occurred throughout history, including one in Ipswich. The 

particular one in Ipswich that I certainly remember was the Box Flat mining disaster and several other 

incidents that occurred where people were blown up. In fact, many people in this parliament wonder why 

I get so worked up about mine safety, but I tell you what: you never, ever forget when your father is 

trapped down a coalmine and he has written a message in chalk to his family saying goodbye until the 

boys dig him out. I commend this report to the House. 

Hon. AC POWELL (Glass House—LNP) (Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection) 

(8.55 pm): I, too, rise to address report No. 11 of the Agriculture, Resources and Environment 

Committee as it pertains to the 2012-13 budget estimates. From the outset I acknowledge the chair, Ian 

Rickuss, the member for Lockyer, all of the committee members and particularly the committee staff. 

Again, I draw particular attention to Rob Hansen as the committee research director. I had wanted to 

spend this time talking about a number of things. I wanted to speak about how this government 

continues to remain committed to strong environmental regulation that supports long-term sustainable 

economic growth in this state. I had wanted to talk about how this budget shows that you can be fiscally 

prudent, that you can be pro environment and—heaven forbid—that you can also be pro business and 

that these elements are not mutually exclusive. I had wanted to talk about how my department has 

looked at better ways to do its business through streamlining and reform, how we have looked at ways 

to do more with less and to engage and utilise our very talented people to focus on positive 

environmental outcomes rather than short-sighted environmental policies to garner Greens preferences. 

Rather, I am compelled to focus on the dissenting report made by the member for South Brisbane 

and some of the comments just made by the member for Bundamba because they are pure farcical 

fiction. There is nothing in this dissenting report that can be in any way based on anything that was 

actually discussed at the estimates hearing itself. The member for Gympie recently spoke about the 

opposition’s inability or failure to grasp simple concepts, and I am again drawn to the dissenting report to 

demonstrate just how true that is. The member for South Brisbane raises under the subheading 

‘Protecting the Great Barrier Reef—no one’s responsible’ the imputation that this government is not 

interested in protecting the Great Barrier Reef. No-one is responsible? Let me say that there are at least 

three, if not four, ministers in this cabinet in the Newman LNP government who have a very important 

role in ensuring that the Great Barrier Reef—that huge tourist boon for our great state, not to mention 

the wonderful environmental and natural asset that it is—continues to be protected. I have a role as the 

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection. My colleague the Minister for Natural Resources and 

Mines has a role. Why? He is the Minister for Natural Resources. He works with the natural resource 

management groups in each of the bioregions around the state. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries 

and Forestry has a responsibility. Why? He is responsible for fish habitats and fisheries. 

Mr Elmes: He’s not! 

Mr POWELL: He is, member for Noosa. Heaven forbid, we also have a Minister for Science, 

Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts. Why? She is the minister for science. The scientists 

responsible for monitoring water quality in the Great Barrier Reef catchment sit within that minister’s 

portfolio.


Do members know what the difference is? Ministers in the Newman LNP government talk to each 

other. Heaven forbid, our departments talk to each other! Do members know why? We know that 

through partnerships we will deliver far better outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef than the Labor Party 

ever could. Another reason the agriculture minister is involved is that he knows that, by working with me, 

we can deliver economic benefits to agricultural production in the Great Barrier Reef catchment while 

delivering environmental outcomes. 

Similarly, those opposite could not get their heads around the fact that planning sits with the 

planning minister. Heaven forbid, planning sits with the planning minister! Are there environmental 

responsibilities? You bet. As the environment minister I have input into coastal planning and, similarly, 

protecting Cape York. The member for South Brisbane cannot understand that this government has 

chosen to ensure that we get the balance right on the cape—managing economic development with 

conservation, with the protection of the environment, through a statutory regional plan. Who has 

responsibility for statutory regional planning? The Deputy Premier does. Does that mean that my 

responsibilities are abdicated? Not at all. It means that I work alongside my cabinet colleagues to 

ensure that we get the balance right. 

If only I had more time to talk about mine water. The members opposite seem to think that it is 

something that has only recently occurred. It occurred each and every day under the ALP Bligh Labor 

government and we will continue to monitor that with the most judicious environmental standards 

possible. 


Hon. AP CRIPPS (Hinchinbrook—LNP) (Minister for Natural Resources and Mines) (9.00 pm): I 

would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight on a number of issues raised in the 

Agriculture, Resources and Environment Committee report by the Labor opposition and the member for 

Dalrymple. Unfortunately, much of the time set aside for questions relating to the budget for the 

Department of Natural Resources and Mines was wasted by the opposition repeatedly asking questions 

that related to matters outside my portfolio. That was despite the efforts of the committee chair, the 

member for Lockyer, to clearly explain at the start of the estimates hearing that questions ought to relate 

to the portfolio of Natural Resources and Mines only. 

The clearest example of the opposition’s ignorance of portfolio responsibilities was shown by 

repeated questions from the member for Bundamba regarding the release of water from mines. As I 

attempted to point out to the opposition committee members on a number of occasions during the 

hearing, the system whereby mines are granted permits to discharge water under environmental 

authorities is managed by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. As we see in this 

chamber so regularly, the opposition had simply failed to do its homework and the questions directed to 

me in relation to this issue were out of order. Clearly, the truth about portfolio responsibilities ruined the 

member for Bundamba’s and the member for South Brisbane’s day. The Labor members would have 

been even more upset by the very detailed response in relation to the issue of mine water discharges by 

my colleague the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection later that day during his estimates 

hearing. 

The opposition also unsuccessfully attempted through the estimates hearing to imply that there 

was undue influence exerted on the director-general of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines 

with respect to a review of prosecutions and penalties under the Vegetation Management Act. The 

director-general made it clear that his decision to conduct a review was based on data indicating 

escalations in penalties from successful prosecutions and he was satisfied that that data warranted 

further investigation. The opposition’s conspiracy theory went nowhere, leaving them bitter and twisted 

and disappointed, as it did on the issue of mine safety. 

The member for Bundamba questioned the Newman government’s commitment to quarantine 

Mines Inspectorate staff in the Department of Natural Resources and Mines from the cost-savings 

initiatives in the 2012-13 budget. Once again, I informed the member for Bundamba that there had been 

no positions cut from the Mines Inspectorate that undertake the enforcement of mine safety and health 

legislation in Queensland mines. In fact, I can confirm that the number of mines inspectors in 

Queensland will be boosted by two inspectors within a matter of weeks as a result of the proactive 

recruitment strategies employed by the mining safety and health area of the department.* 

I also welcomed the opportunity provided during the estimates hearing to respond to a question 

from the member for Dalrymple regarding the amount of water to be released in the Flinders and Gilbert 

River catchments for the development of an irrigated agriculture industry in north-west Queensland. It is 

unfortunate that the member for Dalrymple failed to see the significance of this initiative. I listened 

carefully to stakeholders and announced an extension to the closing date for tenders to purchase water 

under this release process. Landholders had until 5 pm on 26 October this year to submit tenders. 

Where the Bligh government procrastinated, the Newman government has acted to support the 

development of an irrigated agriculture industry in the north-west of this state. We have taken the 

positive step of releasing all of the unallocated water available in the general reserve within the Flinders 

and Gilbert River catchments in the current water resource plan for the gulf.


The member for Dalrymple was also reminded of this government’s commitment to review the 

amount of water released as soon as is practicable if the local agricultural sector demonstrates a 

commitment to develop their properties in a sustainable fashion. The Newman government’s actions to 

boost opportunities for irrigated agriculture in the north-west should be applauded by local MPs from 

that region rather than them continuing to indulge in this predictable and lazy political rhetoric. 

I would like to thank the member for Lockyer, the chairman of the committee, for his diligence 

during his chairmanship of the committee. I would also like to thank the government members of the 

committee who put sensible questions to the ministers involved, the parliamentary staff who were 

extremely helpful throughout the day and, of course, the departmental officers and ministerial staff who 

supported me in preparation for the estimates committee hearing. 


Education and Innovation Committee 

Report 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Ruthenberg): The question is— 

That the report of the Education and Innovation Committee be adopted. 

Mrs MENKENS (Burdekin—LNP) (9.06 pm): I am delighted to speak to report No. 10 of the 

Education and Innovation Committee titled Consideration of 2012-13 portfolio budget estimates. On 

behalf of the committee may I sincerely thank Ministers Langbroek and Bates, their directors-general 

and other departmental staff as well as the CEOs of the various GOCs for their assistance and 

contribution to this estimates process. However, the really hard work done on behalf of the committee is 

by the research staff. I commend and thank Ms Bernice Watson, who is the research director, and 

Ms Emily Booth and Ms Carolyn Heffernan for their untiring and cheerful assistance at all times. I also 

thank the members of the committee and the three visiting members for their participation in what was at 

times a robust but very meaningful discussion. 

This report presents a summary of the committee’s examination of the budget estimates for the 

2012-13 financial year. In the area of education, the minister outlined this government’s provision of 

education services in 2012 in 1,239 state schools to more than 496,100 students across Queensland. 

That clearly outlined how important education is to this government and the various new initiatives that 

were election promises and which are being delivered by this government. 

Among those initiatives is the provision of up to 270 additional teachers, teacher aides and 

support staff which, of course, is very welcome. Front-line staff are of the highest priority and this has 

been demonstrated when we see that 95 per cent of DETE employees work in schools and TAFEs with 

the remainder working in central and regional offices. It was also important to note the minister’s 

opening statement where he said— 

The Premier ... made a very clear statement that education would no longer be siloed as its own consideration. It would be given 

a story and the story is that from the moment a child begins their educational journey in one of our kindergartens to the moment 

that they are employed in the Queensland economy this government is committed to giving them the basic skills, pathways and 

qualifications to succeed in their chosen career. 

This is just so important. The delivery of education is an essential part of this government and to 

all of us it is a lifelong experience. There are 46 schools and two TAFE colleges in my electorate of 

Burdekin. I am just sorry that distance and time precludes spending more time at these schools. 

Teachers are some of our most hardworking professional people and their dedication never ceases to 

amaze me. Nine o’clock until three o’clock is only the delivery time for teachers; preparation is seven 

days a week. Regardless of the benefits for education that the new national curriculum will bring, the 

workload on teachers is simply enormous as they implement this new system. 

I salute them all. Our teachers must never be undervalued. Last week I was privileged to attend 

the Confucius classroom opening at William Ross State High School. It was a wonderful day with a 

concert from the students in Chinese. We saw lion dancers and we saw the opening of two classrooms. 

The work that those teachers had done in authentic decorations in the classrooms was awesome. One 

of the aims of the day was to increase students’ enthusiasm to study Chinese. I have no doubt that that 

will occur. 

Getting back to the estimates report, the second half was devoted to the area of science, 

information technology, innovation and the arts. The minister outlined that this is a new department and 

is focused on delivering improved services to Queenslanders and to other government agencies. It was 

good to note her comments that the government will be working with businesses to embrace the digital 

economy, partnering with universities and collaborating with researchers as well as promoting the arts 

sector. It was particularly instructive to note that the department is currently working through the first 

ever whole-of-government IT audit with the focus to identify savings and waste as well as performance


and accountability issues. I believe this will be very challenging. With changing technology there will be 

many state-of-the-art new initiatives that this department will be able to deliver in the future. It will be a 

customer focused process. I look forward to what no doubt will be an exciting era. 

I note the very long statement of reservations put into this report by the opposition, which is their 

right, but I was disappointed at the sometimes very personal attacks and approaches from the 

opposition both in the statement of reservations and in questioning. I believe the people of Queensland 

are not impressed by muckraking. They are much more impressed by the delivery of fiscally sound 

government which the opposition should be part of. 

I would like to particularly commend the Treasurer, the Hon. Tim Nicholls, for a very sound budget 

delivered under extremely difficult challenges after the legacy left by the Labor Party. This has been a 

very difficult six months for the Premier and ministers and I sincerely congratulate them all for their solid 

work. 

Ms PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (9.11 pm): At the outset I thank the 

chair and members of the committee for participating in this Education and Innovation Committee’s 

estimates hearing. I will be restricting my comments to the education component of the committee’s 

deliberations. The minister, when asked in the abstract about the laudable goal contained in the 

Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 to provide universal access to high-quality state education, 

gave all the right answers. He waxed lyrical about the provision of high-quality education across regional 

Queensland. However, given the specifics of the children enrolled in the travelling show school, the 

matter was entirely different. He was not so concerned about those children’s right to the high-quality 

education they have been receiving. The minister actually gave poor attendance records and their poor 

NAPLAN results as a reason for closing the school. Yet in the reading category for the year 3 cohort the 

Queensland School for Travelling Show Children received a higher score than nine other Queensland 

schools. I hope the minister is not threatening to close those schools also because of poor NAPLAN 

results. 

No-one would doubt that the circumstances of the children attending the travelling show school 

are unusual to say the least. I would have thought that a better option would be to provide the additional 

support that was necessary to bring those results up to par with the rest of the state. The minister 

admitted that he had held meetings with representatives of the school, but what he failed to deny when 

asked was the allegation made by those present at the meeting that his chief of staff said in a meeting 

with those representatives, ‘Why should we keep you open when you have been slagging us off in the 

media?’ 

Another disturbing feature of the minister’s answering of questions was his apparent lack of 

knowledge of the legislative requirements for closure of a school in Queensland. He seemed totally 

unaware that there is a legislative requirement for consultation to occur with the school community. He 

seemed totally oblivious to the fact that if the minister is proposing to close a school, the minister must 

publish a notice about the proposal in the Queensland Government Gazette. He also seemed totally 

unfamiliar with the requirement for the gazettal notice to be published at least six months prior to any 

school closure, as did his director-general. But given some time and the advice of his department the 

minister was able to come back to the committee later to advise that even though the school closure 

would not be gazetted six months before the school closed at the end of the school year this year, the 

school will cease operations at the end of this year, but the official closure will take effect from a date at 

least six months after publication of the notice in the gazette. That is certainly some sleight of hand on 

the part of the minister. I wonder who would be able to distinguish between a school closure and a 

cessation of operation of a school. I think they would look pretty much the same to me, but one would 

comply with the legislation and the other would not. 

On a more positive note, I was excited by the advice from the director-general that the kindy 

participation rate had reached 68 per cent last year with a goal of 65 per cent under the national 

partnership agreement. That is an amazing achievement when we consider that in 2009 the kindy 

participation rate in Queensland was only 29 per cent. I am pleased that both the minister and the 

director-general acknowledge this achievement. The director-general described kindy as a wonderful 

story for Queensland and I would have to agree. This would certainly be one of the achievements of the 

previous Labor government of which we are most proud. 

I want the minister to know that we put the groundwork in in building these new kindies, in 

approving long day-care centres to deliver a kindy program and to employ qualified kindy teachers. We 

will be looking to him to deliver the final targets under the national partnership agreement in the next 

couple of years. 

Mr BENNETT (Burnett—LNP) (9.15 pm): It is my pleasure, after my first estimates, to support the 

adoption of the report of the Education and Innovation Committee. It was a pleasure to participate as 

part of the committee. At the outset I express my gratitude for the cooperation of all of the members of 

the committee, including the chair Rosemary Menkens. I also express my thanks to the ministers who 

appeared before the committee, their respective directors-general and other officers, all of whom


conducted themselves, in my view, with the appropriate dignity and transparency that was expected. I 

acknowledge the work done by Ms Bernice Watson, Ms Emily Booth and Ms Carolyn Heffernan, all 

research officers to parliament. The portfolios covered included those of the Department of Education, 

Training and Employment and the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the 

Arts. These are very important economic portfolios. These portfolios are vital to the economic wellbeing 

and growth of our state. They are also very important because they relate to the future economic, social 

and cultural wellbeing of our citizens, particularly in relation to education, skills and training. 

The portfolios covered by this committee’s responsibilities are broad and interesting, but also vital 

in terms of the interests of Queensland. Education is key to the government’s belief in the attainment of 

social justice and its belief that every Queenslander has the right to fulfil their potential in life. The 

expenditure and commitments in the budget highlight the government’s commitment to delivering for 

those young and impressionable in our community. One of the most important challenges we face in this 

term of parliament is the training of our young people. The figures that are coming out of Wide Bay 

Burnett and across Queensland in terms of the skilled workforce we require in the state are deliverable 

with action. In some areas in Queensland we have a youth unemployment rate of more than 20 per 

cent. This is an indictment on the previous Labor government. Quite rightly the budget was a once-in-ageneration 

budget and well overdue. That is why investment of up to $86 million over six years to 

support 10,000 additional apprentices and investment of $10 million to fund 500 university scholarships 

for women in traditionally male dominated fields or in areas experiencing skills shortages administered 

by Skills Queensland are welcomed. The estimates process allowed review of Skills Queensland and 

the Skills and Training Taskforce and incentives to attract and keep apprentices. 

In terms of my electorate, I was very pleased that the relevant ministers made reference to my 

need for a review of schooling in Queensland. We welcome the Queensland Schools Plan 

Commission’s review of the need for a state high school at Bargara. This review will allow my 

community a clear outline on the process and possible timelines. Our children are our most vulnerable 

Queenslanders. It was pleasing to receive clear and important policies on what is being done to help 

protect them from abuse and sexual assault. In addition the minister provided a concise update to the 

committee on how we are addressing bullying in our schools. 

The government’s commitment to disability services in regional Queensland was reiterated, in 

particular the acknowledgment of the need for the provision of staff to assist students with autism 

spectrum disorder. The Advancing Our Schools Maintenance Fund, which will allow state school 

parents and citizens organisations to apply for up to $160,000 to fix existing priority maintenance issues 

at their schools, will be great for education outcomes and providing appropriate learning environments 

for our students. I remind the House that government service delivery can be conducted by QBuild, 

especially when there is a need to manage risk. I welcome the contestability improvements with the 

Department of Public works for this organisation. The new asbestos removal initiatives are welcomed 

and the best agency to deliver this important function for government is QBuild. 

The areas of responsibility of the Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the 

Arts are administered through the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the 

Arts and a number of statutory authorities and entities. The statutory authorities are the Queensland Art 

Gallery, the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Performing Arts Trust, the Queensland Theatre 

Company and the State Library of Queensland, Library Board of Queensland. The two entities are the 

Queensland Government Chief Information Office and the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist. The 

four companies supported by the Arts portfolio are the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts, Major 

Brisbane Festivals, Screen Queensland and the Queensland Music Festival. As part of the committee, it 

was pleasing to be able to review the budget highlights for the Department of Science, Information 

Technology, Innovation and the Arts. A highlight was the establishment of the arts advisory board. 

I want to say something about the performance of the estimates committee and the claims made 

today by the member for Bundamba about the time allocated. I felt a little embarrassed about that. Our 

committee, with input from the sensible members from the opposition, decided the way the process was 

to work. I acknowledge the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Opposition for the 

great way that they worked on the committee. The bipartisan spirit of the committee was excellent. 

Therefore, I was very disturbed and disappointed that our estimates committee lost its way with 

verballing of the ministers and staff and verballing of the committee chair. The committee system is 

valuable and it needs to be treated with respect in the future. Again I congratulate the ministers and staff 

and look forward to the results from this budget. 

Mr BOOTHMAN (Albert—LNP) (9.20 pm): I wish to thank both ministers and the departments for 

their informative responses to the committee’s questions on Tuesday 16 October. I also wish to thank 

my fellow committee members, the committee chair, Rosemary Menkens, and the research staff, 

Bernice, Emily and Carolyn, for their help and assistance. It is truly an honour to be a member of the 

Education and Innovation Committee and participate in designing the future learning outcomes of young 

minds. Education is the sum of all minds, past and present, to create prosperity for those willing to learn.


The electorate of Albert is positioned in the heart of the northern Gold Coast growth corridor and 

southern Logan City. Recently, I was privy to the forecast expected growth of this region by the Gold 

Coast City Council. Those figures suggest that the population is expected to triple between now and 

2030. To cater for this growth, we need to start preparing now. The Minister for Education has 

highlighted the importance of building our future and this government has shown its commitment 

through the Building Our Future Schools Fund. This fund will allocate $115 million over the next four 

years, with $328 million being allocated for school infrastructure in 2012-13. This commitment is 

verifiable through the future construction of additional permanent classrooms at the Norfolk Village State 

School, which is located in the seat of Albert. 

I draw the attention of the parliament to the minister’s comments in regard to the establishment of 

the Schools Planning Commission and how it will work. At the hearing, the minister said— 

The first is an analysis of future population trends and school capacity and their potential impact on capital funding needs of the 

school sectors to produce a Queensland schools infrastructure demand map—something that has not been done before. 

Finally, we have a government that is planning for the future. 

Vocational education and training is making a real difference for our youth. Building education 

pathways to meet demand is crucial for potential employment. Every parent wants the best for their 

children and the knowledge that our children are obtaining certifications in viable career paths gives us a 

lot of comfort. As I said, we all want the best for our kids. Vocational education and training in schools is 

about getting the right apprenticeship, traineeship or course of study that will lead to further education at 

TAFE or university. I am very pleased to hear that this issue is being actively pursued by the minister 

and the director-general for better outcomes for Queensland students. This is making a real difference 

for schools such as Upper Coomera State College, which is creating real pathways to university. 

Building strong foundations for education is crucial. However, ensuring business has the ability to 

provide opportunities for our future leaders is also important. To this end, I am pleased to hear our 

government is addressing the need to reduce red tape for businesses in Queensland. Our commitment 

is evident in the increase in the payroll tax threshold. This threshold will increase from $1 million to 

$1.6 million over six years, which has the potential to help 20,000 businesses and support thousands of 

new jobs. As Albert is the home of the tradie, an initiative such as this has the potential to help builders, 

carpenters, plumbers, electricians and other small to medium operators, once again showing the 

Newman government’s commitment to Albert families. 

Another issue of concern expressed to me by residents of Albert is the future of our agricultural 

production. The question I hear most is, where will our future food come from? The Minister for Science 

and Information Technology recognises this resource and has highlighted the government’s 

commitment through the agricultural land audit, which will identify land important to current and future 

agricultural production needs. This audit will be presented in state-wide and regional formats by March 

2013. Agriculture was a key election platform promise at the last election and I am pleased that the 

Newman government continues to plan for the future of our four-pillar economy. Again I thank the 

minister and my fellow committee members for a very informative day. 

Mr LATTER (Waterford—LNP) (9.25 pm): I start by thanking the Minister for Education, Training 

and Employment, Minister Langbroek, the Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and 

the Arts, Minister Bates, their respective directors-general and, indeed, all parties who made themselves 

available to the estimates committee process. I also thank and acknowledge the other members of the 

Education and Innovation Committee, the honourable members for Albert, Burdekin, Burnett, Inala, 

Logan, Lytton and Mackay. Of course, it would be remiss of me not to commend our support team, 

Bernice Watson, Emily Booth and Carolyn Heffernan, for their contributions and ongoing support. 

It is with absolute pleasure—and I consider it a tremendous honour—that I sit on this particular 

committee. I do not take lightly the responsibilities of the committee. This system of governance allows 

us, as members of parliament and representatives of the community at large, to hold to account the 

fiscal allocation and policy direction of the portfolios by the cabinet and that should never be taken 

lightly. The availability of funding is a significant concern and fiscal management is a priority of this 

government. However, despite that, I am delighted to say that each of the ministers was able to and no 

doubt will continue to demonstrate a clear direction in terms of delivering efficiencies in their respective 

portfolios to maintain service provision and meet public expectation. 

I make no secret of the fact that I am fairly passionate about my schools and education in general. 

It was a particular delight to hear that this government will be investing in the provision of technology for 

special needs education. This consideration will be welcomed by schools like Marsden State High 

School and Waterford Primary, which invest a great deal of time and money to provide education 

outcomes for special needs children, among other great programs that they deliver in their curriculum. In 

terms of the utilisation of technology in the advancement of education, I look forward to the rollout of e- 

kindy. It is my great hope that the provision of online services will help those disadvantaged by distance 

to enjoy the benefits afforded to children through pre-prep learning opportunities. Indeed, the


government’s provision of $200 million in order to address the inherent maintenance issues across 

Queensland schools is a very welcome addition to the government’s plan for driving progress across 

this great state. 

This is the time of year when schools celebrate the successes of their students. Recently I have 

been privileged to attend awards nights for some of my schools, including Trinity College and Marsden 

State High School. I have been able to attend showcase awards evenings and art fairs, such as that 

held by St Joseph’s Tobruk. I also note that the Beenleigh and Loganlea high schools run award-winning 

agricultural programs. What a pleasure it was to see the students of Loganlea State High School and 

their prized livestock at the Holmview Central Shopping Centre a couple of weeks ago—although not as 

burgers, I might add. 

I wish to stress how impressed I am with the calibre of the art, the calibre of students and the 

calibre of programs being run by the schools in my electorate and, no doubt, in schools across 

Queensland. I have engaged with teachers, administrators, union reps from the Queensland Teachers 

Union, members of my local parents and citizens and parents and friends committees, and even 

regional officers of the Department of Education, Training and Employment, all of whom have 

demonstrated a passion for this field and a desire to continue to be innovative in the pursuit of 

excellence. 

While it goes without saying that our schools play a huge part in the future of our youth, I will say 

that it is often the case that our schools play a central and pivotal role in our communities. It is for all the 

aforementioned that I particularly enjoy my participation on this committee and take very seriously the 

responsibilities of that role. It is for the very clear and committed direction that Minister Langbroek and 

Director-General Ms Julie Grantham bring to their portfolio and/or department that I commend them. I 

thank the government for remaining committed to education. 

Mr MULHERIN (Mackay—ALP) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (9.30 pm): I would like to 

congratulate the chair on the way she conducted the estimates process. I would also like to thank the 

estimates committee secretariat for the hard work and effort they put into making sure that the scrutiny 

of the budget was carried out in a way that enabled members of this chamber an opportunity to question 

the executive. I would like to comment now on the estimates hearing. 

When the minister was asked what employment programs were still being run other than a phone 

line for retrenched public servants, the minister was not able to outline any. This follows cuts to 

employment programs, including Skilling Queenslanders for Work, of $287.7 million over four years. 

The minister could only point to the LNP’s four per cent unemployment target which is not included as a 

budget target anywhere in the minister’s Service Delivery Statements. When asked about why there 

was no four per cent unemployment target set out in the budget papers, the minister went on a tirade 

against the previous government without providing an answer. 

In response to questions from the opposition leader, the director-general of education advised 

that the Deloitte Access Economics report on the evaluation of Skilling Queenslanders for Work was 

received one week after making a decision to cut the program. The director-general confirmed that there 

was knowledge of the report being prepared prior to the decision to axe the program. This is 

symptomatic of a rushed policy process under the LNP government which is based on ideology rather 

than evidence. 

The minister in an answer to non-government question on notice No. 1 even highlighted the 

achievements of the program, including having assisted 116,836 disadvantaged job seekers into 

employment from July 2007 to 30 June 2012. The minister further stated that no-one questions the 

worthiness of the programs. The minister’s only justification provided for cutting employment programs 

was that he believed the Commonwealth to be responsible for employment while maintaining it in his 

ministerial title. 

The minister repeatedly told the committee that the participation rate in the workforce had 

increased. This is despite the participation rate in September being the lowest since April 2006 as set 

out on the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Queensland Treasury websites. When asked about this, 

the minister pointed out he was referring to the national participation rate and not Queensland’s despite 

his previous comments being in the context of Queensland. 

The minister was then asked what Treasury’s projected employment growth is for this financial 

year and the projected unemployment rate in four years. Both these figures are clearly set out on page 

34 of Budget Paper No. 2. Despite the public availability of these figures and how crucial they are to 

understanding employment and the LNP’s four per cent unemployment target, the minister was unable 

to answer either of these questions or even direct to where the figures are located in the budget papers. 

The minister was asked to provide advice on how many jobs would need to be created within the 

final two years of the LNP’s four per cent unemployment target for it to be met. Treasury currently 

project an unemployment rate in four years time of 5¼ per cent. The minister responded by refusing to 

take the question on notice and then referring to a report by the Commonwealth Department of


Education, Employment and Workplace Relations which contained employment forecasts over the next 

five years. The LNP’s unemployment target is over six years and the number of jobs that would need to 

be created to lower unemployment from 5¼ per cent to four per cent over the final two years remains a 

mystery. 

The minister was asked what plan he had to lower unemployment beyond hoping for the factors 

outlined in the budget of a weakening Australian dollar and a global economic recovery. The minister 

was unable to provide any practical solutions beyond hollow rhetoric about how much he talks to the 

Treasurer after earlier saying he did not know unemployment figures because that was the Treasurer’s 

responsibility. He is the minister for employment. 

The estimates hearing into the portfolio of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the 

Arts highlighted that the minister charged with managing these important areas of responsibility is either 

ignorant of or incapable of understanding the major issues. The minister’s answers to questions on 

notice revealed cuts of more than $25 million in 2012-13 to grants programs in her department. The 

majority of the cuts came in programs designed to boost innovation. The minister failed to provide the 

requested information in response to non-government question on notice No. 4. This is in contrast to 

some other ministers who did manage to provide a list of job titles and regions for positions abolished in 

their own departments. 


Mr PUCCI (Logan—LNP) (9.35 pm): I rise to speak as a member of the parliamentary Education 

and Innovation Committee with regard to the recent 2012 budget estimates hearings. The committee 

covered a broad range of issues, all of which are designed to address the critical issues facing our state. 

I commend the Minister for Education, Training and Employment, the Hon. John-Paul Langbroek, and 

the Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, the Hon. Ros Bates, along 

with their respective ministerial and departmental staff, the parliamentary committee staff and my 

honourable colleagues whose professional execution of their duties ensured that the nuts and bolts of 

the recent budgetary process were undertaken so that all Queenslanders are the beneficiaries. 

For too long under the former government superficial and extravagant measures were common 

practice. In their pursuit for opinion polls and quick fixes, critical areas were overlooked and our state 

began to lag behind the rest of the nation. This flawed approach to governance had to end and the 

people of Queensland knew it. 

Throughout the estimates hearings our committee heard how the departments, under the 

stewardship of the respective ministers, will not only fix those flaws but make Queensland the leading 

state in our Federation. The most critical moment in anyone’s academic development is the formative 

years of primary school. Here the fundamental skills are delivered and developed, enabling our students 

the means and tools to undertake the rigours of secondary and tertiary training. This government has 

recognised this need by providing over the next three years up to 600 additional prep teacher aides to 

schools in most need. 

This significant investment in our children’s future received additional support through our 

governments Getting the Basics Right—Literacy and Numeracy grants. The grants are targeted at 

providing much needed support for literacy and numeracy programs within our schools, but, most of all, 

empowering each individual school to utilise these funds as they see fit to achieve the best results for 

our students as they transition into their academic careers. 

I further welcome the allocation of funds in the first round of grants to six schools within my 

electorate. It has taken 20 years and a new LNP government to bring about the attention and support 

our education system rightfully deserves. The P&Cs of the schools in Logan are also very happy to 

know they will receive up to $160,000 to tackle the much needed repairs necessary for these schools 

due to the lack of care and attention by the former Labor government. I cannot begin to contemplate the 

perilous situation our schools would have found themselves in if Labor—without a ‘u’—were re-elected. 

Whilst before the committee, the honourable minister also outlined the steps this government will 

take to address the situation regarding the performance results from the NAPLAN tests. The minister 

outlined how the results of the assessment highlighted areas that we need to improve, but also that, by 

OECD standards, we are one of the highest performing areas in the OECD. 

The minister also outlined our government’s efforts to close the gap outlined by the Council of 

Australian Governments, with long-term objectives in place to dramatically reduce the void, within the 

decade, in the fields of reading, writing and numeracy that are present amongst Indigenous students. 

Also outlined by the minister, we will continue to support the schools and their communities and focus on 

boosting attendance, literacy and numeracy and assisting with Indigenous students’ transition into 

secondary schooling, the work force or further study. This is a tough challenge and requires the support


of the broader community. With the assistance of students, teachers, trade providers and families—and 

backed by a strong proactive government with clear-cut and pragmatic action plans—we will achieve 

our goal and we will make Queensland a greater state. 

Our committee also reviewed our government’s budgetary commitments to the development of 

the scientific, innovative, IT and artistic sectors. I would also like to take the opportunity to acknowledge 

the dedication and commitment shown to her duty by the minister by sitting before the committee 

despite obviously recovering from a serious medical procedure. 

During the hearings the need for our state to evaluate our current strengths and weakness was 

identified. From that, our government has undertaken the necessary steps, in collaboration with our 

scientific and academic institutions across the broader community, to better address the current factors 

and pre-empt future issues that may afflict our state. This level of support and practical investment as 

demonstrated throughout the hearings reinforces the drastic level of neglect left behind by our former 

government. Once again it takes a conservative government to get the job done. 

It staggers the mind to think that after 20 years the former government has little, if anything, to 

show besides the long-lasting legacy of debt and hypocrisy. It makes me think that the bad old days of 

the Bligh Labor government was nothing more than an emulation of Emperor Nero and the old parable 

idiom of fiddling while the Queensland economy burned. I support and commend the steps our 

government is taking to get our state back on track. After being in government for over six months we 

have achieved so much and we are on track to achieve even more. I commend this bill to the House. 

Ms TRAD (South Brisbane—ALP) (9.40 pm): I rise to speak on the Education and Innovation 

Committee estimates report and specifically raise serious concerns about Queensland’s most 

incompetent minister—the Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts. The 

minister used the estimates hearing as another occasion in which she could denigrate the arts and 

Queensland artists. It is a sad fact that Queensland now has an arts minister who does not like or even 

appreciate art. Even by the minister’s own and somewhat embarrassing admission, she has not had the 

inclination or desire to visit a gallery or attend a performance in the decade leading up to her 

appointment as arts minister. 

Mr Crandon interjected. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Ruthenberg): Order! Member for Coomera, would you please return 

to your seat if you are going to make comment. 

Ms TRAD: Imagine that—no inclination to visit the Warhol exhibition or the Picasso exhibition or 

the Matisse exhibition, no desire to attend the Paris Opera Ballet’s performance of La Bayadere from 

Swan Lake or the Cuban Ballet’s performance of Don Quixote. So, once again, in her rush to ridicule the 

arts, the minister used her estimates time to feign indignation regarding the commissioning of The World 

Turns to celebrate the fifth birthday of the world’s most visited gallery GOMA and to celebrate the 20th 

anniversary of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art—Queensland’s most iconic recurring 

exhibition celebrating art and culture from the Asia-Pacific region. Perhaps had the minister visited an 

APT exhibition at some stage she would not have ridiculed it so readily. 

For decades, consecutive arts ministers in this state have recognised that arts policy and funding 

in this state should not be dictated by their own subjective tastes. Being appointed arts minister does not 

mean you automatically gain some grand power to determine what art is acceptable and what art is not. 

And thank goodness for that because this is a minister who would not be able to distinguish a Gauguin 

from a van Gogh. In fact, I note the article in today’s Courier-Mail which details the discovery of a 

Picasso urn in Mackay. Well, had this arts minister found this urn—and I table a copy of it for the benefit 

of the House—I suspect she would have just thrown it away. 

Tabled paper: Courier-Mail article, dated 31 October 2012, titled ‘Rare Picasso has Mackay valuers alert’ [1467]. 

When the minister was not mocking art at the estimates committee, she was refusing to give any 

detail about her cuts to funding local arts programs. On multiple occasions since the budget the minister 

has repeatedly asserted— 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! There is way too much audible conversation in the House. Could 

you please take your conversations outside. 

Ms TRAD: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. On multiple occasions since the budget the minister 

has repeatedly asserted that there has been significant ‘duplication’ in arts grants programs and 

significant ‘waste’ and that is the reason why she has cut $12.4 million out of the programs. I have 

asked the minister on multiple occasions and have given her plenty of opportunities to present evidence 

to substantiate her assertions. I am still waiting. She refuses to provide any details and, really, is this a 

surprise? Given the minister’s constant references to ‘duplication’ and ‘waste’ in grants programs, it is 

incumbent on her to provide the supporting evidence—something, as I said, she has been unwilling or 

unable to do to date. Once again, the minister is all talk on this issue but cannot back it up with actual 

evidence.


During the estimates hearing I also raised serious concerns about the cuts to funding for 

Queensland’s major arts institutions, including the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Performing 

Arts Trust and the Queensland Art Gallery, including the Gallery of Modern Art. During questioning, a 

department spokesperson did not support the minister’s claim that ‘there have been no cuts to the 

majors at all’. In fact, it was indicated that the budget for the majors did not allow for any expansion or 

growth. Indeed, this minister’s ambition for the arts is to aim low, with fewer exhibitions, fewer 

performances and fewer opportunities for regional Queenslanders to enjoy exhibitions and 

performances. 

Cuts to community arts programs and Queensland’s major cultural institutions are again an 

example of this government’s pattern of betrayal. Just days before the March 2012 election the then 

shadow arts minister, Mr Scott Emerson, stated in an interview, ‘Our commitment is not to cut funding for 

the arts at all; we’re committed to maintaining funding for the arts.’ Yet, under this minister and this 

government, this election commitment has been torn apart and broken—arts grants cut, majors funding 

slashed and the Premier’s Literary Awards axed. Sound familiar? I know many Queenslanders are 

proud to live in a state with a vibrant cultural scene, just not the arts minister. 

Mr MINNIKIN (Chatsworth—LNP) (9.45 pm): May I begin by acknowledging the hard work of the 

Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee and thank them for their dedication to the 

democratic process. Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention the efforts of the Newman 

government in making a discernible difference to the public transport network throughout this state—in 

other words, to make it more frequent, reliable and affordable. 

Unlike the economic illiterates opposite, the Queensland government is indeed committed to 

reducing the cost of living for all Queensland families. This is in direct contrast with Labor’s inept record 

of increases of 15 per cent year after year for three consecutive years. Let us just reflect on that last 

point for a moment. As a general rule of thumb, the private sector—I previously worked in retail and 

commercial property development—used a CPI increase of around 2½ per cent to three per cent 

whenever we calculated projected expenditure outgoings increases or rental cash flow projections. We 

also calculated business risk models using the spread of the 10-year bond rate as we needed to ensure 

that our products and services kept pace with average wage earners. I know this type of undergraduate 

economics language is well and truly beyond the democratic socialists opposite who have no concept of 

the real world. In fact, I put it to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, that the geniuses opposite wonder why 

passenger transport patronage numbers were falling. Maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with 

the astronomical fare increases that were continually put forward. It never ceases to amaze me that the 

so-called party representing the average worker hangs them out to dry time and time again. 

We acknowledge that spiralling cost-of-living increases was the catchcry. We kept hearing that 

throughout the state election seven months ago, and massive public transport cost increases certainly 

did not help. By direct contrast, the Newman government wants to encourage commuters to get out of 

their cars and back on to public transport. It is not exactly rocket science. By making trips more 

affordable we will achieve a win-win scenario where people actually use the public transport network 

and ease congestion on our roads. We have allocated $158.2 million over the next four years to halve 

the previous government’s scheduled 15 per cent fare increases for 2013-14. This amounts to tangible 

savings ending up in the back pocket of average hardworking Queenslanders. 

The ‘9 and free’ initiative was introduced on 25 June and provides every public transport user with 

free travel after nine weekly journeys. Essentially, if you commute to and from work during the course of 

the normal working week, the return leg journey is free. Furthermore, $39 million has been allocated 

over four years to the ‘9 and free’ initiative. From my electorate’s perspective, a Chatsworth constituent 

travelling from Carindale to the city 10 times a week can expect to save over $200 a year from this LNP 

initiative. As the Assistant Minister for Public Transport, I am also looking at other ways we can help to 

improve our public transport network. Surely the hallmark of a true world city within a great state is the 

ability to offer its citizens a first-class public transportation system, which is indeed frequent, reliable and 

affordable. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Chatsworth. I am terribly sorry but we are actually 

talking about the Education and Innovation Committee, not the Transport, Housing and Local 

Government Committee. I would ask you please to come back to that. 

Mr MINNIKIN: In relation to education, I would like to put on the record the fact that ever since the 

Newman government came into power I have been to every school in the Chatsworth electorate, both 

private and public. In fact as recently as last week, to help celebrate World Teachers Day I actually took 

a cake around to them and a spirit of goodwill was displayed to me in those staffrooms. 

The Newman government, under the auspices of John-Paul Langbroek, was able to broker, 

without union intervention, a 2.7 per cent pay rise with an overwhelming 95 per cent endorsement, or 

thereabouts, from the teachers of this state without the rigmarole that we saw from those members 

opposite. I just raised my finger and pointed to those members opposite, and I have to say that it does 

not take much of a spread to point to those three over there.


The fact of the matter is that when it comes to education—in fact, when it comes to any policy— 

the Newman government has been a beacon of decency to men and women throughout Queensland. In 

fact, if anything, our record after seven months puts the record of the previous inept Labor government 

over the past 20-plus years to absolute shame. 


Mrs CUNNINGHAM (Gladstone—Ind) (9.50 pm): I rise to speak to the Education and Innovation 

Committee report. In doing so, I acknowledge the establishment by the previous government of 129 

kindergarten services in areas of need. We had a couple established in the Gladstone electorate, and I 

certainly hope it is a precursor of many more to come. Quite a number of young people come to 

Gladstone with their mums and dads for the work that is in the electorate, and the waiting lists for 

kindergartens are significant. 

I note that there were questions in relation to the implementation of the national curriculum in 

English, maths and science from 2012 and history from 2013. I welcome that. I think the building block 

for any student is having good literacy and numeracy skills. If they have that, even if there are other 

gaps in their education, they have the tools to be able to fill those gaps either by themselves or with 

other tuition. 

The federal government is talking about Asian languages being mandatory. I know that in my own 

electorate with LOTE—languages other than English—many parents struggle if the students in their 

family with low language skills in English have to study a foreign language. I certainly hope that there is 

some flexibility built into this federal government requirement in relation to the appropriateness of 

students accessing and undertaking an Asian language learning program and that priority be given to 

their literacy and numeracy as a basic building block. 

There is mention of the investment of $1.4 million as part of an additional $10.9 million over four 

years to expand support for students with disabilities in state and non-state schools. About 10 years 

ago, there was a real push for full inclusion of students with a disability into state schools—it was called 

mainstreaming. It allowed many students to aim higher with their potential achievement, but I remain a 

believer in the fact that students should be matched with the type of education that they should access 

and the type of education that they need. In my electorate there is a school called Rosella Park School, 

which is a supported education learning centre, and it is the appropriate place for some students. Full 

inclusion in state and non-state schools has put a great deal of responsibility on teachers and has 

focused on their ability to manage the disabilities. Some of the disabilities are intellectual and some of 

them are physical, but they all require specified and specific management. It is certainly important to 

invest not only in the school curriculum material but also in the personnel to properly address the needs 

of those students. 

It is also noted that there are additional resources in this budget for prep classes. When prep 

classes were introduced by the former government, one of the greatest concerns for teachers was the 

lack of consideration of proper resourcing, and it was human resources that were lacking. Teachers in 

prep classes were not given sufficient teacher aide time to allow for even just safe toileting of some of 

these little people, and for some of these children it was their first time away from home. I am pleased to 

welcome resources for prep classes, and these are also necessary for the transitioning of year 7 into 

secondary school. Each move will be achieved successfully if they are properly resourced. 

I welcome the minister’s recent visit to talk with the TAFE campus in relation to the proposed 

merger of TAFE and Central Queensland University. The TAFE teachers in particular felt very isolated in 

terms of the information about the proposed merger, and Minister Langbroek came up and spoke with 

the teachers in my electorate and in Rockhampton and Mackay, I think. The feedback I have had is very 

positive in that they feel they are part of the process and that the minister was able to answer their 

concerns. 

There is disappointment in the electorate with the defunding of Skilling Queenslanders for Work. 

Those who are involved in that program felt that it achieved good results, and I certainly believe that this 

move requires reconsideration. I put on the record the wonderful training that GAGAL provides, 

particularly the Try a Trade area. They even have primary school students who come and improve their 

literacy and numeracy just through the process of trying some of their trades. Education is life. 

Mrs RICE (Mount Coot-tha—LNP) (9.55 pm): I am very pleased to rise tonight in support of the 

report of the Education and Innovation Committee’s consideration of the 2012-13 portfolio budget 

estimates. I would like to begin by acknowledging the committee for the thorough consideration they 

gave to these budget estimates and the committee secretariat for the support they provided throughout 

the hearing and the subsequent reporting process. At this point, I would also like to acknowledge the 

support and professionalism of the directors-general of the Department of Education, Training and 

Employment and the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts and all of 

the officers in their departments.


While I acknowledge the majority of committee members for the overall thorough consideration 

given to the budget estimates, particularly for the Education, Training and Employment portfolio areas, it 

is disappointing that opposition members chose a narrow, sensationalist focus rather than considering 

the totality of expenditure in this most important area. As the committee’s report highlights, the overall 

expenditure in this portfolio area includes the provision of education services in 1,239 state schools in 

2012 to more than 496,000 students and the delivery of vocational education and training services to 

over 288,000 students. 

In my role as Assistant Minister for Technical and Further Education, I particularly note and am 

proud of the fact that the highlights in this budget include the investment of $10 million to fund 500 

university scholarships for women in traditionally male dominated fields or in areas experiencing skills 

shortages; the investment of up to $86 million over six years to support 10,000 additional apprentices; 

and the investment of $24.1 million to continue the development of the Central Queensland major trade 

and technical skills campus in Mackay. In order to revamp Queensland’s VET sector and ensure that we 

have an industry engaged and responsive VET system that provides flexible pathways to skill 

Queenslanders to meet future employment and skills needs, I am looking forward to working with the 

Minister for Education, Training and Employment to consider the recommendations of the Skills and 

Training Taskforce when the final report is handed down in November. 

These are only a few measures contained within these portfolio budget estimates that go a long 

way towards fulfilling our election commitments, ensuring that we will have a skilled workforce to meet 

the demands of a growing four-pillar economy and working towards a four per cent unemployment 

target. This is about getting Queensland back on track and providing greater opportunities for all. 

Having said that, as the minister acknowledged in his opening address to the committee’s 

hearing, the first six months of the Newman government have not been easy. As all ministers entered 

their departments for the first time after the election, they were faced with a terrible financial situation— 

the incredible extent of which has now been revealed—and, as a result, incredibly difficult decisions 

have had to be made. The minister acknowledged that, whether it was corporate staff or programs that 

were affected, those difficult decisions were not reflections on the performance of the staff or the value 

of the program. They were decisions that were unavoidable due to the reckless mismanagement of the 

previous government. One of those difficult decisions was to cease Skilling Queenslanders for Work. I 

support the minister’s comments that ceasing these programs was not a judgement on the merits of the 

programs but rather an unavoidable decision in a difficult economic circumstance. 

Both the minister and I have met with representatives from a number of groups delivering those 

programs and we recognise the outcomes they achieved. However, the federal government already 

funds employment support programs at an annual cost of $1.8 billion and Queensland cannot afford the 

$53.8 million to run the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program in 2012-13. As the minister has made 

clear, employment services are the responsibility of the federal government and in difficult budget 

circumstances we must only undertake our core responsibilities so as to deliver on our responsibilities 

effectively. However, the minister has written to federal Ministers Shorten and Evans about the issue 

including the need for the Commonwealth to commit to the entire spectrum of employment programs. 

As I mentioned at the beginning, there are many highlights within these portfolio budget estimates 

of which I am proud, and I look forward to working with the minister to deliver on these commitments as 

set out in the committee’s report. I commend the report to the House. 

Hon. JH LANGBROEK (Surfers Paradise—LNP) (Minister for Education, Training and 

Employment) (10.00 pm): It is my pleasure to rise in this debate. I would like to thank the members of 

the Education and Innovation Committee for their work during our estimates committee hearing two 

weeks ago. I was very appreciative of the conscientious way in which the majority of the committee 

approached their work. There was a quiet and thorough examination of the Department of Education, 

Training and Employment’s service delivery statements. However, it was very sad and disappointing to 

read the poorly written and ill-conceived statement of reservation from the committee members 

representing the people of Inala in the Leader of the Opposition and the people of Mackay in the Deputy 

Leader of the Opposition. We had to suffer the insincere indignation of those opposite being prepared to 

sacrifice the principles of parliamentary practice for the cheap headline and the five-second grab on 

television with scant regard for the real issues and serious decisions that the Department of Education, 

Training and Employment makes daily. As honourable members will read, parliament has been treated 

to a political statement that amounted to nothing more than an undergraduate diatribe. I am not sure 

what the opposition office is doing with its 22 staff members, but I think they need some writing master 

classes to help them out. 

Once again we saw the opposition leader and deputy leader in their capacities as members of the 

committee retreat to cheap political point scoring instead of using the opportunity to learn something—to 

serve their constituents by better understanding the work of my department. It is very clear from the 

puerile product dished up in that statement of reservation that, just as we saw from them yesterday and 

today in question time, those opposite have no idea about the importance of what we do. Let us briefly 

turn to the matter of the Queensland School for Travelling Show Children.


The member for Inala stands up for poor NAPLAN results and an attendance rate of just eight 

days in 10: ‘Never mind about the education outcomes for students; just give me the media opportunity’. 

In the statement of reservation that I saw today, the honourable member makes the point that grade 3 

NAPLAN results for the Queensland School for Travelling Show Children were okay because in reading 

for year 3 there were nine schools that performed worse than that school. Can honourable members 

believe it? Out of 1,239 schools in Queensland the justification for spending $1.5 million for the 

Queensland School for Travelling Show Children is somehow justified by the fact that there are nine 

schools that supposedly performed worse. That is the sort of argument we get from those opposite. 

Then the opposition leader had the temerity to imply that I have some level of disdain for the 

portfolio. Let me advise the House about disdain for the portfolio. As I travel around the state, 

stakeholders, students, parents, teachers, principals and schools generally are surprised at the energy 

this government has brought to all areas of government. The most common phrase I hear is, ‘We have 

never had a minister visit us, call us or talk to us about our concerns.’ The opposition leader, deputy 

opposition leader and most of the members opposite were members of the most lazy and contempt 

filled cabinet in the history of Queensland. According to independent observers, the 53rd Parliament 

had the lowest standards in decades. So one has to admire the audacity of the opposition leader and 

the deputy opposition leader in daring to come in here and suggest that any minister in this government 

has contempt for their portfolio. As we have heard from other honourable members, all we have done for 

the last seven months is to fix the disgraceful mess left by those opposite. 

Let us talk about cleaning up mess. Those opposite should not try to escape responsibility for the 

fact that we have had to make the toughest of budget decisions in order to get Queensland back on 

track. It is like the gunman blaming the surgeon for saving the life of his victim. We have been forced to 

fix the by-product of the Bligh government’s neglect and, at worst, its vandalism. One of most difficult 

was the decision to cease Skilling Queenslanders for Work. I have written to federal Ministers Shorten 

and Evans about this issue including the need for the Commonwealth to commit to the entire spectrum 

of employment programs, and I look forward to their replies. One of the best examples in the 

employment portfolio was when the member for Mackay tried to tell us that saving $393,000 in relation 

to the 100,000 trainees and apprentices who are represented by the Training Ombudsman was a saving 

we could ill afford because it cost Queenslanders $3.93 for each of them. I pointed out that 

Queensland’s debt, which was heading towards $85 billion, equated to $20,000 a head. That is what we 

have to pay off—$20,000 a head for 4½ million Queenslanders. That is what we are trying to arrest. The 

opposition just does not get it. 



Health and Community Services Committee 

Report 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Berry): The question is— 

That the report of the Health and Community Services Committee be adopted. 

Mr DOWLING (Redlands—LNP) (10.05 pm): Tonight I rise to speak in support of report No. 12 of 

the Health and Community Services Committee. I begin by commending the members of that 

committee, particularly those who were first-time members going through the estimates process. Their 

diligence, understanding and support of the process was not without note. I also would like to place on 

the record my thanks to the staff, the support team: Ms Sue Cawcutt, research director; Lee Archinal 

and Kathleen Dalladay, both part-time principal research officers; and Ms Dianne Christian, executive 

assistant. I also commend the four ministers whose portfolios fell within our purview, the DGs, the 

agencies and those people supporting the estimates committee process. Again, it was exemplary. I 

recognise the four ministers: the Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing; the Minister 

for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier; the 

Minister for Health; and the Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services 

There were a number of highlights. It was quite a full-on session; we ran through the entire day 

over some 13 or 14 hours. It was quite a rigorous process. Some of the highlights that jumped out for 

me were the implementation, through the Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing, of 

joint management arrangements for new national parks on North Stradbroke Island and better 

coordination of volunteering in Queensland national parks. There was also—through the Minister for 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier—the 

ongoing commitment to support the continued development and growth of strong multicultural 

communities right across Queensland through funding initiatives that promote multiculturalism. 

Then we move to Health. Unfortunately, Health was one of those areas where we struggled 

significantly. The minister highlighted again the debacle that was the Health payroll and the black hole in 

the budget that he confronted. It actually prompted this committee to make three further


recommendations other than to approve the budget. I am pleased to see that the Leader of the 

Opposition finally realised that the people of Queensland deserve better and she has tabled here today 

all of the documentation relating to the Health payroll debacle. 

I turn now to the additional funding through the Minister for Communities, Child Safety and 

Disability Services for extra respite for people with high needs disabilities between the ages of 16 and 

25 and their carers and to establish Parent Connect to provide assistance to parents of newborns with a 

disability. That is an outstanding, exceptional implementation of programs. 

Then we come to the statement of reservation. It was almost obscene to read some of the 

comments in it. Throughout the statement there is a number of references to the time allocated for 

questions being insufficient. To set the record straight, it was agreed by the committee; there was not 

one dissenting voice when we were apportioning time for the interrogation of the various components of 

this estimates process. 

Not only that, it was completely consistent with the estimates process under the Labor 

government of last year. So the time was allocated consistently and the process was consistent. There 

is absolutely nothing in their accusations. It is absurd to suggest that there was a failure to answer. I sat 

through the entire process. Every question asked was answered. I think in the whole process, across all 

four ministers, a total of five questions were taken on notice. The ministers were forthright and to the 

point and answered the questions. The process was comprehensive and robust. 

I think the comments made in the statement of reservations almost mislead the House in their 

nature. The comment that really jumped out to me was ‘ensure the estimates committees are able to 

truly examine the government’s appropriation’. Yet the one thing that, until today, those opposite failed to 

do was provide us with the ability to carry out that scrutiny, that full due diligence. They kept those 

documents secret until today. I think it was the pressure of this committee that brought those papers to 

the fore. 


Mrs MILLER (Bundamba—ALP) (10.10 pm): It gives me great pleasure to speak in the debate 

tonight, particularly in relation to Health. I will touch on a few areas of Health that are very important to 

the people of Queensland. The first is in relation to the shutting down of the beds at Eventide. I thought 

that, for the benefit of the House, I should at least talk about a couple of the emails I have received. One 

of them—I am quite happy to table it for the House—states— 

Dear Ms Miller, 

I don’t care what anyone says that it’s BEST for our State. It is morally wrong to kick people out of nursing homes. Saying they will 

relocate them is deplorable. The elderly do not like change and to put people who require high medical attention through this 

stress is absolutely disgusting. As far as I am concerned ANYONE who agrees with this decision has no empathy and deserves 

what’s coming to them when they need love and support when they reach their own twilight years. I am ashamed of Queensland’s 

current leader. 

I table that letter. 

Tabled paper: Email, dated 30 October 2012, to the Bundamba electorate office regarding nursing home closures [1468]. 

I will talk about what is happening in relation to the health and hospital boards. We have the proof 

here tonight. I have said in this parliament since this government came to power that the Minister for 

Health has had this ruse going, which is to hide behind the chair and the boards and the CEOs of 

Health. A letter, which I will table, states— 

Thank you for your correspondence ... regarding your concerns about the closure of Eventide Nursing Home, Brighton. 

As you may be aware, from 1 July 2012, and under the direction of the new Queensland Government, 17 independent Boards 

have assumed accountability for the delivery of public hospital and health services that was previously provided by the Health 

Services Districts. 

It goes on— 

Each Board has enhanced control over local health service delivery and seeks greater local input from both clinicians and the 

community. 

And here is the rub— 

Accordingly, I have referred your correspondence to the Chair of the Metro North Hospital and Health Board Dr Paul Alexander 

AO for attention and reply direct. 

So the minister has no responsibility for this. That is what the letter is saying. It is signed ‘Colleen 

Miller, Office Manager’. The minister has abrogated his responsibilities to the people of Queensland in 

relation to health. I table that letter for the benefit of the House. 

Tabled paper: Redacted letter, dated 26 October 2012, from Ms Colleen Miller, Office Manager, Office of the Minister for Health, 

relating to the closure of Eventide Nursing Home [1469]. 

I also want to talk about a couple of other issues. The first one is the sacking of public health 

nutritionists across Queensland. In the last couple of days the federal government has brought down a 

report in relation to obesity and weight gains in Australia. Obesity is a very serious issue. What do we


have? We have the LNP government sacking public health nutritionists. Through the chair: Minister, you 

know that is disgraceful. Public health nutritionists undertake a degree at university in relation to 

nutrition. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Berry): Order! Member for Bundamba, you have to refer your 

comments to the chair. 

Mrs MILLER: I will. The minister knows that public health nutritionists undertake a lengthy 

degree, and now there are many students throughout Queensland who will have no opportunity at all for 

work in the public health system. 

Finally, I want to talk about hospitals. I just want to know how many hospitals in Queensland this 

government has an agenda to shut. In my own local area, people are telling me that the hospital at Esk 

and the hospital at Boonah are under threat. And I would like a guarantee from this minister that he will 

make sure BreastScreen services right across this state are maintained. In conclusion, the time for 

blame is over. You have been elected to govern. Get on with it. 


Mr DILLAWAY (Bulimba—LNP) (10.16 pm): I rise this evening to speak in support of the report 

tabled by the Health and Community Services Committee. This report outlines the proposed 

expenditure pertaining to the portfolios of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing; Aboriginal and 

Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs; Health; and Communities, Child Safety and Disability 

Services. I take this opportunity to congratulate the member for Redlands on his role as chair of the 

committee and to thank in particular all of the government members of the committee for their 

contribution to the estimates process. I would also like to thank the respective ministers, their 

departmental officers and the officers of the statutory bodies for their openness and accountability 

regarding their portfolios. 

When elected into government earlier this year we made a commitment to the people of 

Queensland that we would get the state’s finances back on track. Despite the dire financial situation of 

$65 billion in debt that the former Labor government generously left the people of Queensland and our 

new Newman government to manage, this once-in-a-generation budget is still able to deliver on many 

valuable initiatives. 

Mr Crandon: Did you say $65 billion? 

Mr DILLAWAY: I did indeed. Considering the tight fiscal circumstances our government has been 

left in, we have still managed to deliver a significant commitment to Queensland Health, with a budget of 

$11.862 billion. This is significant because it is an increase of some 7.38 per cent from last year’s 

budget that will see many positive outcomes. These include the commencement of the hospital and 

health boards; funding of $1.3 billion for the construction, expansion and redevelopment of Queensland 

hospitals; improved access to emergency and specialist care; and increased funding for the Patient 

Travel Subsidy Scheme, amongst many others. This of course is all against a backdrop of the everincreasing 

payroll system liability, which will reach $1.253 billion by 2017—a payroll system that saw our 

hardworking health professionals overpaid, underpaid or not paid at all. 

It is enlightening to see that the Leader of the Opposition has today released the long-awaited 

cabinet documents about which we passed a motion some months ago. What is disappointing is that we 

have had to wait and the committee did not have a chance to fully explore the impact of this debacle 

during the estimates hearing in order to understand what recourse we have to recover any moneys from 

parties that could be held liable. Time will tell, of course, whether the information that has now been 

provided to the House will alleviate the need for further investigation as recommended by the 

committee. 

The appropriation for the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing is enabling 

the delivery of the Get in the Game initiative that encourages greater active participation in sport and 

recreation. As Bulimba is home to many junior and senior sporting clubs, I am particularly excited about 

how this program will deliver real benefits to those clubs and members alike. With three children of my 

own and as an avid sportsperson, I believe that the broader benefits of this initiative are far reaching. It 

is proven that participation in sport reduces the impact on the health system and reduces the risk of 

young people going off the rails by engaging them with peers in a team environment that has a clear 

structure. 

I did find it disappointing that in the non-government members’ statement of reservation they felt 

there was an insufficient amount of time allotted to examine the portfolio, especially considering that all 

members of the committee were present at our pre-estimates meeting where we all agreed on the time 

frames to review each of the committee’s four portfolios. But moving on, I also commend the 

appropriation for the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs. I make 

particular note of the key funding initiative that will support the continued development and growth of 

strong multicultural communities across Queensland. This includes the new format of having a week-


long multicultural festival across the breadth and width of the state, enabling all of Queensland to 

celebrate our cultural diversity instead of a one-day event that has been held previously. I also value the 

time the minister spent answering my question on the deadly stories campaign that highlights the 

everyday stories and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders. Of course 

tomorrow at lunchtime we all have the opportunity to thank the latest 14 participants of this tremendous 

campaign. 

I was again disappointed to see that the non-government members provided a statement of 

reservation. They were either not in the same estimates hearing as I was or they just were not listening. 

In their statement they suggested that the minister would not be appropriately funding the upcoming 

South Sea Islander commemorative events. The minister made it very clear that preference would be 

given to any community groups that apply for grant funding that will be directly attributed to the 

commemoration of the 150 years since the first South Sea Islanders were forcibly brought to our shores. 

Under the portfolio of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services we were able to examine 

key initiatives such as the elderly parent carer innovation trial, the Your Life Your Choice initiative and 

the Caring for our Community grants scheme that will enable community and volunteer groups to apply 

for essential equipment such as computers, upgraded software and white goods. As a member of the 

Health and Community Services Committee, I recommend that the proposed expenditure which is 

detailed in the Appropriation Bill 2012 for the committee’s area of responsibility be agreed to by the 

House without amendment. I commend the report to the House. 

Mr SHUTTLEWORTH (Ferny Grove—LNP) (10.21 pm): This evening I rise in support of the 

Health and Community Services Committee report into budget estimates for 2012. Thanks to the 

chairman of the committee, the member for Redlands, Mr Peter Dowling, and to the secretariat for their 

outstanding support, particularly in the lead-up to the estimates hearing. There are throughout the four 

portfolio areas reporting to the committee some extremely notable highlights which I will run through this 

evening. The Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing highlighted the Get in the Game 

grants. The program is a fantastic three-tiered program. I and the member for Everton, Mr Mander, are 

able to report that the lights at the Pine Hills Football Club on the border of both our electorates, which 

was a commitment made during the election campaign, fall under the spectre of the Get in the Game 

grants and there are around 850 participants at that local club who are looking very forward to the 

switching on of the lights early next year. 

We also heard of days past of course where under the previous regime many examples of waste 

and mismanagement were typically orders of the day. The particular highlight for me in that regard was 

the discussion we had in relation to the Strangler Cairn on the Conondale Great Walk. I always figured 

that at some point in my life I would undertake the Kokoda Trail, but it seems far more challenging to 

perhaps take a casual four-day stroll along a particularly challenging part of our national park to see a 

$750,000 rock structure. I am sure that not too many people will undertake that before it crumbles under 

the weight of a seedling planted underneath it. Of course we also discussed other particular examples of 

waste, not least of which was the rainforest canopy walks and the ongoing maintenance required. 

Of course the Health portfolio was a particular highlight and consumed a considerable portion of 

the day. It was a very interesting undertaking mind you, most of which was focused on the Health payroll 

debacle. Understandably, the people of Queensland are demanding and continue to demand an 

outcome where at least they can be certain that any possibility of cost recovery and seeking damages 

from responsible parties would be pursued with great vigour. Of course, the tabling of certain documents 

today will hopefully assist us in that regard. I have no doubt though that on their own these will not 

eliminate the need of the government to carefully plan and manage a subsequent course of action to 

ensure better outcomes for all Queenslanders into the future. I have great faith that the minister and his 

department will review the documents tabled today and consider whether the recommendations made 

within our report, recommendation Nos 3 and 4, will provide further assistance to ensure that the people 

of Queensland can recover these costs where possible and be truly informed in relation to the course of 

events of the Health payroll debacle. 

The health minister also outlined new programs and initiatives designed to improve the targeting 

of BreastScreen services. It is interesting to note that even this evening the member for Bundamba 

continued with the hype and scare campaign and propaganda that we know is all too common from 

those opposite in relation to breast screening services in Queensland. In fact, today the minister outlined 

that northside services will receive an additional $400,000 in funding to support women at risk of familial 

breast cancer. The funding will go towards hiring an additional nurse and radiographer and will enable 

350 women to be screened or rescreened each year. It will become the only clinic in Queensland 

offering state-wide multimodal screening services for women at high risk—hardly an initiative that 

warrants the continued scare campaign of those opposite.


The Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, Minister Davis, outlined a 

number of programs her department will be delivering, with two notable initiatives that had great appeal. 

One was to further enhance the safety of our children— 


Mrs SCOTT (Woodridge—ALP) (10.26 pm): As I rise to report on the questioning of the Minister 

for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, I do so with a great deal of concern for the lack of 

detail received. In fact, the minister seemed totally unprepared and out of her depth. Similarly, the lack of 

detail to many of the answers to questions on notice was quite unsatisfactory. However, for me the most 

upsetting aspect of this budget has been the complete focus on the economic bottom line, with little 

thought about the many thousands of people now being removed from their positions, the programs 

being axed with a similar loss of staff and then the stress of those who remain. Then at the bottom of the 

chain are those who are losing services and having to manage as best they can. 

These portfolio matters were scheduled at the end of a long day, skewed to allow only 30 minutes 

to question over job cuts, and this certainly did not allow proper scrutiny of the portfolio. Within the vital 

Child Safety portfolio, Mr Bruce Marshall was highlighted as an example of the axing of a position which 

is absolutely vital to the community at Aurukun. Mr Marshall, whose designated position is service 

development and integration officer, is due to end his role on 31 December 2012. However, he is the 

first port of call for anyone arriving in the community. He coordinates government services, has 

increased security at the women’s shelter, sets up and trains the crew for the Volunteer Marine Rescue 

and organises community events. His qualifications include certificate IV in workplace training and 

assessment and occupational health and safety, a coxswain certification and a commercial pilots 

licence. It will be of huge detriment to that community to lose his services. Similar positions will be axed 

in Hope Vale, Kowanyama and Yarrabah and I plead with the minister and Premier to continue to fund 

these most important positions for the future welfare of these Indigenous communities. 

When asked about the Taxi Subsidy Scheme, the minister admitted that she was unable to 

confirm whether she had any discussions with the Minister for Transport before he announced the cap 

of $400 annually. It appears that there is little consultation between ministers across portfolios where 

decisions such as this have a major negative impact. This single announcement has the potential to 

have a devastating effect on thousands of people with a disability whose mobility is vital to their 

wellbeing. 

The minister was indignant when questioned about the sacking of 600 staff, claiming that there 

had been no sackings. However, in confirming that employees were phoned and offered referral to the 

employee assistance program, it was enough said. It was again highlighted that this government has 

failed to fund a trial for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with the minister’s retort— 

I did not see any money in the forward estimates from your government for any NDIS trial. 

This was obviously not possible as the announcement of a trial came from the federal 

government in April this year, with funding of $1 billion announced in the May federal budget. The 

callousness of this government is demonstrated by the fact that not only has it failed to fund a trial but 

also it has failed in its own self-directed trial and has no new money. 

The dejection and sheer disbelief at the viciousness of funding cuts and looking to the bleak years 

ahead for our community services sector can be witnessed by visiting any community throughout the 

entire state. In both answers to questions on notice and in the committee hearing the minister failed to 

detail the extent of the groups affected by the $259.7 million in cuts and the impact on our community 

groups. When further questioned on how the cuts to her budget will be received, she responded— 

I am sorry, I was not listening. 

She failed to answer the question and referred the question to her chief financial officer. 


Mr TROUT (Barron River—LNP) (10.31 pm): I rise to speak to the report of the Health and 

Community Services Committee estimates hearing. Most importantly, I would like to thank the Minister 

for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing; the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 

and Multicultural Affairs; the Minister for Health; the Minister for Communities, Child Safety and 

Disability Services; Mr Peter Dowling, the member for Redlands and chair of the committee; the 

departmental officers; and each and every member of the committee for facilitating the process involved 

in arriving at this point. 

Above all, I would like to convey my utmost respect and admiration for the Minister for Health, the 

Hon. Lawrence Springborg, whose achievement today will be etched in our memories and preserved in 

the chronicles of history. Through stalwart resolve and despite obstacles and opposition in all senses of 

the word, our minister has taught us that persistence is the key to success. The Labor orchestrated


Health payroll bungle will be documented as the worst case of government mismanagement and the 

very saddest example of total incompetence, denial and deceit the state has ever had the misfortune to 

wear and bear. We owe it to our fellow Queenslanders to reveal the truth behind this total botch-up, 

which has cost this state $1.2 billion. Today, the persistence of our health minister and this committee 

has enabled a gigantic step to be taken through the production of records documenting this catastrophic 

blunder. 

There are a number of initiatives outlined in the budget that will have a positive effect on my 

constituents. Firstly, I welcome the facilitation of access to national parks. What purpose do parks serve 

if, through being inaccessible and badly managed, they merely serve to become havens for feral and 

weed pests? I agree wholeheartedly that we must safeguard our parks to preserve natural habitats for 

flora and fauna. This is achieved through sound management, consideration for each park’s unique 

biodiversity and an adherence to conservation legislation, not through closure and isolation. 

This government displays its commitment to health by, among other things, providing multiple 

opportunities for sport and recreation. In the Barron River electorate, we have already received 

numerous requests and opportunities to take advantage of the Get in the Game initiative—ranging from 

requests from small sporting clubs to community organisations encouraging Indigenous youth to 

participate in diversionary team sporting activities. I thank the Minister for National Parks, Recreation, 

Sport and Racing for these very welcome initiatives. I also thank the minister for those initiatives relating 

to the racing industry, which plays and has always played a huge role in the lives of the people in North 

Queensland and in the economy of North Queensland, which has suffered a downturn in recent years 

under a Labor government. Additional prize money will provide a very welcome boost to a flagging 

industry that has had a significant effect on the Cairns economy throughout our history. 

I embrace the Your Life Your Choice trial as it provides an opportunity for empowerment for the 

many disabled constituents of my electorate and their carers. This trial has been well received. I also 

welcome the funding allocation for aids and equipment for people with a disability under 65 years and 

for Indigenous people with a disability under 50 years. During the hearing I made an inquiry of the 

Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services regarding trials pertaining to the support 

of vulnerable children and families. As a consequence I learned of the First Response project, a joint 

venture between Child Safety and the UnitingCare Community. As the father of four daughters, I have a 

great empathy and concern for children less fortunate than my own. In that regard I am very interested 

in the outcome of this trial and intend to maintain close contact with UCC. 

In terms of Health funding, I particularly welcome those initiatives relating to the expansion of 

health facilities and improved access to emergency and specialist care. Although Cairns Base Hospital 

is not physically situated in my electorate, it is the area’s main regional health facility. That hospital 

services the needs of all of my constituents and it has benefited tremendously from the Newman 

government’s commitment to restore local health boards and empower them to run their services. As a 

result, we have seen significant improvements in service provision, increased confidence and additional 

funding to achieve tier 1 status for the Cairns Base Hospital. Access to specialist health care is a priority 

throughout my electorate, with constituents hitherto being forced to travel to Brisbane to receive care. I 

commend this government’s pledge to provide our local health service with funding to the tune of 

$15 million over four years. 


Mr HATHAWAY (Townsville—LNP) (10.36 pm): As a member of the Health and Community 

Services Committee I rise to speak in support of our report No. 12. I also would like to thank the 

Treasurer and the relevant portfolio ministers for the opportunity to review the Appropriation Bill and 

their insight into their relevant expenditure and strategy for their department across the estimates. 

I must admit to having some apprehension on my first budget review and estimates process. 

Indeed, I was daunted by the prospect of trying to understand the complexities of the budget set against 

the fiscal constraints that face this government owing to Labor’s legacy of addiction to debt and deficit. It 

is disappointing—although not unsurprising—that we were unable as a committee to produce a 

unanimous report without a statement of reservation. Here was an opportunity for the opposition 

committee members to right their copybook and provide non-partisan input into a once-in-a-generation 

change for Queensland—a change that Queenslanders gave a mandate for in March of this year. All 

opposition member attendees to the estimates committee bar one were former members and/or cabinet 

ministers of the previous administration. I note with regret that, by their questions, they reaffirmed their 

support for the legacy left by an absent Bligh and her ‘Boy Wonder’ Treasurer. In doing so they should 

be forever indelibly marked in the records of this House by the pox that was their terminal gift to 


Despite my disappointment at this lost opportunity, the estimates hearing process confirmed my 

trust in the executive for the redirection of Queensland’s economy and its fiscal repair to get our state 

back on track and back in the black. It also gave me an insight into the complexity of government, 

particularly when trying to stabilise debt, arrest interest payments, live within your means and yet still 

deliver the necessary services that Queenslanders expect and deserve.


I now turn briefly to some of the portfolio areas examined by the committee. Although the 

opposition members tried to lead the committee with their scrutiny of pointless political gimmicks and 

spurious rabbit holes of Minister Dickson’s official attendance engagements, they missed totally the fact 

that it was a nascent Newman government within the first weeks—indeed, within 18 days of the 

election—that announced the cancellation of the previous government’s self-indulgent largess of 

government corporate boxes and event ticketing. They missed Minister Dickson, in a response to my 

question, outline a commitment of an additional $4 million to provide an extra 80 country race meetings 

through new country racing programs, which scheduled extra race meetings for towns and regions such 

as Roma, Innisfail and Mareeba, to name a few. 

They missed his preamble on the government’s $18 million commitment to sport of Get in the 

Game which already has budding players and sports clubs from Townsville and North Queensland lining 

up for the three elements of the program. They missed Minister Dickson’s response to another question 

with regard to capital investment in our national parks to improve access and utility to all Queenslanders 

such as the Under the Radar cross country mountain bike course in Cape Pallarenda Conservation 

Park. I note Minister Elmes’s response to my question on the review of AMPs. The review of AMPs and 

their efficacy is long overdue and has been well received in the 19 Indigenous communities in which 

they operate. This review is clearly welcomed by the Palm Island community who are simply seeking to 

have ownership of their destiny and the rules which they live under. 

While I welcome the Leader of the Opposition’s belated and almost grudging compliance with a 

motion of this House to table the secret cabinet documents pertaining to the Health payroll fiasco, it 

would have been of far greater utility to the minister and his department, and also, might I add, to our 

committee’s scrutiny of the Health budget, had this been made available when first asked for back in 

June of this year. I note for the record the $97 million provision for a doubling of the patient travel 

subsidy. This will benefit many North Queenslanders who have to travel for medical services and 

procedures taken for granted in the south-east. I was likewise reassured by the minister’s ongoing 

support for the paediatric intensive care unit for Townsville championed for so strongly by my northern 

colleagues and me. I welcome Minister Davis’s response to a question on the Elderly Parent Carer 

Innovation Trial as a number of my constituents in Townsville are elderly parents caring for one of their 

children with a disability. 

In conclusion, I would like to thank my fellow committee members and in particular the chair, the 

member for Redlands, the secretariat, ministers and their department officers for their efforts as I 

stepped through my first estimates. I commend the committee’s report to the House. 

Mr MULHERIN (Mackay—ALP) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (10.41 pm): I rise to speak on 

the report of the Health and Community Services Committee. We do not believe the time allocated to 

the Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing was sufficient to properly examine the 

department’s $380 million budget. The limited amount of time available was further squandered by the 

minister’s stunts. It is extremely disappointing that the minister did not respect the intent of the estimates 

process. The minister sought to abuse the estimates hearing by demanding the opposition provide 

information to him. The minister then refused to furnish the committee with details of what sporting 

events he and his assistant minister have attended in corporate boxes and who extended the invitation. 

In addition, the minister repeatedly refused to rule out the reintroduction of government corporate boxes 

despite the Premier’s stated intention to not reintroduce government corporate boxes. 

We are disheartened that the minister was unable or unwilling to shed any light on his plans for 

the racing industry. This was once again brought about partly by the limited amount of time allocated for 

questioning and partly by the minister’s approach of dodging questions. Unfortunately the nongovernment 

members of the committee express reservations as to the expenditure in the racing 

portfolio given so little information has been provided. Under questioning the minister was unable to 

confirm during the hearing if Racing Queensland’s appointment of Mr Allan Reardon to the position of 

Director of Steward Development had received government approval. The non-government members of 

the committee find it concerning that neither the minister, his chief-of-staff, nor departmental officers 

were able to answer this question during the hearing considering the directive issued after the election 

that Racing Queensland must obtain government approval before employing, engaging or terminating 

staff. The minister elected to take the question on notice. When the answer was returned to the 

opposition four days after the hearing it was revealed that the government did provide approval. 

We are concerned with the scarcity of information provided in a number of questions on notice in 

relation to National Parks. Most notably, the minister failed to provide any relevant information at all for 

questions on notice 16 and 20. Question on notice 16 concerned new recreational and tourist activities 

likely to be introduced in Queensland national parks. The minister failed to provide an answer, instead 

using it as an opportunity to attack the previous government using out-dated figures. Question on notice 

20 revealed that apparently the department does not hold any information on flora and fauna mapping 

for the national park estate. This beggars belief. If true it is evidence that the latest machinery of 

government changes have created unworkable and confusing divisions of labour between departments. 

During the hearing it became evident the minister ignored departmental advice that the abolition of a


number of temporary positions would have detrimental effects on front-line service provision. This 

stands in direct contradiction to the minister’s earlier statements that every front-line service under 

national parks will be looked after. 

The non-government committee members were disturbed by the fact both the minister and the 

director-general refused to answer simple and direct questions on the percentage of protected areas 

covered by a management plan. The minister deliberately misled the committee on the previous 

government’s legacy by stating that a 2010 figure for the percentage of protected areas covered by a 

management plan was current. The minister was unable to explain the meaning of the cardinal principle 

for national park management. It is troubling that the minister could not articulate that national parks 

exist to provide to the fullest extent possible for the preservation of an area’s natural condition. This is a 

clear indication that the cardinal principle is no longer a factor in the management of Queensland’s 

national park estate. In addition the minister stated that the Newman government is determined to open 

up national parks to motorbikes, four-wheel drives, horse riding, logging and mining, as well as assorted 

other damaging activities with little to no scientific assessment and without applying the precautionary 

principle which has traditionally been considered. 

Due to the insufficient amount of time allocated to the examination of the budget estimates for the 

portfolio of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing we must express severe reservations. 

Moreover, the conduct of the minister raises legitimate questions as to his suitability to oversee the 

expenditure. Evasion is not a substitute for reasoned and diligent policy development and delivery. 

Hon. LJ SPRINGBORG (Southern Downs—LNP) (Minister for Health) (10.46 pm): Can I first of 

all start by thanking the Health and Community Services Committee for their examination of the 

estimates of the Department of Health and also their report to the parliament, of course minus the 

dissenting report. Can I acknowledge the chair of the committee, the honourable member for Redlands, 

and the magnificent stewardship that he showed in keeping an unruly opposition under control during 

the course of that day. 

Reading the report of the committee, and particularly the dissenting report, I was thinking I must 

have been living in a parallel universe. We have the shadow minister for Health writing some form of 

dissenting report where she fundamentally fails to understand what the KPMG report into the bungled 

Labor Party Health payroll system was all about. She tried to dismiss the whole $1.2 billion as though it 

did not really matter; you could walk down the back of the garden and pluck another $1.2 billion off the 

infamous Labor Party money tree. She indicated it was not really such a problem because 

$1.008 million of that was operations and it was going to happen anyway. I have news for the 

honourable member for Bundamba. If she actually reads the KPMG report, on page 28 there is a very 

instructive graph where it is indicated that those operational costs were indeed more than twice what 

they should have been because in actual fact twice as many staff than what was originally envisaged 

had to be put on just to operate the system. So the cost of running the system over a period of time 

operationally was at least $500 million more than what was originally envisaged. Not only that, of 

course, there was another $200-odd million worth of projects that we knew about where we had to 

invest to try to fix that system up. Is it any wonder that we have this problem with the Labor Party in 

Queensland. I have a graph here that explains the job losses very well. The ones in the red column we 

can attribute directly to the Labor Party because of the payroll—1,537 of them adding up to $150 million 

this year unfunded. I will take credit for the corporate office ones of around about 1,217—in actual fact, 

myself and Anna Bligh because we were both going through a corporate office restructure. 

There is another part of this parallel universe. I do not know what the understanding of the 

opposition is with regards to national health reform, but under national health reform they envisage the 

establishment of local hospital and health networks. We call them boards. The whole point of those 

boards is that, as the former Labor Party treasurer and deputy premier said, we need local area 

governance of our health system in Queensland because no longer can we trust the corporate office to 

do the day-to-day operational things of the health service in Queensland. 

One really has to ask the question: in this so-called Labor parallel universe, what does the 

honourable member for Bundamba envisage? Was the honourable member for Bundamba going to 

appoint those people to chair the hospital and health networks? Many of those people were already in 

the equation prior to my coming in and they were appointed because they are the best people for the 

job. Was she going to let them do the work or was it going to be a bit like Nightmare on Elm Street with 

Freddy Krueger, aka the honourable member for Bundamba? Every time Dr Alexander goes to make a 

decision, up pops the member for Bundamba, like Freddy Krueger in Nightmare on Elm Street, saying, 

‘Don’t make that decision’. Out in West Moreton, Mary Corbett would face the same sort of thing: ‘We 

want to give you discretion, but we don’t want to give you that much discretion. We want to have all this 

wonderful central Labor Party control, which has given us such a wonderful Health system in 

Queensland.’ 

I say this to the honourable member for Bundamba: in the future, when people write to me about 

the reorientation—as the Labor Party called it—of services at Eventide, I will write back to them 

personally. I will remind them that Gordon Nuttall’s apprentice, the honourable member for Bundamba,


was sitting beside Gordon Nuttall in 2005 when they decided to sell 2.1 hectares of Eventide, because 

I am sure they do not know about that. I will also give them the cabinet documents that show the Labor 

Party, in February of 2009, made the decision to get rid of Eventide and four other aged-care facilities. 


Mr MANDER (Everton—LNP) (10.51 pm): As Assistant Minister for Sport and Racing, I am proud 

to support Minister Dickson in helping the Newman government get on with the job of delivering the 

LNP’s election promises. The key budget initiatives of the Department of National Parks, Recreation, 

Sport and Racing include the following: the Get in the Game initiative being boosted to $18 million over 

the next three years; $13.9 million of national parks capital works funding being directed towards 

visitor amenities, park volunteer programs and boosting fire management; and a support program being 

put in place to help rejuvenate Queensland’s racing industry. We also had to make some very tough 

decisions during the process of creating our new department, which is delivering a more streamlined 

delivery of services focused on customer outcomes. Those decisions were necessary to make sure our 

vital front-line ranger services would be protected. 

The stark reality is that Labor has left Queensland $65 billion in debt. The Newman government 

has made an ambitious commitment to the National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing portfolio. We 

plan to open up our national parks for all types of recreation by improving access and implementing 

proper management of Queensland national parks and state forests. We plan to get Queenslanders 

more active through participation in sport and recreation activities. We plan to revitalise our ailing racing 

sector by providing a proactive and supportive regulatory environment for the racing industry, which had 

been brought to its knees by the former Labor government. 

The delivery of those services will also contribute to the Newman government’s objectives for the 

community and commitments in the following ways: contributing to the growth of a four-pillar economy 

through reducing red tape and regulation for sustainable tourism in protected areas; revitalising frontline 

services for families by streamlining the processes for camping and vehicle access to national 

parks, and enhancing sport and recreation service delivery through our Get in the Game initiative; 

delivering better infrastructure and better planning with new racing infrastructure upgrades; and 

restoring accountability in government through implementing arrangements for governance and 

planning across all codes of Queensland racing. 

In 2012-13, the Newman government will deliver key commitments and initiatives, including 

$5.4 million over four years to improve fire management programs, $1.5 million over three years 

reallocated to provide better coordination of volunteering in Queensland national parks and launching 

an online system to streamline the registration process for camping and vehicle access permits at 

national parks and reducing permit classes by 50 per cent. In 2012-13, $13.9 million will be provided for 

capital works to replace and build visitor and management infrastructure on Queensland’s protected 

area estates and forests. 

Funding has been increased through our Get in the Game program by $2 million over what was 

initially promised in the lead-up to the election this year, taking funding to $18 million over three years. 

That means each of the affiliated programs, Get Playing, Get Started and Get Going, will provide even 

greater assistance to Queensland families by reducing the cost of club registrations and funding better 

equipment and infrastructure. Get Playing will provide grants of up to $100,000 in funding to sport and 

recreation organisations for facility development, while Get Going will provide grants of up to $10,000 for 

items and activities to assist clubs in attracting and retaining club members. Funding of $6 million for 

Get Started will enable at least 40,000 voucher payments of $150 to young Queenslanders over three 

years. 

In order to rejuvenate the Queensland racing industry, the Newman government has committed to 

re-establishing separate control bodies for each code of racing, namely, thoroughbred, harness and 

greyhound racing, along with a Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board. In addition, amendments 

to the Racing Act 2002 will transfer appropriate integrity functions to government and remove 

restrictions on bookmakers to make them more competitive with bookmakers in other states. Over four 

years, $4 million will be provided to rejuvenate country racing in Queensland. Additional funding of 

$2.5 million in 2012-13 and a further $2.5 million in 2013-14 is being provided for the Queensland 

Thoroughbred Investment Scheme. The Newman government is acting now to address the problems 

caused by the former Labor government’s financial mismanagement and to get Queensland back on 

track. 

Hon. TE DAVIS (Aspley—LNP) (Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services) 

(10.56 pm): As Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, I was very pleased to be 

part of this government’s first budget estimates hearings and now to contribute to tonight’s debate. I 

start by thanking the members of the Health and Community Services Committee. In particular, I 

congratulate the chairman, the member for Redlands, for his excellent oversight of the hearings. I 

commend him for the very fair manner in which he afforded an equitable share of time to both


government and opposition members in their examination of the budget relating to my portfolio areas. I 

take this opportunity to thank my assistant minister, the member for Southport, my ministerial staff and 

the departmental staff for their very great efforts in preparing for the estimates hearings. 

Preparing this year’s budget exposed the gross inability of the former government to manage 

Queensland’s finances. That is not surprising, given the puerile commentary of the opposition in its 

statement of reservations. As a result of this mismanagement, for which the opposition continues to 

refuse to take responsibility, we have had to take some really tough decisions to fix that mess. It has 

been a difficult and challenging process. However, we have now laid out a clear plan for the future. For 

my portfolio area, that means we are helping the most vulnerable Queenslanders who need our services 

the most. 

For my department, this budget has been about revitalising front-line service delivery to our core 

functions around child safety, disability services and social inclusion programs, whilst also delivering 

savings to get Queensland back on track. Throughout this process, we have been upfront about what 

we are doing to shape the future for the benefit of people whose lives are supported and sustained by 

the services we provide. We have been upfront about the need for greater collaboration and innovation 

in the services being provided to Queenslanders. We have been upfront with the sector about how, in 

these challenging financial times, it is more important than ever that organisations look for ways to 

further collaborate, perhaps share resources and offset costs to better position themselves in providing 

the quality front-line services that government funds them to deliver. 

My department has been much clearer about the services we want to purchase and our need to 

establish an environment of greater contestability to ensure our spend is targeted most effectively and 

has the capacity to move funding to areas of greater need over time. I was pleased to advise the 

committee that my department is providing $1.756 billion in grants and subsidies to assist 

Queenslanders in need in 2012-13. There will be a record spend of $959 million for specialist disability 

services. We have increased spending for child safety by $140 million over four years to address the 

funding black hole left to us by the former government that used the ‘fingers crossed’ accounting 

method in a hope that there were enough savings across child safety at the end of the year to fill that 

void. 

I was pleased to expand on the $6.5 million in 2012-13 election commitment and the total funding 

of $26 million over four years. As part of this, $4 million over the next four years has been committed to 

the Parent Connect initiative to help up to 440 parents of children with a disability or developmental 

delay each year during the first 12 months following a diagnosis. There is $5.5 million provided in this 

year’s budget for new respite funding targeting people with a high-needs disability aged between 16 and 

25 years. 

In child safety there is a commitment of $4 million to trial Fostering Families in Queensland to 

help at-risk families and their children. This is the first of its kind in Queensland. It is designed 

specifically to target childhood neglect. We do not want to see any kids fall through the gaps. As the 

Attorney-General said in his contribution earlier, we want Queensland to be the safest place in which to 

raise a child. 

Our Caring for our Community small grants initiative is underway now. We will be providing 

$4 million over the next three years to support community and volunteer groups to purchase essential 

equipment to help them support Queenslanders. We will move forward into the future with the full 

recognition of the value of the community sector and the services that they provide to vulnerable 

Queenslanders across the length and breadth of this great state. 

Hon. GW ELMES (Noosa—LNP) (Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and 

Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier) (11.01 pm): Mr Deputy Speaker Berry, thank you 

for the opportunity to reply to the estimates committee report for the portfolio of Aboriginal and Torres 

Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs. I would like to thank the chair, my good friend the member for 

Redlands, and the five members of the Health and Community Services Committee who attended the 

hearing for their diligence and competent conduct of the hearing. I would also like to place on record my 

disappointment that the remaining two members—the members for Bundamba and Woodridge—did not 

see fit to attend the hearing of the committee regarding my portfolio. This is especially concerning 

because the member for Woodridge is the opposition spokesperson for multicultural affairs. I will come 

back to that point later. 

I would like to thank my ministerial and departmental staff for the time and effort which went into 

preparing for this important element of government. The estimates process is a bit like cramming for an 

exam. I certainly know far more about my department now than I did at the start of the process. 

The committee’s report summarises the large number and diverse range of issues that were 

covered at the hearing. I note a dissenting report has been provided. It is signed by the two Labor 

committee members—the members for Bundamba and Woodridge. All I can say is thank heavens for 

Hansard because without Hansard the two members would have had no idea what went on at the 

hearing because they were not there.


I would also like to thank the members who were there for the breadth of questions they asked 

covering a broad range of departmental activities. For example, there were some excellent questions 

about the work being done to review alcohol management plans, the work of the Family Responsibilities 

Commission and the Cape York Welfare Reform Trial, the benefits for Indigenous people from the 

Remote Indigenous Land and Infrastructure Program Office, funding provided to multicultural groups 

and the new week-long multicultural festival. These are all important programs which should be open to 

public scrutiny and comment. 

Unfortunately, a couple of trivial questions from opposition members used up time which could 

have been better spent on valid multicultural affairs issues. I suppose they did their best putting up a 

brave front in the absence of the opposition spokesperson. Even the opposition leader, who makes such 

a fuss of her own commitment to multicultural affairs, did not step into the breach. It just shows the 

complete lack of serious attention that this opposition pays to multicultural issues. Rather than talk about 

the range of programs which assist migrants and promote diversity within our community, they chose to 

focus on how many multicultural events I and my assistant minister had attended. 

Multicultural affairs is one of my four ministerial responsibilities, and I take all of them seriously. 

By far the largest of them is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. I made it a priority in the early 

days of my ministry to get out and visit as many Indigenous communities as I could before the wet 

season set in. 

Mrs SCOTT: Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. It is one of the rules of this House that 

a member should not make an announcement about a member being absent. I was on legitimate 

business during that time. I would ask you to withdraw. 

Mr ELMES: I withdraw. 

Mrs MILLER: Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. My point of order is similar to that of 

the member for Woodridge. I was also on legitimate business and that is why I was not in the chamber. 

I feel personally offended by the member’s comments and I ask him to withdraw. 

Mr ELMES: I am terribly sorry that the member for Bundamba feels so slighted, so of course I will 

withdraw. As part of this process, the opposition decided that they would question the number of 

multicultural events that I had attended. 

Mr Byrne: What about the Australian South Sea Islanders question? 

Mr ELMES: Yes, indeed about that. I had a look at the amount of time that I have spent with 

Indigenous communities during the time I have been the minister. Forgetting about all the meetings in 

Brisbane and so forth, I have spent 23 full days either in front of Indigenous leaders or in Aboriginal and 

Torres Strait Islander communities since I became the minister. That is a bit of a commitment on the 

other side. 

The opposition also decided that it was going to put out a press release about the fact that I was 

not attending too many multicultural events. Guess what? I found out about that the afternoon I got off a 

plane in Mackay to attend the Global Grooves multicultural festival in the member for Mackay’s 

electorate. That is when I found out about that. 

In terms of a commitment to multicultural affairs, one of the things this government has done is 

establish a department that covers Indigenous people in this state and covers multicultural affairs in this 

state. I think we do a damn good job at it. Can I also say that Assistant Minister Rob Cavallucci does an 

excellent job of getting around to many multicultural events in this state. I wish to place on the record 

that I congratulate Rob and his wife on the birth of their daughter a few hours ago. Congratulations to 

Rob. A commitment to multicultural affairs on that side of the House is completely nonexistent. 

Mrs Miller interjected. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Berry): Order! Member for Bundamba, you are warned. 


Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee 

Report 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Berry): The question is— 

That the report of the Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee be adopted. 

Mr HOBBS (Warrego—LNP) (11.08 pm): I am pleased to speak as the chair of the Transport, 

Housing and Local Government Committee The committee has made one recommendation as 

follows— 

• that the proposed expenditure, as detailed in the Appropriation Bill 2012 for the Committee’s areas of responsibility, be 

agreed to by the Legislative Assembly without amendment.


On behalf of the committee, I wish to thank the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, the 

Minister for Housing and Public Works, the Minister for Local Government and their departmental 

officers for their cooperation throughout the process. I would like to thank the other members of my 

committee who did a fantastic job and particularly the committee secretariat for their hard work and 

support through that process. I thought they did an exceptional job, and I think the whole committee felt 

the same way. 

In summary, Transport and Main Roads had a budget of nearly $7 billion, which certainly is a 

considerable budget. Some of the highlights of the Transport and Main Roads budget include supporting 

agriculture, upgrading key rail crossings and improving school safety zones. Some of the issues that 

were raised by the committee during the process also should be discussed, particularly the provision of 

overtaking lanes on the highway between Toowoomba and Dalby. The member for Condamine, who is 

sitting beside me right now, I am sure will appreciate the importance of that for the people out there who 

have faced a serious increase in traffic in recent years, so this provision will certainly be welcomed. I 

might point out that these overtaking lanes have been promised by many ministers over a long time and 

this government is the one who will finally deliver them. 

One of the other important issues raised was shifting heavy freight from road to rail and related 

savings in road maintenance and reconstruction. We talked about that. There seems to be a train of 

thought that there will be significant savings in the budget in the future if we can shift a lot of freight from 

road to rail. 

The budget for Housing and Public Works of $647 million is also a significant budget and is a 

change from the previous budget of public works with machinery-of-government changes. Some of the 

issues that the committee raised included plans to increase available serviceable public housing, reduce 

the backlog of housing requests, ensure the maintenance of public housing is of a high standard, and 

review and renew tenancy agreements. The committee also raised the issue of housing needs in the 

Torres Strait and Cape York and plans to address housing shortages. There is a real issue up there in 

that area and we certainly want to make some changes for those people who live in those areas. Also, 

the removal of the sustainability declaration for real estate sales has certainly been a great 

improvement. 

The Local Government budget of $448 million is another significant budget. Budget highlights for 

the Department of Local Government include reform of the Local Government Act 2009 and the City of 

Brisbane Act 2010 to increase the autonomy and effectiveness of local governments and to ensure 

mayors and councillors have the authority and capacity to make good decisions in the best interests of 

their communities. The issues raised by the committee were varied. One of the issues was the cost of 

the 2007 local council amalgamations and the estimated financial impact on ratepayers which was 

significant. I think that council debt has gone from $2 billion at the time of the forced amalgamations to 

nearly $5 billion or $6 billion in the very near future. So there has been a significant increase there and 

one of the aspects of that is probably the forced amalgamations. In relation to government plans to 

assist with the increasing costs of developing, maintaining and replacing infrastructure for local councils, 

that is another significant issue that all ratepayers are going to have to face. 

Another issue raised by the committee was the Partners in Government Agreement, which is an 

agreement that the government has signed with the Local Government Association which will bring 

together two great levels of government in a cooperative spirit to ensure that we can provide the 

services that we need for our community. Funding priorities for the $40 million allocated to assist local 

governments implement recommendations from the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry was 

also a significant issue, and many other issues were raised. I recommend the committee’s report to the 

House. 


Mrs MILLER (Bundamba—ALP) (11.13 pm): It is very good to be here tonight to talk about the 

Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee portfolio responsibilities, which include Main 

Roads. Before I talk about the estimates committee report, I thought it would be enlightening for 

members of this House to have a look at something that was sent to me in the mail by a public housing 

tenant. It is called ‘Flegg-opoly’. I will table this for the benefit of the House in a minute. The person who 

sent this to me said that all LNP members of the House should be forced to put ‘Flegg-opoly’ on their 

desks in the parliament and that they should be forced to play it. So here we have one part of it that 

says, ‘Sell caravan parks’— 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Bundamba, could you please indicate the relevance 

of this? 

Mrs MILLER: Yes. I am talking about the housing portfolio and I am talking about the selling of 

caravan parks, and they are Monte Carlo, Lazy Acres and Woombye. I am also talking about the 

defunding of the tenant advocacy services, about the public housing upheaval, about the defunding of


the CAMRA organisation, about the asset sales—which are the sales of the three caravan parks. I am 

talking about the closure of the department of housing offices and about selling public housing stock, 

including public housing stock in my electorate. I am also talking about evicting and moving tenants. So 

I table ‘Flegg-opoly’ for the benefit of members of this House. 

Tabled paper: Document, undated, titled ‘Flegg-Opoly’ [1470]. 

In relation to public housing, many people are very concerned about letters that they have 

received from— 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Bundamba, just take a seat for a moment. There is too 

much audible noise. I call the member for Bundamba. 

Mrs MILLER: Thank you so much. I am talking about this letter that has gone around, which I will 

also table for the benefit of the House. This is why public housing tenants have been upset. It talks 

about an ‘under-occupancy review of your household’. It talks about people being in four-bedroom 

homes. This is why people are concerned. In one part of the letter it says— 

If you do not return your review form by— 

a certain date— 

you will be deemed ineligible for the property you live in. You will still remain eligible for continued housing assistance but you will 

be listed for a transfer to another social housing property that meets your current housing needs and bedroom entitlements. You 

will also be required to pay a higher rent for the under-occupied property that you currently live in while waiting to be transferred. 

It is no wonder that people are upset, because if they have been hospitalised or if they have been 

away or for whatever reason this letter says that the housing department can forcibly put them on a 

transfer list and can forcibly increase their rent. I table that letter for the benefit of the House as well 

because I think that is very important. 

Tabled paper: Redacted Queensland government letter titled ‘Under-occupancy review of your household’ [1471]. 

The other thing I want to talk about briefly is the meanness in taking away the garden awards for 

public housing tenants. These particular awards cost very, very little money and they had crosspurposes. 

The garden awards were there to assist public housing tenants to make sure that their 

gardens looked nice and also to encourage them to grow their own fruit and vegetables. 

In conclusion, I would like to talk a little bit about local government, and the Minister for Local 

Government is here today. I spoke to the minister at the estimates hearing and asked him a question. 

What has really amazed me since the estimates hearing is the hide and cheek of this state government 

to tell the federal government what it is supposed to be funding and whatever is supposed to be 

happening and then to tell local government, ‘You can do basically anything.’ It seems okay for local 

government to get involved in foreign affairs and to go like Marco Polos all the way around the world on 

trade missions but you cannot even fulfil your own responsibilities in state government. What— 


Mr GRANT (Springwood—LNP) (11.19 pm): I would like to speak briefly regarding the budget 

estimates hearings for the Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee. Before I speak on the 

areas of responsibility, I would like to inform the House that I have heard a lot of bleating today that this 

budget is one that has been put forward by ideologically driven thinking and is non-evidence based. My 

response is this: you had better believe that it is ideologically driven and you had better believe that we 

have taken into account evidence based considerations. I would like to suggest that every budget the 

Labor Party brought down was an ideologically driven budget. I am very happy to put our ideologies in 

fiscal responsibility up against their ideologies every day of the week, every week of the year, and every 

year over the last 50 years. The Labor Party ideology has driven the state to the position that it is in now. 

Their ideology was this: keep putting on more staff so they could boast about creating jobs, keep 

borrowing so they could pay the staff they had just put on and then so cruelly— 

Honourable members interjected. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Berry): Order! There is far too much audible noise. There has been a 

fair bit of latitude, but I want to be able to hear the member for Springwood. 

Mr GRANT: And then they so cruelly wrote to so many of their staff who they claimed they cared 

for to ask who was willing to take a redundancy package. This is the ideology that drove their budgets in 

years gone by, and this is an ideology that saw the debt keep climbing and climbing and climbing. It has 

had its casualties.


I would like to speak briefly on the three different areas of responsibility. The budget for Transport 

and Main Roads was $7 billion, and I would like to point out that the benefits of those dollars are spread 

around the state. Indeed the members of my electorate will receive their share of the benefits. In 

particular, I would like to draw attention to the fact that we are gaining an extra lane on the M1 Motorway. 

I would also like to highlight the removal of the T2 lanes on the M1 Motorway and the benefits that will 

bring. I would like to re-emphasise the fact that we have frozen car registration fees for three years and 

we have reduced the public transport fare increases that were going to be handed out. 

I come to the area of the Department of Housing and Public Works, and what a huge portfolio that 

is. Minister Flegg had his officers and his staff from the various agencies at the hearing. It is 

unbelievable how much responsibility this minister carries. He covers the areas of housing services, 

building or construction services, and procurement services with a budget vote of $647,384,000. The 

LNP’s focus and the minister’s focus in this portfolio is to stop the bleeding and the losses of the millions 

of dollars that are projected under the philosophy of the previous Labor governments through their 

mismanagement of a huge housing stock. We want to carry out major reform in this housing sector by 

the provision of redeveloped homes and delivering better special services to tenants, especially to those 

in the high needs categories. 

Moving to the area of financial support for our schools, I can say that I have moved around the 

schools in my electorate and found that in the first year of LNP funding allocations some schools have 

received double what they received last year to maintain their school buildings, while others have 

received four times as much. It is no wonder the school teachers have voted in favour of the EB 

offerings that we put on the table. 

I move now to Local Government, which has a budget vote of $448,461,000. This department has 

responsibility for implementing the first round of a funding program worth $40 million over three years to 

assist local governments meet the recommendations of the Queensland floods commission. Local 

governments over the last years have been rocked to the core by the Labor tactics and strategies and 

the massive on-again, off-again restructuring, the forced removal of water and then the rolling over and 

giving back of water to them. They do not know whether they are Arthur or Martha the way they were 

treated by the previous Labor government, but we wish to work in cooperation with local government. I 

would like to support the recommendations in the report. 

Mr GRIMWADE (Morayfield—LNP) (11.25 pm): I rise tonight to speak on the Transport, Housing 

and Local Government Committee’s budget estimates report tabled before the parliament and on the 

Appropriation Bill before the House. May I start tonight by addressing the Transport and Main Roads 

portfolio. Let me thank the Minister for Transport and Main Roads for his involvement in the estimates 

process. There are certainly some exciting things happening in this portfolio that will benefit the 

constituents in my electorate. The estimates hearing highlighted significant areas of waste that occurred 

under the previous Labor government and also highlighted a number of new initiatives that will positively 

flow to the residents of my electorate. 

Some areas of waste of the previous Labor government that were detailed throughout the hearing 

included a $750,000 backpack program. It was revealed in the hearing that the previous government 

spent $750,000 buying 190,000 backpacks that were somehow expected to get people on to public 

transport. It was also revealed that 58,000 of these backpacks were still stuffed away collecting dust in a 

room and that they were never used. It was sobering to hear the minister advise the committee that 

these remaining backpacks will be donated to charities and put to good use. 

Another area of waste highlighted throughout the committee hearing was $43,000 spent on 

installing 24 electric car charging sockets at 313 Adelaide Street. Honourable members may ask what is 

so bizarre about this. I can tell them that the minister advised the committee that we do not have any 

electric cars. This is the sort of ridiculous waste that is highlighted day in and day out that has been 

uncovered by this government, and it highlights to the people of Queensland how the previous Labor 

government lost its way and it explains the current financial mess we find ourselves in today. 

I want to move on to the positives that the committee heard throughout the estimates hearing. We 

heard that this year’s budget has a record funding announcement for public transport, with $1.6 billion 

being spent. One of the areas where mums and dads in my electorate will benefit from the Newman 

government’s election commitments will be the offering of free travel after nine paid trips for go card 

users on the public transport system. In fact $39 million is being spent over the next four years to offer 

relief to regular, loyal commuters, and 80,000 public transport users will benefit with 200,000 trips 

already taken. This budget funding will bring cost-of-living relief to people in my electorate and will be 

most definitely welcomed. 

Another cost-of-living relief budget allocation highlighted during the hearing that is welcomed on 

behalf of the residents in my electorate includes the commitment to freeze motor vehicle registration on 

family motor vehicles for the entire term of this government. This is fantastic news for the people in my


electorate who have suffered from an increase of over 30 per cent in motor vehicle registration costs 

over the past three years as the previous Labor government hiked taxes in an effort to pay for its woeful 

management. 

May I move on to the housing portfolio and thank the Minister for Housing for his time during the 

estimates hearing. When the Newman government came to power, it was revealed that there were over 

30,000 applicants on waiting lists for public housing. During the hearing, I asked the minister for an 

update on the waiting lists and to update the committee on actions being undertaken to lower the waiting 

lists in Queensland. I was pleased to hear that the current waiting list was 27,000, which was a 

reduction of 3,000 applications since forming government. 

Actions such as addressing the under-occupancy issue have been successful in using current 

budget allocations to get great outcomes and ensure more families have a roof over their heads. The 

under-occupancy issue was a major concern. Honourable members will remember that there were 

thousands of bedrooms throughout houses in Queensland that were sitting vacant while families were 

being forced to live on the streets. In my electorate, the department has done a fantastic job in 

consulting public housing tenants who have had surplus spare rooms in their homes and working with 

them to relocate them to smaller homes—thus freeing up houses so that those who have been on 

waiting lists for some time could finally find a place to live. 

I was contacted by multiple constituents who praised our local department for their consultation 

and the efforts they made to accommodate their needs, such as pets, family and medical requirements. 

I look forward to the continued efforts by the minister and departmental staff as they work towards 

lowering the housing waiting lists in my area and putting more and more families into homes in 


I am conscious of my time limits in speaking tonight, so I will finish with the last portfolio that our 

committee is responsible for, that being local government. I congratulate the Minister for Local 

Government, firstly, on being so proactively involved in his portfolio. The Minister for Local Government 

revealed in his hearing that, since being elected in March this year, he has personally visited and met 

with all the mayors and councillors from every Queensland council. That is 73 councils in total. During 

the hearing the minister was questioned on things such as the recent local government elections, 

deamalgamations and party houses. These were among a whole raft of areas that the minister was able 

to provide an insight into for the committee. I know from speaking to mayors and councillors that this 

minister was well on track to heal the wounds that councils suffered due to the previous government’s 

forced amalgamations in which councils became the whipping boy of the state government. 

I will finish by thanking all the ministers, departmental staff, committee members, committee 

secretariat and parliamentary staff for their involvement in the process of this year’s estimates. 

Mr RUTHENBERG (Kallangur—LNP) (11.30 pm): This was my first estimates hearing and I went 

into this process with great anticipation. Some six months ago the Clerk of the Parliament took us 

through a great induction and training program. Recently we went through a refresher on the process. I 

have to tell honourable members that I am rather disappointed with the outcome, not because of the 

involvement of the government but because of the pointless exercise of questioning that the opposition 

took us through. Just today the member for Rockhampton said, ‘The integrity of the budget requires a 

serious level of scrutiny.’ Unfortunately, I think that the opposition fell way short of that mark. 

I congratulate the chairman, the member for Warrego, Mr Howard Hobbs, on his patience and 

fair-handed manner in retaining a very fair and balanced opportunity for the opposition to ask real 

questions and gain an understanding of the departments of transport, housing and local government. 

I want to highlight a couple of things about the budget. First, the budget finally takes the hard 

decisions needed to arrest Labor’s crippling debt. It sets up some fundamental premises that will be built 

on for years to come with regard to debt management. It makes a balanced budget a priority so as not to 

add to the crippling debt and worsen our fundamental financial position. It declares Queensland open for 

business, clearly defines our priorities, helps business which is where our wealth is generated and, in 

turn, prioritises their foci. It also delivers on our pre and post commitments and promises. It finally starts 

to address and arrest poor practice and commits to continued efforts to reduce red tape that weighs 

down and stifles innovation and entrepreneurism. That is the very thing that will unlock the potential of 

Queensland’s innovation and advance. 

I think it is also a very positive budget with regard to the social agenda. It lays down the 

foundation from which we can spring forward in the future. I congratulate the cabinet and their staff on 

delivering such a balanced and future focused budget. This can-do Newman government is fast gaining 

a reputation for being able to make hard but fair decisions in the interests of the broader Queensland 

population.


I note some specific budget measures with regard to the interests of my electorate. There is 

$66 million for the commencement of the Moreton Bay Rail Link project, delivering on our promise. The 

jobs and investment in our community that will come as this infrastructure is built will be incredibly 

welcome. I also note there is $7.3 million towards construction of a third railway track between Lawnton 

and Petrie, which is again planning for the future. 

In relation to the provision of free travel on trains after nine trips each week, many residents in my 

electorate will benefit from this cost-of-living measure. Also we are freezing family car rego. Again, many 

residents in my electorate will benefit from this. I also note the department of housing has allocated 

$368,000 for Home Assist Secure in Petrie. This service caters for 9,000 elderly and disabled people in 

my electorate and helps them to stay in their home with regard to home maintenance. I thank the 

minister for that assistance. It also reinstates the principal place of residence stamp duty exemption, 

saving homebuyers real money—$7,175 in their pocket. It also increases the first home owner’s grant 

on new homes from $7,000 to $15,000. 

In relation to local government, I am truly proud to call the local government minister my friend. It 

is finally the time when local government can stand up in this state and say, ‘We have legitimate 

business to take care of,’ without being trampled on from 100 miles above them. Local government in 

this state is the government closest to the people and it delivers if it is allowed to deliver, and under this 

minister it will continue to deliver fantastic outcomes. 

Finally, I say thank you to the committee secretariat. They continue to impress me with their 

professional attitude coupled with their fantastic work ethic that ensures the work of our committee can 

be done in an efficient and effective manner. Without them we would be in real trouble. I ask the House 

to vote in favour of this. 

Ms TRAD (South Brisbane—ALP) (11.35 pm): I rise to contribute to the Transport, Housing and 

Local Government Committee estimates report. The estimates process exposed so much in relation to 

the management of the transport portfolio. After all, it did reveal how competently the minister was 

handling the portfolio; it did, of course, reveal his ability to handle complex data and explain it to the 

people of Queensland; and it did prove that, regardless of what was going on, the minister knew exactly 

where the cameras were and knew exactly which angle to point to the cameras. It also exposed that this 

is a minister who used the estimates process to fudge the figures on train patronage. This is a minister 

who refused to explain why the quarter 4 TransLink tracker had not been released and this is a minister 

who only tabled one page of the 36-page report into the Taxi Subsidy Scheme, a report that he used to 

justify the heartless and cruel cap on the Taxi Subsidy Scheme. This is a minister who continually skirted 

around the truth to avoid scrutiny and accountability. 

It was revealed at the estimates hearing that the transport minister had fudged transport 

patronage figures in a cynical attempt to prove his discredited point that commuters are turning away 

from the Queensland Rail network. If you compare TransLink’s own accurate patronage data from 2010- 

11 to 2011-12, it shows that patronage increased by almost four million—not decreased by 300,000, as 

the minister is falsely trying to assert. During the hearing the TransLink CEO admitted that TransLink 

had more accurate data that was not used in the annual report. The minister continues to hide behind 

these outdated patronage figures because he is obsessed with talking down Queensland and its 

transport network. 

Throughout the hearing I also asked the minister repeatedly to table, for the benefit of the 

committee, the quarter 4 TransLink tracker, which had not been released. Published online every 

quarter, the TransLink tracker is a snapshot of the network and gives detailed breakdowns of a range of 

measures including on-time running, customer satisfaction and complaints. It is a substantial report that 

is more than 20 pages long. When I asked the transport minister why the quarter 4 tracker had not been 

released, the minister claimed that the information was all contained in the annual report. This is simply 

not true. Even the minister knows that these excuses and denials at the hearing did not pass the truth 

test, which is why he backtracked a week later and published the report. It is completely absurd that the 

minister withheld publishing the public report until after estimates when he knew it would not face the 

same level of scrutiny. We are yet to hear a legitimate reason why the minister sat on the report for so 

long. I have since called on the minister to guarantee future TransLink trackers will be published in full 

and on time. I would also ask the minister to publish the raw data used to compile the tracker on the 

government’s much lauded Open Government website. 

At the estimates hearing I also raised serious questions about the government’s initial budget 

decision to cap the Taxi Subsidy Scheme at $400 annually for members. This decision was made 

without thought, without consultation and without any consideration for its impact on the lives of people 

with a disability. This is a vital program that allows thousands of Queenslanders with a disability—the 

most vulnerable and marginalised people in our society—to live more independently, contribute to 

Queensland’s economy and be more involved in the Queensland economy.


After weeks of anxiety for people with a disability and their families, the minister finally saw the 

light to remove the cap on the scheme. In an attempt to justify his backflip, the minister cited the 2011 

Department of Transport and Main Roads report, which included a statement that membership of the 

scheme had increased by 98 per cent. When asked to table the 2011 report the minister initially refused, 

but then he produced a one-page executive summary from a 36-page report and tabled it. I suggested 

that the minister’s decision to withdraw the cap on the subsidy scheme had more to do with the petition 

of 5,000 Queenslanders who had signed for the cap to be removed. 

In summary, the minister’s answers to the Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee 

were filled with inaccuracies and attempted to avoid genuine scrutiny. In essence, he was more 

concerned with his performance for the cameras than with his performance as transport minister of this 

state. 

Mr SHORTEN (Algester—LNP) (11.40 pm): I rise to make my contribution to the debate in 

relation to the 2012-13 budget estimates process. I begin by putting on the record my thanks to the 

member for Warrego, Howard Hobbs, chair of the Transport, Housing and Local Government 

Committee. As a first-termer in this House I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to serve with 

and learn from such a distinguished and long-serving member of this Assembly. His guidance during 

committee hearings, both private and public, has been invaluable. 

I would also like to thank the other members of the committee: Mrs Desley Scott, member for 

Woodridge; Mr John Grant, member for Springwood; Mr Darren Grimwade, member for Morayfield; 

Mr Trevor Ruthenberg, member for Kallangur; Mrs Tarnya Smith, member for Mount Ommaney; and 

Mr Bill Byrne, member for Rockhampton. I believe that I serve on one of the hardest working 

committees of this parliament and, again, feel privileged to work alongside these dedicated and 

professional people. All honourable members know that without the support of the secretariat none of 

what we do would be possible, and I put on record my thanks to the secretariat of the committee. 

I think it is very important that we remember the environment in which these estimates hearings 

were held. The Newman government was elected resoundingly on 24 March by a Queensland public 

that was sick and tired of a 20-year Labor government which had a track record of reckless and wasteful 

spending—a government that maxed out the state’s credit card and did not care, a government that 

thought it could just constantly increase the cost of living for hardworking Queenslanders to pay the debt 

that that government had run up. Queenslanders spoke clearly on election day. They wanted a 

government that had a plan for the future, a leader who had a vision and a track record of delivering on 

his word. Queenslanders made the decision on the make-up of the Newman government, and they also 

decided to send a clear message to the now opposition, which they did. 

I was very happy with the estimates process. I found that the ministers we questioned—the 

Minister for Transport, the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Local Government—were across 

their very difficult portfolios. I found their answers to our questions detailed and professional. I commend 

the ministers on their vision for their departments—a vision which has involved some very hard 

decisions which were unavoidable in light of the shocking financial position the previous government left 

them in. 

Turning to each portfolio area individually, I begin with the Minister for Transport. Given the 

complexity of the portfolio and the sheer size of the organisation, I commend the minister on his 

leadership—something not shown by previous transport ministers. I was able to ask about a number of 

transport related issues that affect the Algester electorate. Though I am happy with the answers I 

received, I know that the minister knows that I will continue to advocate for the Salisbury-Beaudesert rail 

link and the safety upgrade on the Logan on-ramp. The minister, I am sure, understands the pressure 

that a fast-growing area such as Algester places upon existing transport infrastructure. With future 

growth identified in my region, a rail line is required sooner rather than later. 

As members know, I am a great supporter of public housing, and I commend the minister, the 

Hon. Bruce Flegg, on his leadership of his department. I believe that Minister Flegg will go down as the 

greatest housing minister this state has seen. Given the shocking financial state he inherited from the 

previous government—a government which was selling houses to fund its expenses—Minister Flegg 

has refocused the department on its core business: putting roofs over the heads of Queenslanders who 

need them. 

We have heard that there are over 30,000 people on the waiting list for public housing. The 

minister has brought a new set of eyes to this problem and he is getting results. He is housing 

Queenslanders. As expressed in the report, Minister Flegg plans to increase available serviceable 

public housing, reduce the backlog of housing requests, ensure the maintenance of public housing is of 

a high standard and review and renew tenancy agreements. The minister has started a pilot housing 

program in Logan. He has cut red tape by removing sustainability declarations for real estate sales. He 

has outlined a strategy to deal with antisocial behaviour and serious repeat offenders in social housing.


I commend the Minister for Local Government on the command he has over his portfolio. I would 

suggest that local governments all over the state are applauding the minister’s energy and enthusiasm 

for local government. I do not believe many other local government ministers can claim that they have 

visited every local council—73, if I am not mistaken—and in such a short time frame. More importantly, 

the minister did not just visit local councils; he actually listened to their concerns and suggestions— 

something that had not happened under the previous government. It certainly was encouraging to see a 

minister with such knowledge of and enthusiasm for his portfolio—something all ministers in this 

government have, compared to the previous government. A new era for local government has begun. In 

fact, a new era—a prosperous, full-of-hope era—for Queensland has begun under our government. I 

commend the report to the House. 

Mrs SMITH (Mount Ommaney—LNP) (11.45 pm): I rise to speak in support of the report of the 

Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee. As a committee member, I acknowledge the 

chair, the member for Warrego, Mr Howard Hobbs, who does an outstanding job as chair. His wisdom 

and fairness should be noted. His guidance of first-term members through the process made it a truly 

rewarding experience. As always I acknowledge the secretariat, whose eye for detail and thoroughness 

truly should be praised, for their professionalism. 

My first comment regarding the estimates hearing is directed to all ministers involved. They each 

clearly articulated a very clear vision for their portfolios and what they want to achieve. This gives 

certainty to all Queenslanders, leaving no doubt that, despite the horrendous debt and deficit the 

previous government left this great state, this government can still deliver. 

I will outline some of the highlights in the budget, firstly in the area of transport. Our transport 

minister is delivering on election promises: relief of cost-of-living pressures, which was the No. 1 issue 

raised with me by constituents in Mount Ommaney; freezing car registration fees for the family car; 

reducing public transport fare increases for South-East Queensland; and introducing the initiative to 

provide free the 10th public transport trip in one week. These measures deliver real cost savings to the 

families of my electorate. 

Unlike the previous government, the Minister for Transport is taking a refreshingly honest 

approach regarding QTRIP, especially in the Mount Ommaney area, where previous ministers have 

given commitments regarding important infrastructure upgrades—Sumners Road interchange comes to 

mind—only to find that the provision of funding was never budgeted for. That is what creates false 

expectations on the part of the community. This way, the LNP government’s way, very clearly outlines 

how this government intends to proceed—open, honest and fully transparent—and, more importantly, 

working within a budget. I know that this is a novel concept for the opposition to comprehend, but I thank 

the minister. 

I turn now to Housing and Public Works. Again, I fully support the strategic direction the 

department is taking, led by our very capable and compassionate minister, Dr Flegg. Highlights in this 

portfolio include: plans to increase available public housing; addressing the housing needs in Torres 

Strait and Cape York communities; asbestos audits and the removal of asbestos; construction of 

cyclone shelters and time lines to go with that; and addressing the waste and reducing the expenditure 

in QFleet. 

Finally, I turn to the Local Government portfolio. How impressive is our Minister for Local 

Government? In only seven months his comprehensive knowledge of his portfolio was on full display at 

the estimates. His genuine desire and dedication to have consultation and an inclusive approach has 

been welcomed with open arms. Having visited all 73 Queensland councils, he is the man who gets 

things done. Highlights in this area include reform—real beneficial reform—to increase autonomy and 

effectiveness of local government which also allows mayors and councillors to have the authority and 

the capacity to make good decisions for their communities. He also has plans for the implementation of 

the first round of funding of $40 million over three years to assist local governments meeting the 

recommendations of the Queensland flood commission. These are some fantastic initiatives. In 

conclusion, this is a once-in-a-generation budget. It is about getting on with the job and getting 

Queensland back on track. This is the budget about righting the wrongs from many years and it is a 

great starting point for Queenslanders. This has very much been a team effort. 


Mr PITT (Mulgrave—ALP) (11.50 pm): Although I was unable to be at the Transport, Housing and 

Local Government Committee hearing due to my attendance at the Asian Forum on Global Governance 

in India, I want to place on record some of my observations in the portfolio areas of Main Roads and 

Local Government. Firstly, the Minister for Main Roads decided that he would once again trot out a line 

from an article in the Cairns Post, which I table. 

Tabled paper: Article from the Cairns Post, dated 20 April 2012, titled ‘Road to a better Bruce’ [1472].


The line regarding the ‘misspending of state money by investing in the Bruce Highway’ is 

paraphrased and not a direct quote. The minister has been falsely dining out on this for six months. The 

context of the statement made simply highlighted two facts: first, funding for the Bruce Highway is 

primarily a federal responsibility because it is a National Highway and, second, there are state controlled 

roads that require the attention of the Queensland government. 

Unlike the Bruce Highway, the Peninsula Development Road or the Kennedy Development Road 

will not draw the cameras the minister so dearly craves. But they are important roads nonetheless, but 

not important to the LNP which failed to provide funding for state controlled roads in the 2012-13 budget, 

with $1.6 billion over four years being stripped from the Queensland road network. The problem is that 

the estimates hearing continued the LNP’s misleading and slanted picture of funding for the Bruce 

Highway. It has conveniently tried to airbrush from history its own federal National Party leader Warren 

Truss, who as transport minister in the Howard government starved Queensland of roads funding with 

an average of $100 million a year for the Bruce Highway. This compares with federal Labor’s 

contributions averaging $500 million a year since 2007. So, if the minister wants to be honest, any 

Bruce Highway ‘crisis’ is the result of his own party’s chronic underfunding. If he wants to point the finger 

of blame, he needs to point it at one of his own. 

The previous Labor state governments provided around $114 million a year for the past 10 years 

on top of funds from the federal government. This got work moving on the Bruce Highway and has 

resulted in the installation of 52 new overtaking lanes, the fixing of 100 dangerous black spots, building 

some 20 new rest areas and upgrading a further nine existing rest areas. Does the minister deny that 

the LNP will spend just one per cent or $10 million this year out of its promised $1 billion on the Bruce 

Highway or the next financial year when there will be only another $10 million, yet by comparison this 

year’s LNP budget found $17 million for roadworks in the Premier’s electorate of Ashgrove in Brisbane. 

The fact is more and more people are realising you cannot trust a word the LNP says, especially when it 

comes to its policies for regional Queensland. As I have said all along, the LNP’s magical mystery bus 

tour of the Bruce Highway would produce by and large the same projects as identified under the 

previous government’s 20-year Bruce Highway strategy, and that is what we have seen. 


Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Berry): Order! There is far too much audible conversation. I cannot 

hear the member speak. 

Mr PITT: Thank you for your protection, Mr Deputy Speaker. This whole process has been a 

cynical exercise to blame federal Labor if it does not provide the funding, otherwise the recent state 

budget would have seen the LNP put some real money on the table like it claimed it would before the 

election. 

I also want to make some remarks regarding the Local Government portfolio. Given the LNP’s 

constant misshaping of the facts around debt levels in Queensland, I was very interested in the section 

where the Minister for Local Government was asked questions about debt taken on by local 

governments in Queensland. After avoiding questions about which council in Queensland had the 

largest amount of debt, the minister finally stated that it was the Brisbane City Council with a debt of 

$1.16 billion. However, the figure quoted by the minister contradicts information published by the 

Queensland Treasury Corporation, which states that the Brisbane City Council’s debt is $1.828 billion. It 

is concerning to think that the minister did not know the financial circumstances of the largest council in 

Queensland and, for that matter, Australia, nor that Legacy Way was a toll road—the biggest local 

government infrastructure project in Australia. 

The minister suggested that the Brisbane City Council was in a better situation than the state 

when the current government took office. In fact, the debt levels of the Brisbane City Council mean that 

it has a higher debt-to-income ratio than the state government. As had to be pointed out to the minister 

in questioning, the Brisbane City Council’s net financial liabilities to revenue ratio was 111.1 per cent in 

2011-12 as detailed in the 2011-12 Brisbane City Council budget and annual plan. This was higher than 

the state’s level of 102 per cent as outlined in the midyear review. Thanks to the debt locked in by the 

current Queensland Treasurer and Premier during their time at Brisbane City Council, next financial 

year—2013-14—the debt ratio for the Brisbane City Council is expected to peak at 157.9 per cent, much 

higher than Queensland’s peak debt ratio at the midyear review of 123 per cent. It was hypocritical for 

the minister not to show a greater level of concern for the debt levels of the Brisbane City Council and 

concerning that he could not explain why he did not understand the relative debt levels of the largest 

council and the Queensland government. 

However, the minister should be aware that there are some saving graces, because with the 

bricks there are some bouquets as well. The minister quite ably captained the touch football team on 

Monday between Country over City with a resounding win of six to three. It is worth putting on the 

record. Unfortunately, the Minister for Transport was unable to come up with the goods but in this


circumstance the Minister for Local Government did. Unfortunately, this is another thing that the Premier 

is in complete denial about—he just cannot believe that Country has beaten City. To the Minister for 

Local Government, I congratulate you on your ball-handling skills. 

Hon. SA EMERSON (Indooroopilly—LNP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (11.55 pm): I 

rise to make a contribution to the estimates committee report of the Transport, Housing and Local 

Government Committee. Before I do so and in response to those comments about that touch football 

game, I do note that the member for Mulgrave was on the Country side. I do concede—begrudgingly— 

that Country did win and therefore for the only time this year the member for Mulgrave had a win. I thank 

not only all members of the committee but also the committee chair for his fine efforts on the day. The 

estimates committee looked at this budget and, as I said on the day, this budget has been formed within 

the context of very challenging fiscal circumstances. However, significant achievements for Queensland 

are contained in that budget, for example, on roads and QTRIP. Here we saw a program that finally 

brought some honesty to this process, because the reality is that under the previous government we 

saw a con job on Queenslanders—projects that were promised that the previous government knew it 

had no dollars for, no money for, nothing on lay-by for. In fact, it promised things knowing that it did not 

have one dollar to deliver some of those programs. It promised more than $300 million worth of 

programs as opposed to this document—a document that is an honest record of what can be achieved 

with dollars that are there. 

With regard to the Bruce Highway, it is significant of course that throughout the time of that 

hearing I received not one question on the Bruce Highway from the shadow minister for main roads— 

not one question. That is significant because we know that the Labor Party has walked away from the 

Bruce Highway. In fact, what he heard tonight was weasel words from the shadow minister for main 

roads, who now claims that the report in the Cairns Post was wrong and that he was being paraphrased. 

Paraphrasing basically means that they are telling him what he said, and that is the reality. What he said 

in that document was that state money being spent on the Bruce Highway was misspending of state 

money. What a disgraceful situation, because this budget put the Bruce Highway front and centre and 

contained details of $200 million over the next four years as the first down payment on our promise of 

$1 billion over the next decade on the basis that the federal government will match that 80-20, because 

we are committed to the Bruce Highway. Why? Because the RACQ has been very clear that we need to 

spend money on the Bruce Highway to avoid 300 to 400 deaths over those years. 

Mr Dempsey: Did he ask a question on it? Did he ask a question? 

Mr EMERSON: No, not one question was asked about the Bruce Highway by the member for 

Mulgrave. That is the reality. Not one question was asked by him during that process. 

Mr PITT: I rise to a point of order. Mr Deputy Speaker, he may not be saying the words but I 

believe that the minister is reflecting on the fact that I was not in the hearing at that time. There is a 

longstanding tradition that you do not refer to a member’s absence from this chamber nor in the 

estimates process. I ask him to withdraw that comment. I was on legitimate business in India. It is pretty 

hard to be in the chamber when you are in India. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Berry): Order! Honourable minister, I am not asking you to withdraw 

it. 

Mr EMERSON: Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you. There is a record budget of $1.6 billion for public 

transport. It was extraordinary to see the member for South Brisbane try to manipulate the numbers, 

because the reality was that, under the previous government they changed the rules. They changed the 

methodology to try to make their numbers look better but the reality was that, under Labor, the annual 

reports showed year after year after year after year patronage of public transport falling. It has been only 

in the last quarter, with LNP policies on public transport, that we have seen a rise in patronage occur. 

Under Labor, it was an appalling situation. Queensland was possibly the only state in Australia to see 

public transport patronage fall. 

Then we saw the omission. There is no way it can be ignored that clearly the shadow minister for 

transport had not bothered to read the TransLink annual report. She asked why we had not published 

the patronage figures for Q4. The reality was that not only had we published them but also they had 

been tabled in parliament. We had to point out to the shadow minister for transport that they had been 

tabled in parliament—page 65 of the document. We have a lazy shadow transport minister who does not 

even have her own questions to ask; she relies only on repeating tweets off the social networking 

service. 

Hon. BS FLEGG (Moggill—LNP) (Minister for Housing and Public Works) (12.01 am): I am 

delighted to make my contribution to the report of the committee. I will begin by giving my thanks and 

congratulations to the member for Warrego, who chaired the committee very even-handedly and very 

skilfully, which contributed to the performance of the committee. I would also like to thank the members, 

the research officers and the parliamentary staff. In particular, I would like to thank the members of my 

own office, my director-general and my departmental staff, who put a lot of time and effort into preparing 

for this estimates committee hearing.


As the minister for transport said, you have to look at this budget from the point of view of the 

fiscal background in which it was delivered. This budget was delivered in an environment of fiscal crisis, 

of $65 billion worth of debt and rapidly escalating. It is a budget that, despite the measures that those 

opposite want to criticise, still required the borrowing of a further $10 billion in order to allow the 

government to meet its obligations. 

This situation is compounded when you look at the appalling state in which the previous Labor 

government left almost every part of my department. Today, we heard the members opposite talk about 

QBuild. The reality is that they wanted to prop up QBuild by telling every P&C in Queensland that they 

had no choice but to use QBuild, that they could not obtain the best value for money that they could 

obtain. That is no way to go about propping up a business. 

To the astonishment of people who have been in this House for a while, QBuild, which is 

responsible for public buildings, was not the holder of an A-class licence for asbestos removal, which is 

one of the core issues in building maintenance in our schools, public buildings and public houses. This 

department had been run into the ground by those opposite and we have followed them around with a 

bucket and a shovel cleaning up the mess. 

We have heard those opposite speak about matters relating to public housing. The state in which 

they left public housing was nothing short of shameful. They left us with thousands of underoccupied 

homes while tens of thousands of families in Queensland could not get any help at all from those 

opposite or the miserable failures of ministers who they put in this portfolio. They operated the housing 

portfolio so poorly that it lost money and when houses became vacant they sold them and put the 

money into a general pool that paid for maintenance and administration. Why? Because they were too 

lazy, too incompetent and too stupid not to run this portfolio at a loss. 

Those opposite have screamed abuse at me since day one, but I am the first minister who has 

actually given public housing tenants respect by asking them what they think. We offered them 

an amnesty and thousands of people came forward and said, ‘We are housing people in public housing 

rent free that you do not know about.’ Those opposite ran public housing without even doing anything 

about this. So is it any wonder that nearly 30,000 families were refused help by those opposite. 

We have put in place a very active and comprehensive reform program in public housing. We are 

addressing the fact that the public housing portfolio is financially not viable under the policies that those 

opposite left us with. We are beginning the very important task of redeveloping the public housing 

portfolio. The member for Springwood is playing a particularly active role in helping me do that. 

The one thing that those opposite will not mention in relation to housing is anything about the 

nearly 30,000 families who they refused to help. Those families would have had no help if that 

government had had a chance to continue. 

Hon. DF CRISAFULLI (Mundingburra—LNP) (Minister for Local Government) (12.06 am): Can I 

start by also adding my thanks to the chairman, the member for Warrego. As a young councillor, he was 

always there at those conferences. He did not just rush in and rush out; he was there to give his time. 

He has been a great mentor for me over the years. Indeed, I thank all of his committee and the great 

interest that they showed in what is an important process of the budget for 2012-13. I also thank my 

departmental staff, my own ministerial staff and, indeed, the staff of the parliament for their efforts. 

I thought I would start by picking up some of the points of the debate. First of all, I thank those on 

the government side for their comments to the three ministers. It means a great deal to us. I thank them 

very much. To those opposite, I would love to start by critiquing the contribution of the member for South 

Brisbane but, as she again failed to discuss local government, that would be difficult. All I got from the 

member for Bundamba was Marco Polo. That leads me to the member for Mulgrave. The member for 

Mulgrave continues this line about the Brisbane City Council and comparing the debt of the Brisbane 

City Council to the disastrous situation that this government inherited. At a time when we have councils 

under genuine financial stress because of what has been put on them, the powers that have been 

stripped from them and the responsibilities that have been thrust on them, I find it intriguing that the sole 

interest of the member for Mulgrave is one of the few councils that is, in fact, rated strong. To put it in 

perspective—and I will use rough numbers—on a ratio of debt per person, Brisbane ratepayers have 

about $1,800 per person and the state government has about $16,000 per person. So I use those 

figures to provide a genuine contrast. 

I turn now to the budget for the portfolio of Local Government. Although the questioning from the 

member for Mackay did not really go down this path, I would like to take the opportunity to do it myself 

and discuss something that will happen in this year’s local government budget and that is that the 

money available for councils under the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program will go from 

$8 million to $63 million. Members might be wondering how on earth this occurs. I can tell members 

how. 

Last year in a budget approval of $45 million, local government was only able to spend $8 million. 

I can tell members why.

2346 Adjournment 31 Oct 2012 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Berry): Order! Member for Bundamba, I warned you. I am now 

warning you under 253A. I understand you have been warned previously. 

Mrs MILLER: I never said anything. 

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is your conduct. You have been laughing and giggling for the last 40 

minutes. I am not tolerating it any further. That is it. Next time I hear you, you are out. 

Mr CRISAFULLI: In fairness, I think she was saying ‘Marco Polo’ again, and we have located her, 

which is wonderful. To get to where we were, why was it that only $8 million of a $45 million fund was 

spent? The answer is simple and that is because despite the fact that applications were called in the 

middle of the year, despite the fact that they were assessed in the 2011 calendar year, the minister for 

local government chose not to make those announcements until the 11th hour, until the state election 

was called. The cynic in me would say it was a purely political decision to use the grants and subsidies 

program as an almighty pork barrel. 

What then happened was councils went into a period of caretaker for twice as long because of the 

fact their elections were put back and they were unable to spend that money. To the great credit of the 

Treasurer, he has carried that funding over to this calendar year as well as implemented the next round 

of local government grants and subsidies so that in real dollar terms local government will get a huge 

financial boost. What they will also get, and what we clearly discussed in that committee, is a state 

government that understands them and will work with them. We have signed a Partners in Government 

Agreement that shows we mean business. We will clearly put mayors and councils back in charge in our 

changes to the act. 

In conclusion, I truly believe that the role of the local government department can be that go-to 

department for local councils as they seek a better deal from government. I again thank the committee 

for their interest. I again thank the chairman for his stewardship and look forward to next year’s event 

being one of joy and harmony. 


Clauses 1 to 6, as read, agreed to. 

Schedules 1 to 4, as read, agreed to. 

Third Reading (Cognate Debate) 

Hon. TJ NICHOLLS (Clayfield—LNP) (Treasurer and Minister for Trade) (12.13 am): I move— 

That the bills be now read a third time. 

Question put—That the bills be now read a third time. 


Bills read a third time. 

Long Title (Cognate Debate) 

Hon. TJ NICHOLLS (Clayfield—LNP) (Treasurer and Minister for Trade) (12.13 am): I move— 

That the long titles of the bills be agreed to. 

Question put—That the long title of the bills be agreed to. 


ADJOURNMENT 

Mr STEVENS (Mermaid Beach—LNP) (Manager of Government Business) (12.14 am): I move— 

That the House do now adjourn. 

Breast Cancer; Tuberculosis Control Centre 

Ms TRAD (South Brisbane—ALP) (12.14 am): Breast cancer is the second highest cause of 

cancer related death in Queensland women. Last Monday was Pink Ribbon Day and I hosted a 

fundraising morning tea in my electorate of South Brisbane to raise funds for the Cancer Council of 

Australia. We raised $300. The local women who attended the pink morning tea were from diverse 

backgrounds, from small business owners to public servants and students. This is a clear indication that 

breast cancer has touched many lives. It was a great morning full of laughter and lively conversation. I 

would like to thank Avid Reader bookstore, particularly Fiona and Stuart, for their food and hospitality 

and all the women who attended for their support. I look forward to next year’s pink morning tea.

31 Oct 2012 Adjournment 2347 

Early detection and prevention of breast cancer not only increases survival rates but also 

improves the quality of life for those suffering and their families. Education and early detection are key to 

ensuring survival from the disease. These are the principles that motivated the Goss Labor government 

to establish BreastScreen Queensland 20 years ago. Its success speaks for itself and is even 

acknowledged by the current LNP government. 

According to a press release issued by the Minister for Health today, deaths from breast cancer 

have declined in Queensland by 28 per cent since the program’s inception and survival rates have 

improved to about 89 per cent. If early detection and follow-up are proven principles that save lives, if 

education and prevention are proven approaches that keep people out of hospital, then why is this 

government intent on closing down, defunding or altering services and programs that reduce disease 

and illness in our community through these approaches? 

From the defunding of the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities and the Heart 

Foundation’s walking program to the devolution of BreastScreen Queensland and the initial decision to 

close the Tuberculosis Control Centre, this government has shown that prevention and education are 

not priorities. It is remarkable that the Minister for Health would on one hand applaud Queensland’s 

success in reducing breast cancer rates while on the other hand oversee the destruction of the 

centralised approach that has led to this success. It has been the hallmark of its success. 

We saw during estimates ministers warning of the dangers of tuberculosis while their own 

government was still planning to close the Tuberculosis Control Centre in my electorate of South 

Brisbane. I am glad to hear that the Minister for Health has now backflipped on this decision and the 

Tuberculosis Control Centre will remain open at the PA Hospital. 

I want to congratulate the staff at the Tuberculosis Control Centre and the Nurses Union for their 

strong campaign against the closure. It must have been an incredibly anxious time for the dedicated 

doctors and nurses whose jobs were left in limbo for over three months. I have personally visited the 

Tuberculosis Control Centre and I do understand how busy and well used this facility is. Sadly, the 

backflip on the Tuberculosis Control Centre is indicative of a government that cuts, axes and slashes 

and then thinks later. 

Queensland Kids; Health Law Research Centre 

Dr DAVIS (Stafford—LNP) (12.17 am): The evening of Saturday, 20 October 2012 was a very 

special night in the Stafford electorate as it was the inaugural Turning the Light On for Hummingbird 

House dinner to raise vital funds for the children’s charity Queensland Kids. Our marvellous and 

generous host and sponsor was the Bank of Queensland Stafford branch manager, Ms Tammie Smart. 

The venue was the excellent Brothers Grange Community Sports Club. There was fantastic music from 

a number of entertainers. 

It was a great evening with the very serious purpose of helping to raise $6 million to establish 

Hummingbird House, a hospice for children’s end-of-life care, aiming to provide a much needed 

supportive home away from home for families devastated by a child’s life-limiting disease. I was 

honoured to be guest speaker and provide my support for a service that will play a very essential role in 

enhancing the quality of life for children whose quantity of life is severely restricted. Co-founders of 

Queensland Kids, Paul and Gabrielle Quilliam, are to be thanked and congratulated for their vision and 

deep desire to bring more hope to the lives of these children and their families. 

The dedication from health professionals working in this field was very evident, as was the 

widespread support from families, community members, church and charitable organisations and 

businesses. They all added to my commitment to do what I can to see this through to delivery. 

Another important initiative in this area took place on 25 October with the launch of the Health 

Law Research Centre, recently established in QUT’s Faculty of Law, and recognising the important work 

of co-directors Professor Ben White and Professor Lindy Willmott and their colleagues. The centre was 

opened by the Hon. Michael Kirby AC, CMG and Minister Springborg. I was pleased to be there, 

continuing my longstanding occasional interaction with the co-directors. Amongst its many roles, this 

centre is helping to ensure that medical and legal systems align in permitting the exercise of appropriate 

patient and surrogate choice in complex areas such as withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining 

medical treatment, the provision of futile treatment at end of life and palliative care. This government 

has a great opportunity to work with community initiatives to ensure that Queenslanders of all ages have 

access to a full spectrum of quality palliative-care services. 

Maryborough, Open-House Event 

Mrs MADDERN (Maryborough—LNP) (12.20 am): On Saturday, 27 October 2012 Maryborough 

opened her very special buildings to allow her citizens and visitors to view these grand old buildings free 

of charge. This event was a joint partnership between the National Trust and the Fraser Coast Regional 

Council. It is the only open-house event held in regional Australia. Other open-house events are held in 

Melbourne and Brisbane. Adelaide held its inaugural open house this year. Twenty buildings were


chosen, with each building showcasing the special features of the early era of construction in 

Maryborough, generally around the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Many of the buildings featured 

beautifully crafted timberwork. 

The buildings open for inspection included St Paul’s Anglican Church and hall, Bells Vue Private 

Hotel, Bond Store, Brennan and Geraghty’s Shop and Cottage, the Maryborough Military and Colonial 

Museum, City Hall, Maryborough Court House, Customs House, the old Hyne Sawmill, the 

Maryborough Hospital Museum in the Doctor’s House on the hospital grounds, the Engineers Arms, the 

Globe, the School of Arts and St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. 

The really rare treat was the opening of five private residences showcasing some of 

Maryborough’s grand old homes. It amazes me that these owners were brave enough to put their 

private space on public view but, more than that, to share so much of the history of their homes with 

those who came to see. I had the privilege of being one of the volunteer guides at a beautifully restored 

private residence. It was a wonderful experience to watch the faces of the visitors, to see their awe and 

wonder at the lovely home and hear them express their appreciation at the rare privilege of being able to 

see inside such an historic home. 

The event was well attended, with 1,300 visitors at one home, 700-plus visitors at other venues 

and a reported 9,000 visits between the 20 different venues. Thanks must go to the members of the 

open-house committee made up of Fraser Coast Regional Council staff, a representative of the National 

Trust, local community members and some specialist assistance from historian and architect Mr Don 

Watson. 

Many Maryborough residents volunteered hours of time to act as tour guides. Of course, a very 

big vote of thanks must go to the owners of the buildings, who spent considerable time filling out 

paperwork, putting together details for the flyers produced for each property and then getting their 

properties ready for the influx and supervising their part of the event for the day. This was a truly 

wonderful event which allowed many to appreciate the wonderful history of Maryborough, and I am sure 

there will be another event next year. 

Woodridge State High School 

Mrs SCOTT (Woodridge—ALP) (12.23 am): Woodridge State High School recently held a 

celebration to commemorate 40 years of education, with members of the large, enthusiastic school 

community, past students, teachers and one of our earlier school principals, Mr Les O’Gorman, 

attending. The setting was the school oval with a stage, lighting and a large dance floor. We came with 

blankets and deckchairs, and the smell of hot food enticed us all to enjoy an outdoor meal. For four 

hours we enjoyed a feast of music and dance from our present students as well as many memorable 

acts from years past. 

Woodridge High is a veritable United Nations with students from many different lands, many from 

refugee backgrounds, such as from African nations, Burma, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, India and many 

Pacific Island nations as well as New Zealand. We enjoyed such acts as the Burundian drummers, 

Bollywood dancers, African dancing, Cook Island dancers, rap and hip-hop, the haka from a New 

Zealand group, a cheerleading team, various bands and vocal groups, including a great band formed 

from the present staff under the direction of Mr Dave Stuart, head of the fantastic music department. 

There was also a dance group of Pacific Islanders who are now students at Logan Campus of Griffith 

University and even a tasteful burlesque dance number. We enjoyed hearing the delightful voice, once 

again, of Mina Aiolupo with her instrumental and vocal group. Mina became the face of Creative 

Generation a number of years ago when she featured on the poster leading up to the event. 

The quality of performance right throughout the afternoon and evening was simply superb. The 

younger children danced along in front of the stage and enjoyed taking part in a Gangnam Style dance 

competition. As the evening drew near to the end of what was an absolute feast of talent, a huge 

welcome back was given to Junior Finau and his group, as they brought many in the crowd to their feet 

to dance and enjoy their great music. 

As the night built to a climax, having enjoyed solos, duets and larger groups bringing us great acts 

including rap, hip-hop, reggae, blues, pop and gospel, the air suddenly became electric and the crowd 

surged forward to surround the dance floor—enter AOB, Academy of Brothers, although I did notice 

quite a few girls in the group. AOB comprised students from Woodridge High and many other high 

schools. They had won the Australian hip-hop title for 2012. They then travelled to the USA, where they 

placed eighth out of 25 international groups. I have to say that during their long, intricate routine their 

bodies performed feats that I thought no human body could accomplish. The group numbered about 30 

or so and kept the large crowd completely spellbound. Go Woodridge High! 

(Time expired)


School Chaplains 

Ms MILLARD (Sandgate—LNP) (12.26 am): It is great to finally have this adjournment debate to 

be able to talk about this topic, which is chaplaincy. I rise today to speak in support of Queensland’s 

chaplains and the National School Chaplaincy Program. In recent weeks I attended the 10th 

anniversary of chaplaincy at the Bracken Ridge State High School, the first in my electorate to take on a 

school chaplain. Now there are six chaplains in my electorate servicing eight schools—almost every 

state school in my electorate. This demonstrates strong support, even by Queensland standards, with 

chaplains in around 50 per cent of our schools. I commend Premier Campbell Newman for being one of 

the first to speak out in support of chaplains following the recent High Court challenge, and for 

committing funding of $1 million over four years to provide better access to chaplaincy in our schools. 

Chaplaincy is one of those rare initiatives that has long had bipartisan support, and I believe that 

this is a source of national pride. Former Prime Minister John Howard initiated the National School 

Chaplaincy Program in 2007 and now there are over 500 chaplains in over 600 schools in Queensland. 

Their job is not to convert—though many come from a faith based background—but to guide, be a role 

model and provide emotional, ethical and practical support services for students. This ranges from 

listening, to helping on school camps, to running breakfast clubs. They do not wear the badge of 

counsellor but, as explained by Scripture Union Queensland CEO Peter James, they are trained youth 

workers who refer when they need to and are there for everyone, from kids with serious emotional 

needs to kids with everyday problems. 

At the community level, I hear few voices of dissent regarding the value of chaplains. As one 

commentator in my local newspaper said— 

Sometimes life is hard. With today’s rates of bullying, broken homes and mental illness, wouldn’t you think that having an adult to 

confide in at school is a good thing? At school the kids all love our Chappy and the safe space she offers. 

On a personal level, I was talking to a chaplain recently and this is what this chaplain said— 

I am too busy every day to actually worry about what people who don’t support chaplaincy say. It’s always wonderful to get 

encouragement, but ultimately it’s about the kids. I’m in it for them, supporting them when they are facing tough times, be that a 

parental break up, death in the family, or friendship issues. I have seen the impact one kind gesture makes for a child who would 

otherwise feel isolated and awkward. I have seen in my role, that this simple act of listening, hearing someone out, empowers 

them. 

So, fellow MPs, are we listening? Because if that is what it is all about then our young ones are in 

good hands. I commend all members here today to stay on course in sending a political message that 

we continue to value the input of chaplains in our schools and communities. Let’s stay on course in 

supporting fundraising efforts and the best legislative environment possible so that they can do what 

they do best: improve the lives of future generations. 

Women 

Mrs CUNNINGHAM (Gladstone—Ind) (12.29 am): The Commonwealth parliamentary women’s 

association has a number of agenda items but in particular three action agenda items: universal 

chlamydia screening; to address the sexualisation of minors and children in the media; and digital 

enhancement of images in print and electronic media. In particular, we have been concerned recently 

about the sexualisation of minors and children, particularly portrayed through the media. The Queen 

Victoria Women’s Centre is concerned about damaging media portrayals of women and girls including 

gender stereotypes; unhealthy and unrealistic portrayals of ‘body and beauty’ ideals; misrepresentation 

of body image through digital image manipulation; and sexualisation and objectification of women, 

especially young women and girls. 

SeeMe was set up by a group of students. The SeeMe evaluation concludes— 

Building young people’s media literacy skills is crucial as they construct a sense of self within a social environment that is 

characterised by pervasive and unrealistic media messages delivered in a multiplicity of forms. The SeeMe Evaluation has 

demonstrated the effectiveness of programs such as SeeMe in encouraging young people to critically analyse and deconstruct 

media images such that they can cultivate more realistic appraisals of their own bodies and thus resilience against the 

undermining influence of the media. 

On a day-to-day basis, even when watching our local TV, you can see how unrealistic some of the 

images of women are. In my electorate there are a number of ads for make-up, and when you look 

closely at the young people in the ads who are portrayed to be mature adults they would be lucky if they 

were 12. It is obvious when you look at their skin that they have not reached puberty. They do not have 

any problem with the reaction girls face when they become teenagers. Their physical size is very, very 

small—unattainable, particularly for a woman who has had a couple of kids. This is the sort of 

information that young people are constantly being fed. Unless they are taught to view these images on 

the TV very critically they will absorb the information as if it is fact.


I would like to commend the education of young people by parents and others. I am not passing 

this off to the schools. But we as parents should sit in front of the TV and when an ad comes on say, 

‘How old do you think those people are?’ And when the kids automatically say, ‘They would be in their 

20s, Mum,’ we should say, ‘No. They are lucky if they are as old as you are.’ Otherwise they are going to 

have that poor body image. 


Fire and Rescue Service 

Mr PUCCI (Logan—LNP) (12.32 am): I am honoured to rise today to acknowledge the exemplary 

services rendered by our Rural Fire Service—in particular, those who have worked tirelessly on the 

Spring Mountain blaze. Midafternoon on 15 October, local rural firefighters from the Greenbank brigade, 

assisted by units from Jimboomba, responded to a fire in rugged and inaccessible terrain. Identifying the 

risks and the environmental conditions immediately, our volunteer brigades developed an incident action 

plan that was put into immediate effect. With this swift response to such a dynamic and dangerous 

situation, a rapid response from full-time and voluntary personnel of the Queensland Fire and Rescue 

Service was possible. 

Their coordinated tactics held them in the best position to tackle a challenging situation. At the 

height of the blaze some 3,800 hectares had been consumed by its ferocious power. As fire weather 

conditions deteriorated, a significant threat was posed to homes, property and businesses. With more 

than 180 firefighters and 80 fire appliances being deployed, every step was being undertaken to control 

and extinguish the blaze. With fire conditions continuing to present themselves, an expected wind 

change that failed to come about offered a slight reprieve and led to the fire burning itself out. This 

reprieve was shortly followed by rainfall that effectively quelled the remainder of the fire. 

Over the course of just more than a week, this fire ravaged bushland and threatened local 

property and natural habitats. Though no property was lost, that would most likely have not been the 

case if not for the rapid response of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service. A further tribute to the 

professionalism and character of the QFRS was demonstrated when a community brief was held at the 

height of the incident. The presentation, led by representatives from emergency services, moved to 

reassure locals. Volunteers from across South-East Queensland promptly responded to the call, with 

crews responding to their blaze from the Lockyer region, Caboolture, Deception Bay and the Gold 

Coast. Their swift action, unit cohesiveness and drive to serve their greater community is the sole 

reason a disaster was avoided. Our community owes them a debt of gratitude. 

The firefighters, in both red trucks and yellow trucks, worked tirelessly together throughout the 

incident providing essential command and control, operational and logistical support to the crews on the 

front line. Their actions represented the integral elements of teamwork and how together real results can 

be achieved. The combined strength and resources of our rural and urban brigades working together 

under one banner created a formidable force for firefighting and any other hazard emergency 

responses. 

As we head into what has been described as a tough fire season, our community will rely more 

and more on the volunteers who put a halt to their lives to save the lives and livelihoods of others. I urge 

all residents to have an evacuation plan in place for their homes and business. Preparation is the key 

that may just save lives. I am proud to speak today to recognise, support and honour the efforts of the 

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and all of our emergency services both permanent and voluntary. 

They are a credit to our community. 


Silkstone Baptist Church 

Mr BERRY (Ipswich—LNP) (12.35 am): On Saturday, 27 October 2012 it was a pleasure to have 

attended the Silkstone Baptist Church celebration for 100 years of service to Silkstone and its 

surrounding areas. A venerable cornerstone of the community, the Silkstone Baptist Church has helped 

countless people overcome adversity in their lives and has generously given to those in need. It was an 

honour to have been present for such a momentous milestone in the church's history. Both Councillor 

Bruce Casos of the Ipswich City Council and I were privileged to give a greeting message to the Baptist 

Silkstone community. 

The church first started on 11 November 1911 when a group of interested deacons and lay 

preachers of the Ipswich Baptist Church met to discuss the prospects of opening a Baptist work in 

Silkstone. A few short months later the first church services were being conducted in March 1912. By 

the end of the year a wooden church building was erected on the current site of the church today for a 

total cost of $1,000 at the time.


During the late 1920s the church recorded the greatest periods of growth, both spiritually and 

materially. The congregation had a vision of expanding the church to a brick building capable of seating 

their increasing needs, beginning work in 1928. By 1929 the Baptist Tabernacle, as it was originally 

known, was complete and ready to seat 350 people. In 1967 a Christian education block was erected. In 

1978 the school hall was expanded, and in 1981 a new front porch was added to the main tabernacle 

building creating the church today as its followers know it. 

The church has offered many outreach programs over its life including, more recently, support for 

widows and a counselling ministry. During the war years the church kept contact with local men serving 

in the forces at home and overseas, also supporting Baptists in England through funds such as the 

Bombed Baptists of Britain Appeal. Throughout Australia the immediate postwar years were dedicated 

to returning to normalcy and consolidation, and during this period the church kept up its support of war 

sufferers contributing to the Money for Food for Britain scheme. 

This event had other surprises for me. Ian Smallbone and his band Family performed for the 

parishioners. Ian and I shared a grade 7 teacher together. It was comforting that his memory was in fine 

form, as I thought we met each other in grade 4. I commend Senior Pastor Reverend Daryl Rossow and 

his leadership team on the hard work that they have put into the church. In particular, I note the 

substantial contribution of the steering committee under the guidance of Mr Ken Clarke. Ken's wife, 

Helen, should be also commended for her perseverance over the many years in the organisation of this 

momentous event. For over 100 years Silkstone Baptist Church has enriched the lives of many people 

in the local community and the devotion of its members, I am sure, will see the church strongly through 

another 100 years. 

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, Cardiac Challenge 

Mr PITT (Mulgrave—ALP) (12.38 am): In 2007 cardiovascular disease was a primary cause of 

death for over 46,000 Australians, representing one-third of all deaths that year. Despite major gains 

over the last 40 years, there is still a 50 per cent chance of a person dying from their first heart attack. 

Cardiovascular disease continues to have a major effect on the health of Australians. 

I was very proud on 29 September to be one of more than 300 riders who took part in the Far 

North Queensland Hospital Foundation’s Cardiac Challenge, which is a bike ride from Cairns to 

Cooktown of more than 335 kilometres. This bike ride is a logistical piece of excellence. It is organised 

by the marketing and promotions coordinator from the FNQ Hospital Foundation, Glenys Duncombe, 

who is well known in the Far North Queensland area as someone who just gets the job done. Glenys 

and the team are doing major works bringing on board the defence forces, the SES and local 

sponsors—you name it, everyone who was anyone in the region was involved. I was particularly 

pleased to have been able to ride basically every metre of that ride barring one section. I am still 

recovering from a bit of illness myself. It was a terrific thing. Pack riding is an experience and, if you 

have not done it before, being 30 centimetres off the wheel in front of you is a hair-raising experience. 

The ride itself raised more than $320,000 for cardiac support in the Cairns region. This is typical 

of the very generous nature of people in Cairns and Far North Queensland given that we have an 

unemployment rate of upwards of 9.7 per cent. People are doing it tough but they are still giving of their 

money and their hearts. This has not stopped with the cardiac challenge, though. Since that time this 

group has noticed an appeal put out by the Cairns Post about a 10-year-old boy in the community of 

Yarrabah. 

Charles Fourmile is a young man who is suffering from adrenoleukodystrophy. ALD was the 

subject of the Hollywood movie Lorenzo's Oil in the 1990s. It is a progressive genetic disease and 

unfortunately in most cases it proves fatal as there is deterioration of the nervous system. Charles does 

not have a very good life expectancy. As his condition deteriorates, he is going to be requiring air 

conditioning in his home in Yarrabah. Riders from the cardiac challenge are banding together, hopefully 

on 18 November, to do a ride over the Yarrabah range, which is a very gruelling piece of landscape to 

get across. We do hope they are able to do that and raise money at the same time. I want to say thank 

you to Melanie Petrinec, a journalist from the Cairns Post who I think has taken a real interest in Charles 

and his family. I think the people of Yarrabah in the electorate of Mulgrave certainly appreciate it. 

Rosewood State High School, Awards Night 

Mr CHOAT (Ipswich West—LNP) (12.41 am): I rise tonight to speak about my fantastic 

Rosewood State High School. Last night I was privileged to be able to leave this place to attend their 

annual awards night. I can report to the House that I was totally blown away by the fantastic night that 

was completely facilitated by the students themselves. The Rosewood school captains hosted the 

evening, with entertainment provided by the talented year 12 dancers and the school's band. Kacie 

Heath, Zoey Major, Sergio Paez and Alex Dowdle were gracious and professional and never missed a 

beat throughout the entire event.

2352 Attendance 31 Oct 2012 

There were so many great students recognised on the night from year 8 through to the terrific 

year 12 seniors. The school dux is the lovely Kacie Heath and the runner-up is Alex Reig. I know the 

time here is limited so I will quickly go through some of the people including the year 12 prize winners: 

Rhys Attard, Jaymes Branch, Zachary Christensen, Jessica De’Ruyter, Alex Dowdle, Katelyn Fritz, 

Bonnie Goullet, Kacie Heath, Leonard Johnston, Benjamin Ludgater, Zoey Major, Elizabeth Mills, 

Brendan Muller, Joshua Newton, Sergio Paez, Thomas Probst, Jesikah Rea, Emma Reid, Alexander 

Reig, Jason Rossiter, Kristi Sampson, Renee Schulz, Kayla Tierney, Josie Vaughan, Dylan Wieland, 

Bridie Willmette and Alysha Young. 

Other awards were won by Tyson Wintzloff, Robert Young, Hailey Barry, Alex Dowdle and 

Scarlett Brown. Vocational Education and Training Awards were won by Zachary Christensen, Chelsea 

Martin, Codey Morris, Rebecca Topp and Jayden Turner. Matthew Burgmeister, Kacie Heath and Tuyet 

Ngo were awarded Australian Defence Force awards. Emily Maguire and Alexander Reig took out other 

awards. School leadership awards were won by Alex Dowdle, Kacie Heath, Zoey Major, Sergio Paez, 

Stella Knight, Naomi McKenzie, Timothy Young and Chris Wilson. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islander student of the year was Jazmin Jablonski. The Principal’s Special Recognition Awards were 

won by Phillipa Prole, Kristi Sampson and Matthew Tanner. The Caltex Best All Rounder Award was 

awarded to the terrific young Alex Dowdle. The top academics were Isabel Daw, Megan Maguire, 

Analeise Wintzloff, Timothy Young, Sam Wieland, Robert Young, Chloe Ah Sam and Amelia Rushby. 

Principal Lyn Culverhouse and her entire staff body must be congratulated for such a remarkable 

student body in a truly outstanding reflection of their quality learning environment. I thank the Rosewood 

State High School community for a great night and wish all year 12 students a long and very prosperous 

future. It gives me such pleasure to have schools like this in my electorate and others including Lowood, 

Ipswich State High and WestMAC. They are all a pleasure. I love going out there and I know there are 

great things ahead for all of those students. 

Question put—That the House do now adjourn. 


The House adjourned at 12.45 am (Thursday). 

ATTENDANCE 

Barton, Bennett, Berry, Bleijie, Boothman, Byrne, Cavallucci, Choat, Costigan, Cox, Crandon, 

Cripps, Crisafulli, Cunningham, Davies, C. Davis, T. Davis, Dempsey, Dickson, Dillaway, Douglas, 

Dowling, Driscoll, Elmes, Emerson, Flegg, Frecklington, Gibson, Grant, Grimwade, Gulley, Hart, 

Hathaway, Hobbs, Holswich, Hopper, Johnson, Judge, Katter, Kaye, Kempton, Knuth, Krause, 

Langbroek, Latter, Maddern, Malone, Mander, McArdle, McVeigh, Menkens, Millard, Miller, Minnikin, 

Molhoek, Mulherin, Newman, Nicholls, Ostapovitch, Palaszczuk, Pitt, Powell, Pucci, Rice, Rickuss, 

Robinson, Ruthenberg, Scott, Seeney, Shorten, Shuttleworth, Simpson, Smith, Springborg, Stevens, 

Stewart, Stuckey, Symes, Trad, Trout, Walker, Watts, Wellington, Woodforth, Young

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