RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

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.