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2274 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 31 Oct 2012 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.
31 Oct 2012 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 2275 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.
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31 Oct 2012 Adjournment 2347 Early
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31 Oct 2012 Adjournment 2351 During
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