RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

31 Oct 2012 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 2279
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