RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

2322 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 31 Oct 2012
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.