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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

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31 Oct 2012 Appropriation (<strong>Parliament</strong>) Bill; Appropriation Bill 2341<br />

After weeks of anxiety for people with a disability and their families, the minister finally saw the<br />

light to remove the cap on the scheme. In an attempt to justify his backflip, the minister cited the 2011<br />

Department of Transport and Main Roads report, which included a statement that membership of the<br />

scheme had increased by 98 per cent. When asked to table the 2011 report the minister initially refused,<br />

but then he produced a one-page executive summary from a 36-page report and tabled it. I suggested<br />

that the minister’s decision to withdraw the cap on the subsidy scheme had more to do with the petition<br />

of 5,000 <strong>Queensland</strong>ers who had signed for the cap to be removed.<br />

In summary, the minister’s answers to the Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee<br />

were filled with inaccuracies and attempted to avoid genuine scrutiny. In essence, he was more<br />

concerned with his performance for the cameras than with his performance as transport minister of this<br />

state.<br />

Mr SHORTEN (Algester—LNP) (11.40 pm): I rise to make my contribution to the debate in<br />

relation to the 2012-13 budget estimates process. I begin by putting on the record my thanks to the<br />

member for Warrego, Howard Hobbs, chair of the Transport, Housing and Local Government<br />

Committee. As a first-termer in this House I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to serve with<br />

and learn from such a distinguished and long-serving member of this Assembly. His guidance during<br />

committee hearings, both private and public, has been invaluable.<br />

I would also like to thank the other members of the committee: Mrs Desley Scott, member for<br />

Woodridge; Mr John Grant, member for Springwood; Mr Darren Grimwade, member for Morayfield;<br />

Mr Trevor Ruthenberg, member for Kallangur; Mrs Tarnya Smith, member for Mount Ommaney; and<br />

Mr Bill Byrne, member for Rockhampton. I believe that I serve on one of the hardest working<br />

committees of this parliament and, again, feel privileged to work alongside these dedicated and<br />

professional people. All honourable members know that without the support of the secretariat none of<br />

what we do would be possible, and I put on record my thanks to the secretariat of the committee.<br />

I think it is very important that we remember the environment in which these estimates hearings<br />

were held. The Newman government was elected resoundingly on 24 March by a <strong>Queensland</strong> public<br />

that was sick and tired of a 20-year Labor government which had a track record of reckless and wasteful<br />

spending—a government that maxed out the state’s credit card and did not care, a government that<br />

thought it could just constantly increase the cost of living for hardworking <strong>Queensland</strong>ers to pay the debt<br />

that that government had run up. <strong>Queensland</strong>ers spoke clearly on election day. They wanted a<br />

government that had a plan for the future, a leader who had a vision and a track record of delivering on<br />

his word. <strong>Queensland</strong>ers made the decision on the make-up of the Newman government, and they also<br />

decided to send a clear message to the now opposition, which they did.<br />

I was very happy with the estimates process. I found that the ministers we questioned—the<br />

Minister for Transport, the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Local Government—were across<br />

their very difficult portfolios. I found their answers to our questions detailed and professional. I commend<br />

the ministers on their vision for their departments—a vision which has involved some very hard<br />

decisions which were unavoidable in light of the shocking financial position the previous government left<br />

them in.<br />

Turning to each portfolio area individually, I begin with the Minister for Transport. Given the<br />

complexity of the portfolio and the sheer size of the organisation, I commend the minister on his<br />

leadership—something not shown by previous transport ministers. I was able to ask about a number of<br />

transport related issues that affect the Algester electorate. Though I am happy with the answers I<br />

received, I know that the minister knows that I will continue to advocate for the Salisbury-Beaudesert rail<br />

link and the safety upgrade on the Logan on-ramp. The minister, I am sure, understands the pressure<br />

that a fast-growing area such as Algester places upon existing transport infrastructure. With future<br />

growth identified in my region, a rail line is required sooner rather than later.<br />

As members know, I am a great supporter of public housing, and I commend the minister, the<br />

Hon. Bruce Flegg, on his leadership of his department. I believe that Minister Flegg will go down as the<br />

greatest housing minister this state has seen. Given the shocking financial state he inherited from the<br />

previous government—a government which was selling houses to fund its expenses—Minister Flegg<br />

has refocused the department on its core business: putting roofs over the heads of <strong>Queensland</strong>ers who<br />

need them.<br />

We have heard that there are over 30,000 people on the waiting list for public housing. The<br />

minister has brought a new set of eyes to this problem and he is getting results. He is housing<br />

<strong>Queensland</strong>ers. As expressed in the report, Minister Flegg plans to increase available serviceable<br />

public housing, reduce the backlog of housing requests, ensure the maintenance of public housing is of<br />

a high standard and review and renew tenancy agreements. The minister has started a pilot housing<br />

program in Logan. He has cut red tape by removing sustainability declarations for real estate sales. He<br />

has outlined a strategy to deal with antisocial behaviour and serious repeat offenders in social housing.

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