RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

31 Oct 2012 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 2341
After weeks of anxiety for people with a disability and their families, the minister finally saw the
light to remove the cap on the scheme. In an attempt to justify his backflip, the minister cited the 2011
Department of Transport and Main Roads report, which included a statement that membership of the
scheme had increased by 98 per cent. When asked to table the 2011 report the minister initially refused,
but then he produced a one-page executive summary from a 36-page report and tabled it. I suggested
that the minister’s decision to withdraw the cap on the subsidy scheme had more to do with the petition
of 5,000 Queenslanders who had signed for the cap to be removed.
In summary, the minister’s answers to the Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee
were filled with inaccuracies and attempted to avoid genuine scrutiny. In essence, he was more
concerned with his performance for the cameras than with his performance as transport minister of this
state.
Mr SHORTEN (Algester—LNP) (11.40 pm): I rise to make my contribution to the debate in
relation to the 2012-13 budget estimates process. I begin by putting on the record my thanks to the
member for Warrego, Howard Hobbs, chair of the Transport, Housing and Local Government
Committee. As a first-termer in this House I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to serve with
and learn from such a distinguished and long-serving member of this Assembly. His guidance during
committee hearings, both private and public, has been invaluable.
I would also like to thank the other members of the committee: Mrs Desley Scott, member for
Woodridge; Mr John Grant, member for Springwood; Mr Darren Grimwade, member for Morayfield;
Mr Trevor Ruthenberg, member for Kallangur; Mrs Tarnya Smith, member for Mount Ommaney; and
Mr Bill Byrne, member for Rockhampton. I believe that I serve on one of the hardest working
committees of this parliament and, again, feel privileged to work alongside these dedicated and
professional people. All honourable members know that without the support of the secretariat none of
what we do would be possible, and I put on record my thanks to the secretariat of the committee.
I think it is very important that we remember the environment in which these estimates hearings
were held. The Newman government was elected resoundingly on 24 March by a Queensland public
that was sick and tired of a 20-year Labor government which had a track record of reckless and wasteful
spending—a government that maxed out the state’s credit card and did not care, a government that
thought it could just constantly increase the cost of living for hardworking Queenslanders to pay the debt
that that government had run up. Queenslanders spoke clearly on election day. They wanted a
government that had a plan for the future, a leader who had a vision and a track record of delivering on
his word. Queenslanders made the decision on the make-up of the Newman government, and they also
decided to send a clear message to the now opposition, which they did.
I was very happy with the estimates process. I found that the ministers we questioned—the
Minister for Transport, the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Local Government—were across
their very difficult portfolios. I found their answers to our questions detailed and professional. I commend
the ministers on their vision for their departments—a vision which has involved some very hard
decisions which were unavoidable in light of the shocking financial position the previous government left
them in.
Turning to each portfolio area individually, I begin with the Minister for Transport. Given the
complexity of the portfolio and the sheer size of the organisation, I commend the minister on his
leadership—something not shown by previous transport ministers. I was able to ask about a number of
transport related issues that affect the Algester electorate. Though I am happy with the answers I
received, I know that the minister knows that I will continue to advocate for the Salisbury-Beaudesert rail
link and the safety upgrade on the Logan on-ramp. The minister, I am sure, understands the pressure
that a fast-growing area such as Algester places upon existing transport infrastructure. With future
growth identified in my region, a rail line is required sooner rather than later.
As members know, I am a great supporter of public housing, and I commend the minister, the
Hon. Bruce Flegg, on his leadership of his department. I believe that Minister Flegg will go down as the
greatest housing minister this state has seen. Given the shocking financial state he inherited from the
previous government—a government which was selling houses to fund its expenses—Minister Flegg
has refocused the department on its core business: putting roofs over the heads of Queenslanders who
need them.
We have heard that there are over 30,000 people on the waiting list for public housing. The
minister has brought a new set of eyes to this problem and he is getting results. He is housing
Queenslanders. As expressed in the report, Minister Flegg plans to increase available serviceable
public housing, reduce the backlog of housing requests, ensure the maintenance of public housing is of
a high standard and review and renew tenancy agreements. The minister has started a pilot housing
program in Logan. He has cut red tape by removing sustainability declarations for real estate sales. He
has outlined a strategy to deal with antisocial behaviour and serious repeat offenders in social housing.