weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

2544 Ministerial Statement 23 Aug 2005
A copy of the relevant notification from the Queensland Government Gazette will be tabled.
I sought the Governor in Council’s approval to transfer responsibility for these groups, so I can focus more time and energy on
working with the Health Minister, Stephen Robertson, to improve the health system.
Upholding accountability is central to this government and I will continue to keep a watch on matters of integrity and transparency.
However after years of building accountability and openness in the wake of National Party corruption, I have faith in the machinery
that upholds integrity in government.
On the other hand it is crystal clear that we must work very hard to rebuild Queenslanders’ confidence in the health system.
I have said since the reshuffle that I would use my position as Treasurer to focus on health, and would work closely with Stephen
Robertson—who is performing extremely well as our new Health Minister.
The CMC, Misconduct Tribunals and Ombudsman operate independently of government.
They monitor and oversee the integrity, transparency and accountability of the Queensland public sector.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is responsible for the administration of the justice system and for the operation of
other similarly independent bodies, such as the courts and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
It makes sense to transfer responsibility to Mrs Lavarch, because she and her agencies have the expertise to support these
accountability watchdogs.
This arrangement is consistent with arrangements for the Australian Crime Commission and the Western Australian Corruption
and Crime Commission.
Arrangements have been made between the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Justice and Attorney-
General to ensure a smooth transition of administration.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
Ideas Festival
Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (9.46 am): Eight months
before the 2006 Ideas Festival Queenslanders are already showing a strong appetite for the thought
provoking lectures. At 6 pm tomorrow night, that is Wednesday, 24 August, international commentator
John Ralston Saul will give an ideas lecture at the Cremorne Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts
Centre, and I seek leave to incorporate details in Hansard.
Leave granted.
All tickets sold more than 2 weeks in advance.
Saul is a Canadian with a reputation for stoking debate about issues including democracy and globalisation.
Whether you love his ideas or oppose them, it can’t be denied that he has influenced thought and debate around the world.
This will be his only Queensland lecture on a tour to discuss his new work, The Collapse of Globalism and the Reinvention of the
World’.
Through the Ideas Festival we are able to attract to Queensland leading international thinkers to present their ideas and foster
debate.
In June a sell-out audience of more than 800 people heard a lecture by internationally renowned historian Jared Diamond.
The enthusiastic response to the lead-in events presented by the Ideas Festival shows that people in the Smart State are keen to
hear and debate new and challenging ideas.
The calibre of people presenting these lead-up lectures gives a taste of what we can expect from the full Festival in 2006.
The Queensland Government is presenting the Ideas Festival, with major sponsors are Griffith University and Brisbane Airport
Corporation.
The Ideas Festival will run from 29 March—2 April 2006 at South Bank.
For more information visit www.ideasfestival.com.au.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
Water Subsidies
Hon. H PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Minister for Natural Resources and Mines) (9.46 am): The
Queensland government is taking the lead on the urban water problems in south-east Queensland, but
everyone—local councils, industry and householders—all have a part to play. We cannot make it rain,
but we can make sure we get the best possible value out of every drop of water that is available.
We have to look at the short, medium and long-term initiatives and we cannot wait until we are in
the middle of a crisis to act. We have to get ahead of the game and that is exactly what our government
is doing. Our local governments and the state government have already done an enormous amount of
work on south-east Queensland’s water problems. We estimate that the state government will contribute
around about $380 million over the next five years to south-east Queensland local authorities as part of
our subsidy scheme. This is more than trebling the $113 million in subsidies that the state government
has made to the councils over the past five years.
As part of this commitment to boost subsidies we are bringing forward an additional $10 million
for the 2005-06 year to assist local governments to implement water conservation measures such as