Queensland is looking more and more like a country and western film following the return of criminal motorcycle gangs and revelations of a gun-toting Police Minister Bill Byrne.
Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said Minister Byrne’s admission that he had fired weapons in his own home, and his continued backing from the Premier herself, would only leave Queenslanders wondering if the Palaszczuk Labor Government condoned outlaw behaviour.
“This is Queensland, not the Wild West, and the Premier’s comments over the weekend that is was legal for people in urban areas to discharge their firearms in their own homes were clueless and reckless,” Mr Springborg.
“The hundreds of thousands of licensed shooters know this is illegal, why doesn’t the Premier know that this Minister is in breach of laws he is responsible for administering?
“The Premier’s comments over the weekend were totally inappropriate and sounded far from those of someone tasked with running the state.
“With a government like this at the helm, it’s no wonder criminal motorcycle gangs are making their way back to Queensland in droves, but the Premier continues with her reckless plan to water-down the LNP’s tough-on-crime laws to keep them out of our state.
“This is further evidence of a clueless government with no plan that is putting Queenslanders’ safety at risk.”
Mr Springborg called on the Premier to stand down the Police Minister pending a full investigation into the allegations.
“This is the same man responsible for ensuring Queensland is a safe place to live, work and raise a family, but his behaviour is far from fitting for a Minister of the Crown,” he said.
“Instead of her typical know-nothing, do-nothing response, the Premier should act and stand down her Minister and send Queenslanders a message that this kind of conduct is not acceptable.”
Queensland is going in the wrong direction under a do-nothing Labor Government frozen at the wheel.
The Courier-Mail Galaxy Queensland Index released today has shown that confidence has slumped to its lowest level since the Palaszczuk Government won the election a year ago.
Shadow Treasurer John-Paul Langbroek said the results were disappointing, but not surprising, given the inexperience, incompetence and internal chaos that had plagued Annastacia Palaszczuk and her government over the last 12 months.
“It’s no secret Queensland is currently facing many global challenges, but what this survey shows is that Queenslanders are clearly concerned the Palaszczuk Government doesn’t have the ability to overcome these challenges,” Mr Langbroek said.
“The Premier and her Treasurer Curtis Pitt have done nothing to boost confidence since coming into power, and this week we’ve see the damage this inaction can do to our economy.
“Queenslanders have had enough of the excuses and blame games, what they need and deserve is a plan but sadly Labor doesn’t have one.”
Mr Langbroek said the Courier-Mail’s Queensland Index wasn’t the only survey that had shown a huge drop in business confidence.
“The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland’s (CCIQ) Pulse Survey showed a significant decline in business confidence and conditions in the last 12 months and state government inaction is listed as one of the top two factors weighing on business sentiment,” he said.
“Last month the Property Council released its latest quarterly survey, which showed a year on from the Queensland election the confidence of the state’s property industry has stagnated.
“The CommSec State of the States report showed Queensland is part of a third tier of economies and the Sensis Business Index, showed only 10 per cent of businesses in Queensland believe the current government’s policies are supportive of them.
“This was topped off by disappointing jobs figures released by the ABS in recent weeks with Queensland experiencing the largest jump in the unemployment rate of any state in Australia last month.”
Mr Langbroek said it was time for the Palaszczuk Labor Government to stop reviewing, start doing and get to work.
“The LNP has the experience, competence and stability needed to take Queensland forward,” he said.
“Our team stands ready to unleash our great state’s potential.”
Against a worsening jobs crisis in the Fitzroy, further evidence has emerged of the damage caused by Bill Byrne’s shutdown of the local seafood industry.
Rockhampton’s Glenmore Seafoods has shed two full-time and two part-time staff as a direct result of Labor’s ‘net-free’ zones which local Member Bill Byrne promised would deliver tourism jobs.
Shadow Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Deb Frecklington said Mr Byrne had refused to listen to well-founded warnings from Glenmore Seafoods owners Mark and Vicki Bush when he was the Minister responsible and now locals were paying the price.
“The owners of Glenmore Seafoods warned Mr Byrne his decision would cost their business as much as $1 million in cash flow a year and that jobs would be lost,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Sadly, those warnings from the owners of an established business have borne out and there is only one person to blame, and that’s Bill Byrne.”
Mrs Frecklington said latest figures showed 3,800 jobs were lost in the region in the past year and thanks to Bill Byrne the local, sustainable seafood industry was really hurting.
She repeated her calls for the Palaszczuk government to reverse its poorly thought-through policy, if at the end of 12 months, the Fitzroy ‘net-free’ zones had not delivered any jobs in tourism.
“Mark and Vicki Bush are local business owners who know their industry and their community and what makes it tick and they’ve been snubbed by Bill Byrne and the Palaszczuk Labor government who treated them and their employees with contempt,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Labor refuses to accept not every tourist who likes seafood wants to physically fish.
“Shutting down a local sustainable industry and destroying local jobs makes absolutely no sense.”
Mrs Frecklington said the Palaszczuk Labor Government was frozen at the wheel, beholden to union bosses and green groups.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk is a know-nothing Premier leading a do-nothing government that is holding Queensland back,” she said.
“Only the LNP has the competence, experience and stability to take out great state forward and unleash its true potential.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government today kicked the Hendra virus impasse between vets and horse owners into the long grass by announcing an inquiry which will take six months to report.
Shadow Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Deb Frecklington said Labor’s lengthy inquiry would affect thousands of people whose lives and businesses were impacted by Hendra and proved the government and the Minister had no intention of taking personal charge of this major issue in the horse industry.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is dragging horse vets through the courts over alleged failures to follow Hendra protocols, but is now directing a committee to investigate – further proof this government is frozen at the wheel,” Ms Frecklington said.
“This is a Minister and a government that shoots first, then asks a committee to look into it.
“This is a reckless government that’s failed horse owners, failed horse vets and failed the broader community. We can't wait for six months for possible solutions. We need action now.”
Ms Frecklington said Labor wanted the Agriculture and Environment Committee to examine the efficacy of Hendra vaccine; who will bear the risks; workplace health and safety decisions by vets; and the impacts of (some) vets not being prepared to treat unvaccinated horses.
“By dragging vets into the courts, the government has left them with little choice,” she said.
“Vet practices are being threatened with massive fines of up to $600,000 under vague workplace health and safety guidelines which are clearly not understood by the industry and contain protocols that vets find impractical and indeed dangerous.”
Ms Frecklington, who has called for the prosecutions to be put on hold pending a roundtable of all stakeholders led by Ministers, said the Palaszczuk Labor Government was adding another inquiry to the 80-plus already in place.
“This is Labor's way of pretending to do something about this issue. While I'm glad my pressure has resulted in a response, I'm really disappointed in how the Minister is washing her hands of the issue,” she said.
“This will leave people in the lurch for another six months and create even more angst for everyone in the horse industry.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government has stuck its head in the sand over concerns raised about the length of the ‘phase-in’ period for photoelectric smoke alarms being considered by Parliament.
Shadow Fire and Emergency Services Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the LNP Opposition was worried about reports at today’s Parliamentary committee hearing that the Labor Government and Minister Bill Byrne were refusing to consult over the issue.
“We strongly support the introduction of photoelectric smoke alarms in Queensland homes which is why we introduced legislation in December 2015 in an attempt to make them law,” Mr Bleijie said.
“Labor could have saved time by simply supporting the LNP’s laws, rather than playing petty political games – but ultimately we’re glad they have backed our push for the life-saving change.
“When we consulted with the community, experts and support groups we are hearing the same thing – the ten-year ‘phase-in’ proposed by the government is simply too long and will put lives at risk.
“It’s disappointing that once again the Palaszczuk Labor Government is frozen at the wheel, playing second fiddle to the LNP on mental health, smoking laws, protection for firefighters and now smoke alarms.”
Louie Naumovski, founder of the Logan House Fire Support Network appeared before the Parliamentary committee and has been advocating for the change to photoelectric smoke alarms for over twelve months.
“This shouldn’t be a political issue, it’s about saving lives,” Mr Naumovski said.
“When we met with the Opposition they were immediately supportive and it’s encouraging that the state government has come on board too.
“The ten year ‘phase-in’ period the government proposing is too long, action needs to be taken now and all we’re asking is that the government consults and considers changing that period.”
Mr Bleijie said despite the Coroner’s recommendations being released in November 2014, successive Palaszczuk Government Ministers continued to hold Queensland back by their failure to act.
“What we’ve seen over the last year is Minister Bill Byrne, and his predecessor Jo-Ann Miller, sit on their hands and refuse to consult with groups like the Logan House Fire Support Network,” he said.
“We would be happy to work on our bill if the Labor Government wanted to work with us – unfortunately Minister Byrne isn’t willing to put this issue above his own pride.
“Our Private Members’ Bill commences six months earlier than the government bill, with a three year ‘phase-in’ period rather than ten.
“How many lives will be lost in the seven and a half years because of Labor inaction and delay?”
Shadow Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Deb Frecklington has congratulated the five finalists in the 2016 Queensland Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (QRIRDC) Rural Women’s Awards.
Mrs Frecklington said the finalists were fantastic representatives for women across the agricultural sector in Queensland.
“Wherever I travel around Queensland in my role as Shadow Agriculture Minister, I meet amazing women doing many projects that highlight the agricultural industry,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Their achievements often go unnoticed, but the RIRDC Award is a way we can acknowledge how important their contribution to the sector really is.
“The finalists chosen this year represent a very diverse group of agriculture industries and specialties and they do show that much can be achieved in various ways to support agriculture.
“Congratulations must go to Award Winner Emma Robinson of Charters Towers for her Beef Co-operative project.
“Her passion for her family’s beef enterprise and her drive to establish a Beef Co-Operative to provide leverage in the supply chain is a great example of putting a good idea into practice.
“I visited one of the finalists, Krista Watkins of Walkamin, when I was in the Tablelands region last year. In fact, my family uses her banana resistant starch product every day.
“Krista is an excellent example of a rural woman seeing the opportunity to value-add to her family’s business and create an innovative product.
“Thank-you to RIRDC for their ongoing support of Rural Women and I look wish Emma good luck for the national awards.”
Photo 2 – With the RIRDC Finalists at the official presentations in Brisbane on 24th February.
The LNP Opposition has welcomed bi-partisan support towards making Queensland a healthier, smoke-free state with the Parliament passing laws to restrict smoking and protect Queenslanders.
The bill introduced by the Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle tackles passive smoking by banning smoking in pedestrian malls, taxi ranks, bus stops, skate parks, public pools and outside government buildings.
“I’m glad the State Government has put politics aside because these new laws are intended to save lives and are a big step towards making Queensland smoke-free,” Mr McArdle said.
“This is all about helping smokers give up, ensuring young people don’t take it up and protecting those who live or work in a smoking environment.
Mr McArdle said smoking killed 3,700 Queenslanders each year and one in 10 of those people had never smoked in their lives.
“The LNP has always been steadfast about curbing smoking in our community, we introduced some of the toughest anti-smoking laws in government, including a ban on smoking on or within five metres of health facilities and school grounds,” he said
“We want all Queenslanders to be safer and healthier and the laws passed by Parliament today go a long way to making that a reality.”
The Opposition’s Bill to ban smoking in pedestrian malls, taxi ranks, bus stops, skate parks, public pools and outside government buildings across Queensland is set to be debated in the near future by Parliament.
Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle said he urged the Palaszczuk Government and Katter’s Australian Party to support the new laws intended to save lives.
“The bill is about helping smokers give up, ensuring young people don’t take it up and protecting those who live or work in a smoking environment,” Mr McArdle said.
“When the LNP was in government we introduced some of the toughest anti-smoking laws, including a ban on smoking on or within five metres of health facilities and school grounds.
“By extending these bans to include public transport waiting points and pedestrian malls, we would provide a consistent and enforceable message about passive smoking as well.
“The LNP is determined to do everything in its power to ensure Queensland is the best state in Australia to live, work and raise a family.”
Mr McArdle said smoking killed 3,700 Queenslanders each year and one in 10 of those people had never smoked in their lives.
“Last year we introduced these changes to the Tobacco Act and these changes received the full support of a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee,” he said.
“I look forward to seeing this bill receive the full support of the Parliament and be successfully passed.
“The bill is there to save Queenslanders’ lives and to ensure we get a better, safer and healthier outcome for all.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s version of the LNP’s successful Royalties for Regions initiative has created just 44 jobs in 12 months after spending $30 million of taxpayer’s money.
Shadow Minister for State Development Andrew Cripps said Labor’s Building our Regions program was a very poor and ineffective cousin of the former LNP Government’s initiative.
“As I’ve said before, the Palaszczuk Government’s Building our Regions program is a smaller, shorter and narrower version of the LNP’s Royalties for Regions initiative,” Mr Cripps said.
“News today that Labor will bring forward funding from next financial year looks like a desperate attempt to cover up the fact that so far, Building our Regions hasn’t achieved much.
“Round One of the program has so far created only forty-four jobs across regional Queensland - that’s less than four jobs per month since the Palaszczuk Government came to office.
“No wonder Queensland’s job figures are so bad – with news today Queensland experienced the largest jump in the rate of unemployment of any Australian state last month - up to 6.4 per cent.”
Mr Cripps said Minister Lynham’s press release also revealed the administration of Labor’s program had stalled, with only eleven out of thirty-one Round One project agreements currently in place.
“Bringing forward more funding for Round Two from next financial year won’t do much if Labor can’t even manage the funding and the projects it has already approved in Round One,” he said.
“Under the Palaszczuk Government, employment figures in North and Central Queensland has declined significantly, so it’s vital this program starts performing properly.
“The former LNP Government’s Royalties for Regions initiative was warmly welcomed by the state’s regional communities and was Queensland’s first dedicated regional infrastructure fund.
“In contrast, the Palaszczuk Government’s Building our Regions program is smaller, shorter and narrower, which will provide fewer opportunities for regional communities to secure funding.”
Mr Cripps said despite previously criticising the LNP, Labor had adopted a streamlined application and assessment process similar to that utilised by the Royalties for Regions initiative.
In Queensland Parliament today Shadow Minister for Racing Jann Stuckey tabled a poster on behalf of the embattled racing industry which stated ‘Why does the Queensland Government HATE the racing industry?’
“After twelve months of sustained attacks and a blatant disregard for Queensland’s racing industry it is not surprising that those whose livelihoods depend upon it have finally lost their patience,” said Ms Stuckey.
“Queensland’s racing industry will be angered further by Minister Grace's self-praise in Parliament today, given Labor's ongoing attacks and cuts to the industry.”
Ms Stuckey said Minister Grace’s grandstanding in the Parliament today about Labor’s track record with country racing would have been laughable had it not been such a serious matter.
“The House erupted in disbelief when minister Grace made the comment ‘there is no greater supporter of country racing than the Palaszczuk Government’ as it was farcical in the extreme,” she said.
“This Government has taken funding responsibilities away from Racing Queensland and into Treasury, and we all know what that means - it will never come back and a number of Queensland’s 120 country clubs will be crushed under new capability regulations.
“Clearly the minister was trying to butter up angry industry stakeholders before she tries to ram through the unpopular Racing Integrity Bill in four weeks time.
“Labor's contempt for Queensland racing extended into the Agriculture and Environment Committee’s public hearing yesterday when Labor’s Acting Chair, Linus Power, verballed some witnesses and tried to extract answers under duress.
“The aggressive, bullying manner of the chair intimidated well-meaning witnesses who all came prepared to put their case – this is so typical of the way Labor have treated people in this industry.
“Queensland’s racing industry faces even more uncertainty with revelations Labor’s two month old Tracking Towards Sustainability Plan (TTS Plan), has been withdrawn and is being reviewed.
“This unpopular plan, which includes $19 million in prize money cuts across all three racing codes, a reduction in country race meets, and slashing of jockey riding fees, faces the chop.
“Once again I call on the Minister to explain what is going on? Will she confirm if the TTS has been withdrawn and is under review?
“There have been calls for the grossly flawed TTS Plan to be scrapped altogether and demands for new consultation with industry to take place, so people can have their say and be heard, before the Racing Integrity Bill is debated.
“Sadly, it seems that nothing has changed with the new minister. Despite being responsible for job creation she sits on her hands and watches as hundreds of jobs disappear. She might have met with industry more than her predecessor, who refused to meet with them, but few believe she is listening.”
Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) has cut a deal with the Palaszczuk Labor Government that is set to hurt licenced premises and potentially cost jobs in Townsville and Cairns.
Member for Hinchinbrook Andrew Cripps and Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the Katters now shared responsibility for the decision of the Palaszczuk Labor Government to introduce lock outs in North Queensland.
“This policy is one of the few ideas Labor has had after twelve months in office and now Mount Isa MP Robbie Katter and Dalrymple MP Shane Knuth have cut a deal to deliver it to them - effectively keeping the Palaszczuk Government in power,” Mr Last said.
“From the message the parliamentary committee investigating this proposal heard in Cairns and Townsville, I don’t think the tourism industry, or the hospitality industry in North Queensland will be impressed with the deal Mr Katter and Mr Knuth have done with Labor.”
Mr Last said reduced trading hours and an earlier lock out would not magically address the problem of alcohol fuelled violence and instead, endorsed the comprehensive and holistic approach within the former LNP Government’s Safe Night Out strategy.
Mr Cripps questioned what KAP had actually achieved by caving in to the Palaszczuk Government and cutting a deal with Labor to pass the new laws, despite North Queensland communities speaking out so strongly against them.
“When you look at the Katter/Labor deal, it’s hard to see what they have specifically secured for North Queensland, other than two government committee meetings - one in Charters Towers and one in Mount Isa,” Mr Cripps said.
“After indicating for weeks that they wouldn’t support Labor’s earlier lock outs and reduced trading hours, the Katter Party has back flipped - delivering North Queensland two committee meetings and preserving the Palaszczuk Government in office.”
Mr Cripps said communities across North Queensland needed to understand how significant the Katter/Labor deal to pass the new laws was to keeping the Palaszczuk Government in office.
“Labor placed enormous importance on the earlier lock outs and reduced trading hours as a platform of the Palaszczuk Government – it was willing to risk its reputation on them passing,” he said.
Mr Last said there was no doubt the Katter Party understood by voting with Labor, they had strongly indicated a preference for the Palaszczuk Government to remain in office in Queensland.
“Despite Cairns and Townsville clearly indicating that North Queensland don’t want these laws, the Katter/Labor deal will impose them on us and keep the Palaszczuk Government in power.”
Queensland’s Auditor-General has delivered a damning report into Labor’s handling of the Borallon Correctional Centre reopening, with taxpayers set to fork out millions of extra dollars each year to publicly run the facility.
Shadow Corrections Minister Jarrod Bleijie said today’s Auditor-General report into the management of privately operated prisons found the former LNP Government’s plan to privately run Borallan could have saved tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.
“The private provision of the Arthur Gorrie and Southern Queensland Correctional Centres has saved taxpayers around $55 million over six years to 2014,” Mr Bleijie said.
“We could have seen further savings for Queenslanders under the LNP’s plan to reopen Borallon Correctional Centre, but Labor’s mismanagement saw the facility sit dormant for months and stall the creation of 200 jobs.
“For Corrections Minister Bill Byrne to say everything is progressing as planned is a clear indication he is not across his portfolio and that the Palaszczuk Labor Government is prepared to hold back Queensland jobs.
“We know many Queensland prisons are reaching capacity and so it doesn’t make any sense to stall a fully-funded facility that is ready to open, would boost jobs and ease pressure on the prison system.”
Mr Bleijie said the Auditor-General’s report found private operators of Queensland prisons could reduce medical costs by up to 60 per cent.
“It’s 65 per cent more expensive to run prisons publicly, but Jo-Ann Miller refused to budge on her ill-conceived plan to publicly run Borallon, which was one of just many bungles during her short time as Minister,” he said.
“As the former Minister showed Queenslanders, Labor can’t be trusted to properly run Queensland’s corrections system.
“The LNP Government had a solid plan to invest $61 million to manage prisoner growth for Queensland’s correctional centres.”
After nearly two and a half months as Queensland’s Labor Agriculture Minister, Leanne Donaldson was today unable to answer a simple question about a serious challenge facing the sugar industry.
Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, who represents the sugar growing areas in the Herbert River district and the Cassowary Coast region, said Queensland’s $1.5 billion sugar industry should be concerned.
“I asked Minister Donaldson to update the House on the strategies in place to address the impacts of Yellow Canopy Syndrome (YCS) on the Queensland sugar industry,” Mr Cripps said.
“This kind of inexperience and ineptitude from Labor is holding Queensland’s vital agricultural sector back.
“This was a reasonable and important question about an issue which has serious implications for the productivity of the Queensland sugar industry and the Minister didn’t have a clue.
“I’m shocked that Queensland’s Agriculture Minister, especially one that comes from the sugar cane growing area of Bundaberg, couldn’t answer a simple question about the YCS issue.
“This is an alarming wake-up call, not just for the sugar industry, but for the entire agriculture sector, that Minister Donaldson is not across her portfolio and is not up to the job”.
Mr Cripps said YCS was an as yet undiagnosed condition affecting sugar cane crops in the central and northern cane growing regions in Queensland, which negatively impacted on crop yields.
“Minister Donaldson has had almost two and a half months to gain a basic understanding of the research and extension activities being undertaken to try and address the issue of YCS,” he said.
“The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is investing over $4 million into this work in the 2015-16 financial year, but the responsible Minister appears to be oblivious”.
Mr Cripps said the woeful performance of Minister Donaldson was a reflection of the lack of importance placed on Queensland’s agriculture sector by the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
The LNP Opposition has called on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to urgently review a program currently being taught in Queensland schools, which purports to create a safe and inclusive environment for same sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students, staff and families.
Shadow Education Minister Tim Mander said while the LNP supported the intent of the program which is to prevent bullying in schools related to gender and sexual orientation, he was concerned it had been hijacked by activists.
“Primary school aged children across Queensland now have access to material that teaches adult concepts and no parental approval or notification is required,” Mr Mander said.
He said he agreed with the concerns expressed by child psychiatrists this week about the age-appropriateness of this material.
“Dr Nick Kowalenko, head of child psychiatry at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, was quoted as saying that teaching about gender diversity may not be appropriate for eleven year olds,” he said.
“I call on Education Minister, Kate Jones, to review this program as a matter of urgency.
“Her review needs to look at why there is secrecy about the program in Queensland. In every other State, parents and members of the community can look up a website for an up-to-date list of the schools that are teaching the program. In Queensland, the names of the schools has been blocked.”
Mr Mander said children were being referred to the website of an organisation called Minus18, which provides details about concepts such as chest binding, penis tucking and cross dressing.
“It even links to commercial websites where children can buy devices online to help them temporarily alter their external appearance.”
Mr Mander said he urged the Palaszczuk Labor Government her not to follow the lead of their Victorian Labor counterparts and mandate this program in Queensland schools.
The LNP has moved to restore rules that require unions to give 24 hours’ notice before entering a workplace.
Shadow Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations, Ian Walker, said in a clear reward to its union mates, the Palaszczuk Labor Government immediately scrapped 24-hour notice rules when it came to power.
“The LNP introduced these laws to prevent union bosses from bullying their way into work places as they pleased to fire up industrial disputes and harass Queensland workers,” Mr Walker said.
“We ended the blatant abuse of power by unions like the CFMEU who pretended to be investigating safety but instead were intent on vilifying and intimidating anyone who chose to speak out against them.
“Labor’s cave-in to the unions on this issue threatens jobs and investment and is holding Queensland back.
“Our laws allowed independent government inspectors to visit worksites to check on workplace health and safety issues before the union arrived.”
Mr Walker said the Royal Commission into Trade Union Corruption recommended the 24-hour right of entry notification process be re-instated and today’s Opposition motion seeks to make that happen.
“In his report, Justice Dyson Heydon said the ‘pervasive and unhealthy culture within the CFMEU’ saw them ‘deliberately evade’ or ‘crash through’ the 24 hour notice laws ‘as an irrelevance, whenever they stood in the way of achieving the objectives of particular officials’,” Mr Walker said.
“Justice Heydon also found that under this culture ‘the reputations of those who speak out about union wrongdoing become the subjects of baseless slurs and vilification’.
“I challenge Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to stand up for the Queensland workers she purports to represent instead of defending the practices of corrupt union bosses.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government has to decide whether it’s the party of its members or the party of the unions.”
Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle and Patient advocate Justine Christerson today called for the State Government to assign a Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) officer to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.
Mr McArdle said the PTSS Officer was vital to assist parents who come from all over Queensland to cope with and understand the the scheme.
Patient advocate Justine Christeron said parents of children who travelled to Lady Cilento for treatment needed information on the ground at the hospital.
“Often I hear stories that people are given advice from the referral hospital that doesn’t marry up with what they are told when they arrive, or the information given at Lady Cilento is not necessarily accurate or well-understood,” Ms Christerson said.
“A solution to this would be to put an officer at Lady Cilento Hospital to assist parent’s complete forms and obtain other information required during very difficult periods in their lives and that of their children.
“It makes more sense for Lady Cilento to be the central hub of the PTSS, given it’s in the CBD, which would allow other patients from other hospitals to access this information on a case-by-case value.
“I believe that this would be a win-win. At this point in time social workers provide that information at Lady Cilento but of course that is not their core business. Someone trained in understanding rural/remote/regional patients’ needs would be of enormous benefit.”
Mr McArdle said the LNP has called for an app to assist parents and patients throughout Queensland to provide information and details about the PTSS.
“The app would complement a dedicated PTSS Officer at Lady Cilento to assist thousands of parents and children travelling great lengths to cope with day-to-day questions.
“This officer should clearly understands what patients and their families are going through and provide appropriate advice.”
The LNP has predicted the Palaszczuk Labor Government will use the first week of State Parliament for 2016 to talk about “everything and anything but jobs and the economy”.
Opposition Leader, Lawrence Springborg said employment and the economy must be front and centre for the State Government at a time when Queensland was slipping further behind other states.
On the first anniversary of Labor forming government after securing just 37.5% of the vote, the LNP has accused the State Government of being frozen at the wheel, with a Premier unable to make decisions; Minister’s under the thumb of union bosses; and government departments bogged down with 80 official and costly reviews.
“Jobs growth has slumped with 7,600 jobs gone in Mackay, 6,700 in the Outback and over 11,000 in southern Queensland,” Mr Springborg said.
“Labor has no debt reduction plan and Queensland’s economy is slipping back while others are powering ahead.”
In contrast the LNP has a Real Economic Plan to unleash Queensland’s potential.
“A future LNP Government would properly manage debt, power up the economy and create the vital jobs that go with it,” Mr Springborg said.
“We have an experienced, competent team that can be trusted to carefully manage Queensland’s finances. The LNP was well on track to regaining the state’s AAA credit rating and reversing Labor’s huge growth in spending.
“We’re committed to keeping families and communities safe and providing the health and education services that Queenslanders need.”
Mr Springborg said the LNP would continue to pressure Palaszczuk and Labor to take action on real issues.
“Labor can’t make a decision, they are frozen at the wheel and holding Queensland back.”
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Deb Frecklington and Member for Gregory, Lachlan Millar have spent time with local business owners and graziers, pledging to take their message to Parliament when it resumes on Tuesday 16th February.
Mrs Frecklington said her trip was a good opportunity to see first-hand what the impact of drought is having on the whole community and it will allow her to talk with Shadow Cabinet about pushing for more support for the communities that remain severely affected by drought.
"While many parts Queensland have received good rain, many parts of the Central West have missed, particularly around Longreach, Yaraka and west of Blackall," Mrs Frecklington said.
"Small businesses in the Central West are doing it extremely tough.
"There seems to be no acknowledgment from the Palaszczuk Labor government of just how serious the situation is. The Premier has blown-in and blown-out for no real outcome.
"I've visited small business owners as well as graziers while in Longreach and it's clearly evident that cash-flows are down by as much as half what they were two years ago. The drought has gone on for so long that we need to start look additional relief for small businesses as well as graziers.
Mrs Frecklington said the on-going issue of wild dogs was not being handled well by the Palaszczuk government and new Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson.
"Minister Donaldson's claims about how much money she and her government are providing, using mostly Federal funds, sounds all very well, but it appears to be more about promising cash than actually delivering community, region and industry-wide solutions.
"All this money, that's being administered by the Palaszczuk Labor government, was supposed to be fast-tracked last April - 10 months ago.
"We've heard excuse after excuse from previous Minister Bill Byrne and now Leanne Donaldson, and despite a re-announcement staged for the media this week, the fact is not a cent has gone out the door to drive steel posts in the ground and run wire.
"There's been no call for expressions of interest or clear guidelines for projects to start."
By contrast, Mrs Frecklington said the former LNP government took a common sense and balanced, industry-wide approach to dealing with wild dogs.
"We changed Labor's ridiculous law requiring 'human consumption' grade meat be used for bait meat for wild dogs.
"We revamped QDOG with new chairman with real drive and purpose and clear direction to get landholders to bait in coordinated programs - including large 'absentee' landholders - notorious for not baiting.
"We changed regulations to allow for the roll-out of sales of manufactured, ready-to-use 1080 dog baits from local produce stores.
"We put five new wild dog officers on the frontline to help deal with this pest - directly with landholders, holding field days to help with trapping, baiting and shooting as well as working with NRM groups on fencing projects.
"We provided $2.9 million for feral animal control, including eight control projects targeting wild dogs."
"And we provided funds for a scoping study for a check fence to help guide the next stage of wild dog control with graziers and landholders," Mrs Frecklington said.
Photo - Shadow Minister for Agriculture Deb Frecklington catching up local business proprietors David and Neida Mims with Maranoa LNP candidate David Littleproud and Member for Gregory Lachlan Millar
In another sign of ‘government by inertia’ it’s been revealed the Palaszczuk Labor Government has been sitting on a major review of laws regulating veterinary surgeons for nearly 12 months.
Shadow Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Deb Frecklington said the review of the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1936) was completed in 2014, but under Labor’s former Minister Bill Byrne and now Leanne Donaldson, it had been left to gather dust.
“It’s another sure sign of a do-nothing government with no plan,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Thousands of hours of work have gone into the review.
“It’s way past time its recommendations were released publicly in the next step to updating regulations that go back 80 years.”
Ms Frecklington said the review, undertaken by a high-level team led by Associate Professor Robert Hedlefs of James Cook University, examined issues including:
restrictions on non-veterinarians practising veterinary science for fee or rewardVeterinary Surgeons Act's relationship with animal welfare legislationwhether the Act should acknowledge role of veterinary technologists and nursesregulation of allied and complementary animal health service providers (eg animal physiotherapists and chiropractors)specific acts of animal husbandry and dentistry.
Ms Frecklington said Minister Donaldson needed to release the report and its recommendations to progress any necessary updating of the Act.
“Any changes will require new legislation to be introduced and passed in Parliament, but nothing will happen until the review is released by the Minister.”
Ms Frecklington said veterinary surgeons and other stakeholders wanted to see positive action and outcomes, not long delays and excuses that had filtered through from bureaucrats about why progress had stalled.
Labor is being urged to cut its crippling red tape to help drive investment in Queensland’s $80 million aquaculture industry and create regional jobs.
Shadow Fisheries Minister Deb Frecklington said the Palaszczuk Labor Government had been sitting on its hands and done nothing with the former LNP government’s report, which recommended overhauling regulations to identify suitable locations and streamline development approvals.
“At a time when regional Queensland is crying out for investment and jobs, Labor has been sitting on yet another major report that shows how real progress could be made,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Many coastal communities suffering from lack of investment and job opportunities, including Maryborough, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton and Mackay, could potentially benefit.”
Ms Frecklington said Labor’s previous Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne had admitted the report from the Queensland Competition Authority had been ‘sitting on his desk’.
“Aquaculture is the world’s fastest growing animal food-producing sector, outpacing population growth, yet in Queensland we’re being left behind.
“The Palaszczuk Government needs to act on the report which found aquaculture was a high potential, value-added industry which can, in the right locations, deliver superior returns to many traditional crops.”
The QCA report found that while the industry had been growing at a respectable four per cent a year, its full potential was not being realised.
The QCA found cutting regulatory uncertainty was essential to attracting more investment and proposed reforms to give investors more certainty about the best prospective sites for land-based aquaculture and the conditions for approving projects.
Ms Frecklington said Queensland was being left behind as other states created ‘development areas’ for marine aquaculture to encourage investment.
“Everyone accepts the Great Barrier Reef needs the highest protection, but all the necessary protections and checks are available for land-based aquaculture in Queensland.”
She said preliminary work had been done to identify appropriate sites, taking into account environmental, social and economic factors.
“The Labor Government needs to get cracking on this by simplifying the layers of local, state and, sometimes, Commonwealth regulation, because it can be difficult for investors to identify all the conditions a project will need to meet.
“We need a co-ordinated effort and real leadership from the Palaszczuk government, certainly not another review, taskforce or committee to look into it.”
Premier Palaszczuk has snubbed Mount Emerald locals and refused to explain why her government disregarded its own expert advice about health impacts of wind farms.
Shadow Environment Minister Stephen Bennett said Labor’s handling of reasonable requests for a meeting regarding the proposed wind farm near Tolga, southwest of Cairns, had insulted residents and highlighted the Premier’s and her office’s sheer incompetence.
“Not only did the Premier’s office reject invitations to meet with residents, to add insult to injury, their request for an official investigation was passed on to the wrong Minister,” Mr Bennett said.
“It’s appalling to treat people the way the Premier’s office has treated the hundreds of residents living around Mount Emerald.”
Mr Bennett said residents documents obtained under Right to Information appeared to show the Palaszczuk Labor Government had deliberately ignored expert advice to ensure the wind farm did not have to meet the requirements of the government’s Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy 2008.
“At best, this looks like the Palaszczuk Labor Government has made a rushed decision before considering all the facts, including those from its own scientific expert.
“At worst, the Premier and her Ministers are deliberately hiding expert advice which supports the legitimate concerns of residents.
“The people of Mount Emerald deserve some straight answers. They deserve a meeting with the Premier and an end to the run-around they’ve got from her government.”
Mr Bennett said noise standards were the responsibility of the Environment Minster, not the Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports, Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply – to where the Premier’s office had sent the residents’ request for investigation.
“Mount Emerald residents have every reason to be angry with the way the wind farm approval has been handled, and especially with Labor’s refusal to consider the risks related to excessive turbine noise,” he said.
Labor’s Environment Minister Dr Miles is ‘miles from nowhere’ on the facts when it comes to LNP calls for common sense management of state parks.
Shadow Environment Minister Stephen Bennett said Dr Miles was deliberately making false claims about what the LNP had been calling for.
“He’s miles-from-nowhere when it comes to the facts,” Mr Bennett said.
“I’ve been calling for fair and sensible review for 78 leases that have been caught up in Labor’s new legislation contained in the Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Bill.
“I’ve called for the holders of these grazing leases to at the very least be allowed to appeal any decision on their leases being cancelled because Dr Miles wants to refuse them even that basic right.
“We are not talking about grazing in World Heritage Listed National Parks, and we’ve not talking about building Las Vegas-style gaming palaces at Binna Burra – he’s made that up.
“We are talking about leases in forests that have been sustainably grazed by some families for generations, including the Mayne family of Carnarvon, who have attained the highest levels of accreditation for sustainability.
“Their seasonal grazing activities definitely help reduce dangerous fuel loads in open ironbark forests that help prevent dangerous wildfires from destroying everything.
“Dr Miles completed his doctorate in union encouragement, but perhaps he could be encouraged to undertake another PhD in handling the truth.
“Nowhere have I been calling for casinos in national parks as Dr Miles claims, and nowhere does Dr Miles say anything about his sneaky plan to deny the right of appeal as should be allowed when any legislation, any Minister, any government takes away the rights of any individual.”
Queensland has widely rejected the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s 1am lockout, a report into proposed new alcohol laws has found.
Shadow Attorney-General Ian Walker said the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee found there was no reliable data to support a lockout, but Labor remained fixated on the policy as a basis for its proposed new laws.
“Labor still won’t budge on its proposed 1am lockout, despite little support from any hearing witnesses for its proposal,” Mr Walker said.
“The LNP was willing to let the Committee process run its course before we considered our position, but we’ve heard loud and clear that the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s policy doesn’t stack up.
“The LNP firmly believes safety must be a priority, but we need hard evidence that that an earlier lockout will stem the violence.
“The committee specifically acknowledged it didn't have the facts and figures and asked that proper data be collected to support Labor’s proposal.
“Common-sense would tell us to get the evidence first and then legislate, not the other way around.
“So far, we haven’t seen the evidence, the Committee hasn’t seen the evidence and Queenslanders haven’t seen the evidence, so the LNP will not support these laws in Parliament.”
Mr Walker said the LNP’s common sense Safe Night Out Strategy, which included tougher penalties for offenders and an education and awareness campaign, designed to foster a culture change, that Labor had scrapped, should be given the chance to work.
“We needed to be convinced Labor’s proposal could match up with the LNP’s multi-faceted Safe Night Out Strategy, but it seems to pale in comparison,” he said.
“Our well-considered policy to stem alcohol-fuelled violence was based on strong data collected from the Bligh Government’s Drink Safe Precincts, but Labor refused to let it properly be tried and tested.”
He said the Committee had also rejected calls for Casino precincts to be exempt from the 1am lockout.
“What’s stopping troublemakers leaving a Valley nightclub at 1am, hopping in a cab and turning up at the Casino only to wreak havoc on those who are doing the right thing?” he said.
Queensland’s racing industry faces even more uncertainty with revelations Labor’s Tracking Towards Sustainability Plan (TTS Plan), which is less than two months old, has been withdrawn and is being reviewed.
Shadow Racing Minister Jann Stuckey said it took Labor six months to come up with a plan, supposedly based on consultation, which was already under review two months after its release.
“It would appear the long awaited TTS Plan, which includes $19 million in prize money cuts across all three racing codes, a reduction in country race meets, slashing of jockey riding fees and the reduction in the QTIS breeding scheme, faces the chop,” Ms Stuckey said.
“Minister Grace must immediately explain what is going on and confirm if the TTS has been withdrawn and is under review.
“If that is the case, it proves what many industry insiders said; that the consultation process was a stage-managed farce from the beginning.
“The grossly flawed TTS Plan should be scrapped altogether and new consultation with industry must take place so people can have their say before the Racing Integrity Bill is debated.
“You simply cannot believe a word the Palaszczuk Labor Government says.
“The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing and this latest debacle is further proof of Labor’s total disregard for this important industry.
“Confidence in the industry is at an all-time low and this latest show of incompetence reveals just how damaging Labor’s revenge attack on this industry has been.”
Ms Stuckey said rather than listen to industry representatives, the Palaszczuk Labor Government had stalled the growth of racing in Queensland further with its ill-thought out TTS document, which had now been withdrawn.
“Sadly it seems that nothing has changed with the new minister. Despite being responsible for job creation she sits on her hands and watches hundreds, if not thousands of jobs disappear,” she said.
“Queensland’s Racing industry has lost its patience and is now considering its future in Queensland.
“Only the LNP is looking ahead and will help this important industry unleash its full potential.
Queensland’s racing industry faces even more uncertainty with revelations Labor’s Tracking Towards Sustainability Plan (TTS Plan), which is less than two months old, has been withdrawn and is being reviewed.
Shadow Racing Minister Jann Stuckey said it took Labor six months to come up with a plan, supposedly based on consultation, which was already under review two months after its release.
“It would appear the long awaited TTS Plan, which includes $19 million in prize money cuts across all three racing codes, a reduction in country race meets, slashing of jockey riding fees and the reduction in the QTIS breeding scheme, faces the chop,” Ms Stuckey said.
“Minister Grace must immediately explain what is going on and confirm if the TTS has been withdrawn and is under review.
“If that is the case, it proves what many industry insiders said; that the consultation process was a stage-managed farce from the beginning.
“The grossly flawed TTS Plan should be scrapped altogether and new consultation with industry must take place so people can have their say before the Racing Integrity Bill is debated.
“You simply cannot believe a word the Palaszczuk Labor Government says.
“The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing and this latest debacle is further proof of Labor’s total disregard for this important industry.
“Confidence in the industry is at an all-time low and this latest show of incompetence reveals just how damaging Labor’s revenge attack on this industry has been.”
Ms Stuckey said rather than listen to industry representatives, the Palaszczuk Labor Government had stalled the growth of racing in Queensland further with its ill-thought out TTS document, which had now been withdrawn.
“Sadly it seems that nothing has changed with the new minister. Despite being responsible for job creation she sits on her hands and watches hundreds, if not thousands of jobs disappear,” she said.
“Queensland’s Racing industry has lost its patience and is now considering its future in Queensland.
“Only the LNP is looking ahead and will help this important industry unleash its full potential.
Cluelessness and indecision reign supreme as the Palaszczuk Labor Government continues to keep Queenslanders in the dark over the cost of living and jobs.
Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said Labor had left Queensland in a state of confusion, with questions still remaining over Labor’s plans to slug pensioners on their power bills and if they will approve Adani’s Carmichael project.
“What we have here is a government that can’t make a decision on anything from power prices to the state’s economic future and it is holding Queensland back,” Mr Springborg said.
“Treasurer Curtis Pitt has made three differing announcements in three days, scaring the pants off pensioners over their Electricity Rebate Scheme.
“Yesterday he said pensioners would keep their rebate, but today he’s saying future pensioners could lose out on the benefits.
“Across the road, the State Development Minister continues to sit on the mining lease approval for Australia’s largest coal mine, all the while stalling on the thousands of jobs it could create for Queenslanders.
“If Minister Lynham is as supportive of this project as he says he is, he should approve the mine and unlock the jobs and royalties it will create for the state.”
Mr Springborg said Labor had left Queensland in a state of confusion and it wasn’t fair for the Treasurer and the State Development Minister to continue to keep Queenslanders in the dark.
“Queenslanders want a clear pathway to infrastructure, they want jobs for future generations and they want to be able to get by without having to worry about cost of living skyrocketing” he said.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government has failed Queenslanders on all counts.
“Queenslanders deserve better and only the LNP has a strong economic plan to unleash Queensland’s potential.”
LNP Shadow Education and Training Minister Tim Mander today called on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to announce the successful applicants for round two of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.
Mr Mander said training providers and potential students had been left in limbo waiting to hear about applications made at the start of November last year.
“This is just another example of Labor’s gross indecision and inaction that continues to hold Queensland students back,” he said.
“We’re into the second month of the New Year and trainers and students still don’t know.
“The Minister has had almost three months to make decisions on training programs, many of which would have February start dates.
“Many training providers across Queensland are waiting on Minister D’Ath’s go-ahead so they can start their training programs for young Queenslanders.”
Mr Mander said the programs included training for apprentices all the way through to aged care and early childhood to numeracy and literacy training.
“These training programs are vital for Queensland, especially for Queenslanders looking to improve their skills to join and stay in the workforce,” he said.
“The Minister is dragging the chain, but she needs to get cracking and make these announcements.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government is finally seeking public comment on fish management changes with a call for submissions on Fish Habitat Areas in Central Queensland.
Shadow Fisheries Minister Deb Frecklington said Labor’s net-free zones overseen by Bill Byrne was a prime example of a political agenda rammed through with no consultation or regard for science.
“Bill Byrne’s refusal to consult and meet with commercial fishers was disgraceful,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Labor’s treatment of the commercial fishing sector has been shameful resulting in the destruction of long-term, sustainable jobs without so much as a phone call to hard-working Central Queensland families whose businesses have been destroyed.”
Ms Frecklington said protecting key fish habitat areas was vital for all fishing sectors.
“But so too is full consultation with all stakeholders in any sector before changes are made.”
She said the fallout from the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s net-free zones had been terrible, deeply affecting a lot of decent, hardworking families.
“Calls this week from Bill Byrne and Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga for all interested stakeholders to provide feedback on proposed new fish habitat areas in Central Queensland is nothing short of two-faced when they refused to hear from commercial fishers over net-free zones,” she said.
“Here’s hoping Labor properly considers all submissions before making any more fisheries management decisions, because so far its agenda has been all about politics and delivering to noisy, self-interested minorities.”
Ms Frecklington said only the LNP was committed to sound, science-based fisheries management.
Today’s Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC) report into electricity prices has again highlighted the Palaszczuk Labor Government has no plan for reducing power costs for families, Shadow Energy Minister Andrew Powell says.
Mr Powell said the Labor Government had been quick to dismiss many of the draft report’s recommendations, which have highlighted the potential for previously announced Labor policies to drive up electricity prices.
“Treasurer Pitt is already refusing to accept the Queensland Productivity Commission’s advice, meaning Queensland families could end up paying more just so Labor can meet their poorly-conceived and uncosted election commitments,” Mr Powell said.
“The Premier and the Treasurer have rightly walked away from their hare-brained policy to merge Queensland’s state-owned electricity generators, a move which would have added 20 per cent to wholesale electricity prices.
“However today the Treasurer has publicly stated the Government will be sticking to a range of other policies which the QPC has found will increase costs for households.
“The QPC report highlighted the legacy costs of the previous Labor Government’s Solar Bonus Scheme, which is hurting low-income households and adding $89 to the typical power bill this year.
“It’s important the Treasurer properly considers the recommendations of today’s draft report, to ensure Queensland families aren’t left paying the cost for another failed policy.”
Mr Powell said the report affirmed the actions taken by the LNP when in Government to strip over-expenditure out of the network and remove overly prescriptive reliability standards from government-owned energy businesses, which have ‘put downward pressure on future prices’.
“The report also highlights the ongoing benefits of implementing full deregulation of electricity prices in south-east Queensland – a move which was delayed by the Government for no reason,” he said.
“Today’s report raises some significant questions about how this Government will address crippling power costs, and Queenslanders are waiting for answers.”
Mr Powell said the QPC draft report comprised 54 recommendations, including potential changes to seniors’ electricity rebates, changing solar feed-in tariffs for some Queensland households and ways of improving competition in regional Queensland.
He said the LNP Opposition would continue to engage with stakeholders on the impact of proposed recommendations, prior to the release of the QPC’s final report at the end of May.
