Annastacia Palaszczuk was today unable to answer key questions about a vital review into her government’s management of child safety in Queensland.
Shadow Child Safety Minister Ros Bates said she was astounded to hear the Premier of Queensland incapable of answering questions posed to her on 612 ABC Brisbane* this morning about life and death issues for Queensland children.
“When asked the simple question of how much money she had allocated to the Family and Child Commissioner to conduct a review into the Child Safety Department, she couldn’t answer, despite the death of five children in care in the past year.
“I can tell Ms Palaszczuk that the 2016/17 Queensland Family and Child Commissioner’s budget is $12.238 million, but we still don’t know how much the Premier has allocated to this important review.
“If the Premier is going to take over the job of her incompetent Child Safety Minister, I suggest she avails herself of fundamental information such as how much she’s committed to this review – and then share that information with Queenslanders.”
Ms Bates said what the Premier wasn’t prepared to divulge on live radio was that, despite claiming to be so focused on protecting vulnerable Queensland children, she had at the same time cut over $7.2 million from frontline child safety centres around the State.
“The 2015/16 budget for Child Safety Centres around Queensland was $144,819,319 but has been cut to $137,523,111 for 2016/17,” Ms Bates said.
“Staff at these centres play the most fundamental and important role in the Child Safety Department’s efforts to protect our kids, and they are crying out for more resources to avoid terrible tragedies that have befallen Tialeigh Palmer and Mason Lee.
“So why on earth Annastacia Palaszczuk would cut their funding I do not know.”
Ms Bates said she remained very concerned about the Child Commissioner’s access to important information to conduct her review.
“On ABC this morning, the Premier said the Commission and panel would leave no stone unturned, yet the Principal Commissioner admitted in Parliamentary Estimates hearings she had not seen the most recent child safety data that had been withheld since March,” she said.
She also stated she had not provided any advice since coming to the role 8 months prior on the performance data reporting of the child safety department.
Almost $12 billion in engineering construction projects have been slashed from the State’s economy in just 12 months under the Palaszczuk Labor Government, according to ABS figures released today.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said alarming statistics from the Engineering Construction Activity June 2016 Report showed the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s anti-investment and anti-jobs decisions were severely hurting the Queensland economy.
“Engineering construction work across the State has been in a downward spiral every single quarter under Annastacia Palaszczuk and her hopeless Treasurer Curtis Pitt,” he said.
“Since the January election, engineering construction projects have fallen 47 per cent - meaning less projects and less jobs for Queenslanders.
“Under Labor’s watch, Queensland is winning the economic wooden spoon, with the dramatic fall in activity last year* far worse than any other Australian state.”
Mr Emerson said today’s findings were the latest unwanted hit to Queensland’s business confidence, following last week’s release of the Major Projects Report Update from the Queensland Major Contractors Association which showed a 52 per cent decline in major projects last year.
“Despite activity halving in the last year, the industry warns we haven’t hit the bottom yet with worse results expected for the 2016/17 year, as major question marks remain over Labor’s commitment to infrastructure,” Mr Emerson said.
“This year’s State Budget confirms an $800 million cut in infrastructure spending, while over the next four year capital purchases are down $2.3 billion.
“Short-sighted decisions by this government to stall or stop major projects like West Village, the Logan Renewal Initiative and the Adani mine have only increased uncertainty and added further doubt.
“Today’s results are further confirmation that Queensland is falling further and further behind under a Government that still has no economic plan after more than 18 months in office.”
Truck rego hikes are killing small businesses and transport operators after the Palaszczuk Labor Government increased registrations by a staggering 30 per cent.
Shadow Transport Minister Andrew Powell said no Queensland business could afford the sort of crazy increases Labor had snuck through.
“My office has been sent a prime example (see attached) of the rego rip-off that is occurring under this poor Labor government,” Mr Powell said.
“This is nothing but an unashamed cash-grab by an increasingly desperate government.
“A rigid body truck of the type, widely used by small businesses and transport operators, which cost $8537 to register last year, cost $11,141 this year.
“That is a staggering 30% increase which simply cannot be justified in any way, shape or form.”
Mr Powell said the weak excuse used by Minister Hinchliffe to justify the price hike was the same the Palaszczuk Labor Government used for everything– blame the federal government.
“The Minister will attempt to blame National Heavy Vehicle arrangements for Labor’s price hike which is complete and utter nonsense – it’s the same old story under this government, blame others,” he said.
“This is just another unashamed cash grab by the Palaszczuk Labor Government designed to line its own pockets.
“Registration is a fixed cost to small business. It’s not an optional expense. It has to be paid before they earn a single dollar to cover it.”
Mr Powell said the Palaszczuk Labor Government had absolutely no idea the impact these sort of cost imposts have on small businesses who have no option but to pay.
“It just goes to show how anti-business and anti-jobs this government really is,” he said.
“This Labor government needs to realise it can’t continue with these sort of increases.
“Businesses and transport operators will have no option but to stop registering trucks.”
The LNP Opposition today challenged Annastacia Palaszczuk to condemn her Prison Ministers’ callous approach to overcrowding issues at Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre (BWCC).
Shadow Attorney General Ian Walker said he was astounded that Bill Byrne had brushed off the serious concerns of the Queensland Ombudsman that “overcrowding at BWCC had worsened to the extent that it is the most overcrowded correctional centre in Queensland.”*
“I am comfortable with the level of safety and provision of services to Queensland’s prisons.” [Police, Corrective Services Minister, Bill Byrne addressing media, 27 September 2016]
“Annastacia Palaszczuk should condemn Bill Byrne for his comments or is she happy for women to be treated this way?” Mr Walker said.
“Is she satisfied that the Minister she’s appointed to run our prisons doesn’t have a problem with a report highlighting that “overcrowding at BWCC has coincided with a significant increase in … assaults, self-harm episodes or incidents of attempted suicide?”*
“Is she satisfied there have been 10 attempted suicides in the past year by 9 prisoners - a 900% increase on previous years.
“And is she happy for Bill Byrne to dismiss a report that finds pregnant women sleeping on the floors of our prisons?”
Mr Walker said the community rightfully expects that women prisoners are punished for their crimes, but Mr Byrne’s head-in-the-sand approach would put the safety of our hard-working prison officers at risk.
“The LNP doesn’t expect women prisoners to be housed in the Taj Mahal but conditions in our jails must be adequate to ensure prison officers aren’t put in danger from stressed out, violent prisoners,” he said.
“Safe living conditions are also critical for effective rehabilitation and to reduce recidivism rates.
“The LNP had a plan to reduce overcrowding in the state’s women’s prison by converting the Southern Queensland Correctional Facility for men into a women’s facility.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government scrapped that plan and 18 months late has done nothing to solve problems in our prisons.”
* Overcrowding at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre – Queensland Ombudsman
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2016/5516T1587.pdf
Labor’s “external” child safety review is yet another woefully inadequate response to the crisis in Queensland’s child safety system, as the LNP Opposition strengthens calls for Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman to do the right thing and resign.
Shadow Child Safety Minister Ros Bates said the Palaszczuk Labor’s Government’s review fell well short of community expectations and it was time for the embattled Minister to go.
“Labor’s review is a toothless tiger because it reports directly back to the Premier, rather than Parliament and the people of Queensland,” Ms Bates said.
“It has no power to call witnesses and has no power to hold public hearings – it is a closed shop review.
“Given Labor’s track record of politicising this important issue, how can Queenslanders have faith that they won’t politicise the findings of this review when it goes straight to the Premier’s office before anyone else gets to see it?
“Labor continues to peddle lies when in fact the LNP never cut a single frontline child safety position.
“Under the LNP there were more child safety officers on the ground, more children seen to within the recommended time and more cases resolved within 60 days.
“The LNP continues its calls for an urgent external independent inquiry that isn’t beholden to Government and will get to the bottom of serious failings within the Department of Child Safety, including the foster care system.”
Ms Bates said Shannon Fentiman could not continue as Child Safety Minister after Annastacia Palaszczuk so blatantly sidelined her during yesterday’s announcement – a sign the Minister had lost the faith of her leader.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk felt she had no other choice but to take over as a result of the Minister’s continued mishandling of issues vital to the safety of our children,” she said.
“Shannon Fentiman is clearly not up to the job and should do the right thing and step aside.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk must punt her porkie-telling Fisheries Minister before she completely destroys the state’s multi-million dollar fishing industry.
Shadow Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Dale Last said the under-performing Leanne Donaldson needed to be stood down over her bungled handling of fisheries management.
He said the biggest loser in this sordid mess were Queenslanders who are paying higher prices for their seafood.
“Minister Donaldson has to go before she damages any more fishing or seafood businesses in this state,” Mr Last said.
“It is the same story from the Cape to Coolangatta – businesses are suffering because of this government and its so-called fisheries management.
“Commercial fishers are saying Labor’s policies are crippling the industry and creating a lucrative black market.”
Mr Last said Ms Donaldson’s comments this week on ABC radio that everything was fine and commercial fishers had been hauling in 200-tonne catches were just ridiculous.
“It just proves Minister Donaldson has absolutely no understanding of her portfolio and is being poorly briefed,” he said.
“The Minister’s comments have rightly outraged respected commercial fishers and regionally-important wholesale and retail seafood businesses and their employees.
“These are hard-working people who’ve invested in their livelihoods through their businesses.
“Fishers along the coast deserve a whole lot better than the sort of garbage this Minister is carrying on with.
“She needs to be punted before she can do anymore damage.”
Shadow Infrastructure Minister Deb Frecklington said reports the Palasczcuk Labor Government had refused to administer and distribute $20 million of grants for feasibility studies for 14 dam projects across the state were extraordinary.
Ms Frecklington said Labor’s refusal flew in the face of the long established Federal Financial Relations Framework.
“The refusal by the Palasczcuk Labor Government to distribute the funding for 14 feasibility studies into vital water infrastructure projects is yet another example of how divided this government is,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Labor is threating Queensland’s ability to secure more funding from the Turnbull Government’s $2 billion National Water Infrastructure Loan Facility.
“The level of funding on offer from the Turnbull Government for water infrastructure is a once-in-a- generation opportunity and Queensland will miss out if the 14 feasibility studies are delayed.”
Ms Frecklington said Annastasia Palaszczuk needed to show some leadership and step in before Mark Bailey blew an opportunity to boost agricultural production by billions and create thousands of new jobs.
Shadow Water Minister Michael Hart said Queensland had secured the first funding from the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund and more money than other state, yet Labor was still playing politics.
“Mark Bailey needs to ditch his administrative arrogance and get on with distributing $20 million of funding for dam feasibility studies” he said.
“Australia and Queensland have a water security problem.
“Water supply has dropped by 25% per capita since the 1980s and more dams are needed for Queensland to further develop its food and fibre industries.
“I am calling on State Labor MPs, Glenn Butcher, Brittany Lauga, Bill Byrne, Leanne Donaldson, Julieanne Gilbert, Aaron Harper, Coralee O’Rourke and Scott Stewart to put pressure on Curtis Pitt and Mark Bailey to sort out this squabble over paper work and start moving on these feasibility studies.
“Queenslanders can’t afford more inaction from this Palaszczuk Labor Government.
Background
In the 2016/17 Budget, the Federal Coalition announced a $2 billion National Water Infrastructure Loan Facility to support major water infrastructure projects, such as dams, building on the $510 million National Water Infrastructure Development Fund.
National Water Infrastructure Development Fund:
The $509.5 million fund has two parts:
Queensland received the largest share of any State for feasibility studies. The list of Queensland projects funded is below:
Thousands of vulnerable Queenslanders suffering from domestic violence have been forced into unsustainable crisis motel accommodation, raising concerns the Palaszczuk Labor Government has been caught unprepared by an influx in domestic violence cases across the State.
Shadow Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Ros Bates said it was only after Parliamentary questioning by the Opposition that Minister Shannon Fentiman revealed 9000 nights of motel accommodation was being used to make up for a the massive shortfall in crisis accommodation.
“In the last twelve months, around 9000 nights of motel accommodation were provided to 9000 women and over 13,000 children fleeing domestic and family violence across the State,” Ms Bates said.
“That’s a massive 240 per cent increase in just twelve months and cost the State over $1 million - money which could have been spent on more sustainable, long term support services.
“It’s unacceptable to have vulnerable families languishing in motels if the proper support services aren’t in place to ensure victims aren’t forced back into violent homes.
“As the Minister responsible for implementing recommendations from the Not Now, Not Ever Report, Shannon Fentiman should have been better prepared for an increased demand for crisis accommodation and support services.
“Given the huge public exposure of the insidious issue affecting Queensland communities from Coolangatta to Cooktown what did the Minister expect?
“In the last twelve months, we’ve also seen double the number of calls to DVConnect, with the service fielding more than 4000 calls a month, while police are responding to increased call outs to domestic violence incidents.
“Across the State services are telling me they are being swamped by calls for help and a need for beds for escaping victims.
“It’s critical that victims of family and domestic violence feel they have somewhere to turn but it’s up to this Labor Government to ensure proper mechanisms are in place so they can receive the best possible support.”
The LNP Opposition is calling out the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s ‘unproductive’ Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC) which is sitting idle, having conducted just two reviews since it was established over twelve months ago.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said Labor’s reluctance to refer matters to the ‘unproductive’ Productivity Commission is either incompetence, arrogance or reluctance because the Government doesn’t like the answers they’re getting.
“This do-nothing Labor Government is so intent on reviewing things, it’s hard to fathom why their own independent body, dedicated to reviewing, is sitting on its hands with nothing in the in-tray,” Mr Emerson said.
“QPC employs 17 staff and has been allocated over $15 million in taxpayer funding, all to standby until the Government gives them something to do.
“Over 100 reviews have been commissioned under the Palaszczuk Labor Government, but only two have been referred to the Productivity Commission.
“To make matters worse, QPC has finalised both reports but Labor is burying them – most likely because they don’t like what’s in them.”
Mr Emerson said Labor’s reluctance was hardly surprising when one of the Commission’s draft reports predicted their renewable energy policy will cost Queensland taxpayers over $10 billion in subsidies and increased electricity prices for households.
“Annastacia Palaszcuk and Curtis Pitt went to the last election promising to establish an independent review body but they forgot to tell Queenslanders it was on the condition the Commission agreed with their policies,” he said.
“What is Labor hiding? It’s time they explained to Queenslanders why they aren’t directing work to the Commission and release the two latest reports.
“The purpose of the Productivity Commission is to provide independent economic and policy advice to the State to increase productivity, drive economic growth and improve living standards in Queensland.
“Labor tells Queenslanders things have never been better, but under their watch the domestic economy has shrunk by almost $4 billion over the last 12 months and 24,000 full time jobs have been lost this year alone.
“It’s clear Labor can’t manage the economy and their unproductive Productivity Commission proves it.”
Labor’s lacklustre Police Minister Bill Byrne has been forced to backflip on controversial changes to police intelligence laws after months of in-fighting with backbenchers in his own Party left him no other option.
Shadow Police Minister Tim Mander said despite taking the proposed changes to Cabinet twice, Mr Byrne had no choice but to abandon the amendment to s439 of the Australian Crime Commission (Queensland) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 which would allow courts to decide if they accept evidence of unrecorded admissions or confessions.
“It’s well known Labor has been divided on this issue for months after their own Committee members called for the changes to be deleted from the Bill,” Mr Mander said.
“This is just the latest in a long list of policy issues the divided Labor Party can’t find common ground on.*
“Despite Bill Byrne’s best efforts, when it came time to debate the laws in State Parliament he knew he wouldn’t have the numbers – not just from the Opposition or the crossbench, but from members of his own party.
“While the LNP supports moves to strengthen the ability for Federal, State and Territory law enforcement agencies to share intelligence, it was clear proper consultation hadn't been conducted.
“Laws of this nature have the potential to change lives – not just for victims of crime but those who stand accused.
“They shouldn’t be rushed through without proper thought and consultation.
“It seems Labor is willing to go back to post-Fitzgerald reforms when it suits them, much like we saw with their rushed changes to Queensland’s voting system at 18 minutes’ notice in State Parliament.
“Queenslanders deserve more than this Palaszczuk Labor Government that’s too busy fighting with themselves to focus on moving our great State forward.”
* Growing list of Labor division
Queensland’s youngest and most vulnerable children will be better protected after the LNP Opposition successfully passed laws which make it mandatory for early childhood workers to report suspected cases of child abuse.
Shadow Minister for Education Tracy Davis said the passing of the Child Protection (Mandatory Reporting – Mason’s Law) Amendment Bill 2016 will extend mandatory reporting obligations to include workers in early childhood education and care, bringing Queensland in line with other States and territories.
“Young children under five are still developing their own voice and rely heavily on those that care for them for protection, so it’s crucial we take every possible measure to ensure their safety and wellbeing,” Ms Davis said.
“Mandatory reporting laws are an important part of the Queensland child protection system and are critical in detecting serious cases of child abuse that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“Western Australia is now the only remaining jurisdiction that doesn’t identify the early childhood education and care sector as mandatory reporters.”
Ms Davis said the new laws would never have come about without a long-running and dedicated campaign by John and Sue Sandeman, the grandparents of toddler Mason Parker who was tragically murdered in 2011, and who have been calling for these laws ever since.
“I’m privileged and honoured to have been the Member of Parliament who was finally able to bring John and Sue’s passionate fight for these laws to fruition,” she said.
“The Sandemans are very special people, and while these laws will never heal the pain of having lost their little grandson, they will help to ensure other vulnerable little ones don’t suffer in silence.
“On behalf of Queensland Parliament I pay tribute to John and Sue for fighting every day for so many years to do what is right and to honour the memory of little Mason.
“These laws will empower the dedicated workers in our childcare centres to speak up for the children entrusted to their care each day.”
Key facts:
Opposition leader Tim Nicholls has slammed the Palaszczuk Government over watered-down organised crime laws that will take two years to come into effect.
“The LNP’s tough criminal gang laws were working and have the overwhelming support of Queenslanders,” Mr Nicholls said.
“If Annastacia Palaszczuk is so against them, why is she taking two years to wind them back?”
Mr Nicholls called on Ms Palaszczuk to guarantee there would be no gaps in the laws during the proposed transition period.
“We have Annastacia Palaszczuk today so desperate to justify her watering down of incredibly effective laws that she says she wants the rest of the country to emulate the changes we saw introduced today,” he said.
“But other states have already copied our tough laws in whole or in part. Our criminal gang laws were taken to the High Court and supported by the Commonwealth and every mainland state.
“South Australia’s former Labor Attorney-General Michael Atkinson reportedly described our suite of laws cracking down on criminal bikie gangs as ‘the magic formula’.
“Their current Attorney-General John Rau says the state’s police are adamant that the adoption of similar laws to the LNP’s has resulted in the reduction of organised crime.
“Most importantly, Queenslanders are right behind our no-nonsense laws.
“This soft-on-crime Palaszczuk Government needs to explain to Queenslanders why it is unravelling the very laws that are working so well to protect them.”
The Palaszczuk Government’s proposed new laws:
Amend the Bail Act to remove the provisions we put in place in 2013 to reverse the presumption against bail for a person who is a participant in a criminal organisation.
Remove the QPS powers to stop, search and detain and check ID of a person reasonably suspected of being a participant in a criminal organisation.
Severely waters down penalties.
Two days after inner city Brisbane was brought to a standstill by hundreds of union thugs marching the streets of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, not one Labor Minister or Annastacia Palaszcuk herself has condemned the union lawlessness.
Instead, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said two of Labor’s most senior Cabinet Ministers condoned Thursday’s strike chaos that saw CFMEU members spontaneously walk off building sites all over the city supposedly to support fifty-five of their comrades in a dispute 2,000 kilometres away.
“This week we saw hard evidence that unions are again out of control in Queensland, and this government is too gutless to stand up to them,” Mr Nicholls said.
“On Thursday, without any notice to Police or authorities, CFMEU members in their hundreds were all over the road, weaving into oncoming traffic and hurling a torrent of foul language to anyone that got in their way.
“Not only were motorists and pedestrians held up for hours, the mass union walk off is estimated to have cost the Queensland economy about $4 million.
“And what have we heard from Annastacia Palaszczuk? Deafening silence.
“Meanwhile, both Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Health Minister Cameron Dick say they supported the activity. Their comments are proof they think the CFMEU is perfectly entitled to hold the city to ransom.”
Mr Nicholls said Jackie Trad’s claims at a Queensland Media Club luncheon in Brisbane yesterday that industrial disputes and strike activity are on the decline in the State aren’t borne out by the facts.
“In the last year, of all the days lost to strike action across the nation, Queensland accounted for over half of working days lost. In the past quarter alone, Queensland lost four times as many days as NSW from industrial action and over 12 times more days than Western Australia,” he said.
“The Unions control the finances and they control the Palaszczuk Government. Annastacia Palaszczuk, Cameron Dick and Jackie Trad know very well that if they want to keep their jobs, they must kowtow to their union masters. It's as simple as that.
“Hard-working, everyday Queenslanders deserve better. They deserve a government that will stand up to the bullying, intimidation and unfettered power that the unions enjoy under Annastacia Palaszczuk.
“The result of all this union activity is higher building costs, more expensive homes, fewer jobs and less investment.
“The LNP will always put the jobs and security of Queenslanders ahead of union bullying.”
Organisers of World Suicide Prevention Day 2016 have urged all Queenslanders to ‘Connect, communicate, care’ to raise public awareness about the importance of having conversations about suicide.
Shadow Minister for Communities, Ros Bates, said suicide touches individuals, families and entire communities and disturbingly is the leading cause of death for men and women between the ages of 15 to 44 years.
“Tragically 2,500 Australians take their own lives each year, and worldwide one person commits suicide every 40 seconds,” Ms Bates said.
“One death from suicide is one too many and today is an important day for all of us to reflect on how speaking freely and honestly about suicide, and reaching out to others can make all the difference.
“As the Shadow Minister I have a lived experience where suicide has touched my family.
“Suicide affects parents, children, siblings, partners, friends and colleagues and as a community we must ensure we do more to understand its causes and how those who choose to end their own lives get to the point that they simply can’t go on.”
Ms Bates paid tribute to organisations such as Lifeline, Beyond Blue, the Black Dog Institute and R U OK for the critical work they do to help Queenslanders and Australians in crisis.
“We need to do everything we can to ensure those who are in need get the support they require, while ensuring all Queenslanders know that services are available to all those touched by suicide,’ she said.
“I’m proud to say the LNP committed more than $1.1 billion for mental health services in 2014/15 and was responsible for establishing the Queensland Mental Health Commission to improve our mental health, drug and alcohol abuse services.
“In a perfect world we wouldn’t have to speak about suicide and the impact it has on so many but the reality is we must re-double our efforts to build awareness and ensure anyone that we know is struggling through dark days gets the support they need.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government remains deeply divided over key policies after it was revealed that several senior Ministers are at loggerheads over changes to the state's youth detention system.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said today's reports that the Government would move 17-year-olds out of adult detention centres comes one day after Health Minister Cameron Dick publically undermined the Premier and Attorney-General by backing the policy.
"Two weeks ago the Attorney-General announced a review into the State's detention centres, but since then we've heard nothing," Mr Emerson said.
"Now we're learning via media reports that the Government will be moving young offenders before the review or any consultation has taken place.
"Why did we hear support for this policy from Health Minister Cameron Dick and not the Premier or her Attorney-General?
"The Minister went around the party leadership, despite concerns from the Attorney-General herself about overcrowding in youth detention centres.
"This is blatant political game playing by the Minister Dick who clearly has greater political aspirations of his own.
"But this is just the start - senior Ministers including Jackie Trad, Cameron Dick and under-pressure Treasurer Pitt are at odds with each other on a range of other key policies, including bikie laws and Labor's failed vegetation management laws."
Mr Emerson said today's revelations were the latest example of policy on the run from a Government that is more concerned with their own interests than the interests of Queenslanders and our vulnerable young people.
"If the Government plans to make these kinds of changes, they need to give Queenslanders a clear explanation of how they're going to do it," he said.
"The issues in our youth detention centres are incredibly complex and deserve careful consideration and consultation to ensure our youth justice system meets community standards, which is why we supported an independent and thorough review."
The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s neglect of major tourism projects has seen Queensland’s tourism growth lag behind New South Wales and Victoria.
Shadow Tourism Minister Jon Krause said today’s figures, which had Queensland $4 billion behind New South Wales in in overnight spend and $1.6 billion behind Victoria, showed the effects Labor’s policies had on Queensland’s tourism sector.
“Queensland should be Australia’s number one tourist destination, but Labor’s incompetence has seen our tourism growth the worst on the Eastern Seaboard,” Mr Krause said.
“It’s all very well for Kate Jones to trumpet Queensland’s tourism growth, but the figures speak for themselves.
“Queensland is falling behind when it comes to translating visitor numbers into expenditure and as a result, jobs aren’t being created and the state’s economy misses out.
“You only have to look at Labor’s handling of the $8 billion Aquis project to know this asleep at the wheel government is putting the tourism industry and the thousands of jobs it creates at risk.
“What’s more, the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s scaremongering about the state of the Great Barrier Reef is threatening the livelihoods of thousands of tourism operators.
“As Queenslanders we have so much to sell to tourists – but we need a Government with a clear plan to deliver jobs and investment for our tourism sector.”
International Visitor Spend by State, year ending June 2016:
State (Overnight spend growth)
