“Last night’s revelations on 7:30 about race horses sent to slaughterhouses were deeply disturbing and Queenslanders have the right to be asking questions.
“Animal welfare standards should be the priority for the Palaszczuk Labor Government, but this is yet another failure.
“The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission was set up by the Palaszczuk Labor Government with a $30 million annual budget to crackdown on these issues, following another Four Corners scandal in 2015.
“Labor still haven’t implemented all the recommendations from the MacSporran Inquiry in 2015. In fact, less than half have been put in place.*
“Animal welfare and integrity is clearly not a priority for the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“QRIC has completely failed their own animal welfare objectives to ensure racing animals are cared for before, during and after racing.**
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to explain why these animal welfare failures have happened and why QRIC has been an expensive failure.”
LNP Member for Pumicestone Simone Wilson said the 7.30 investigation was disturbing on every front.
“For this to occur at a slaughterhouse located in my own electorate sickens me to my core,” Ms Wilson said.
“To see any animal suffer in the way these beautiful retired racehorses have is such a disgrace.
* https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2019/780-2019.pdf
** https://qric.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Animal-Welfare-Strategy-2-Pager.pdf
Queensland now has the highest unemployment rate of any state in Australia, according to ABS figures released today.
The state’s unemployment rate rose to 6.6% (trend) in September – leaving a record 178,000 Queenslanders out of work (see ABS September table below).
LNP Deputy Leader and Shadow Treasurer Tim Mander said Queensland’s jobs crisis was proof of five years of economic failure by the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“Labor is squeezing the life out of our economy and Queenslanders are paying the price with their jobs,” Mr Mander said.
“In the last two years Labor has hit Queenslanders with 10 new and increased taxes – taxes which are toxic for jobs and growth.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is not working and nor are 178,000 Queenslanders.
“All Annastacia Palaszczuk is delivering is higher taxes, more debt, less jobs and less infrastructure.
“Only the LNP has a plan to create the jobs that Queensland is crying out for.
“The LNP plan will create jobs by delivering new infrastructure, cheaper electricity, faster project approvals and no new taxes.”
One of the greatest events on the Australian sporting calendar will remain in Sydney, after the Palaszczuk Labor Government failed to secure the NRL grand final for Queensland.
LNP Deputy Leader and two time NRL grand final referee Tim Mander said this is another fail from Annastacia Palaszczuk and her embattled Ministers Kate Jones and Mick De Brenni.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is all talk and no action,” Mr Mander said.
“Despite all the meetings and travel at taxpayers’ expense, Labor couldn’t get the deal done.
“It just goes to show how weak Annastacia Palaszczuk is, she couldn’t even convince former Labor Premier Peter Beattie to sign a deal .
“This was Queensland’s best chance to host the NRL’s showpiece event in front of a sold-out Suncorp Stadium and broadcast LIVE to millions of people all over the world.
“Her ‘I am furious’ routine won’t cut it this time, this is yet another Labor stuff up and league lovers have been penalised.
“Under Annastacia Palaszczuk’s watch, Brisbane lost the first test of the Summer, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars but couldn’t secure the Indy and now the NRL decider goes begging.
“Queenslanders love their rugby league and for Labor to miss this golden opportunity is embarrassing and a major opportunity lost.
“This state deserves a Premier who will go into fight for Queensland and not get trampled on by Sydneysiders.
“Queensland has been robbed just like the Raiders were in the grand final.”
Queensland Health does not need a review of its ED departments – it needs a new government that prioritises patient care, LNP Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said today.
Responding to the QNU’s call for an ED review, Ms Bates said: “The biggest problem facing Queensland Health is the failing Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“The crisis in our health system has been growing since the day Annastacia Palaszczuk became Premier.
“As a nurse, I feel for our hard-working nurses and midwives who are at breaking point, but another review isn’t the answer.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk has the wrong priorities for Queensland Health.
“She cares more about changing the name of the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital than providing better care to our sickest kids.
“Labor have wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars on numerous IT debacles that have stopped doctors and nurses from doing their jobs and put patient care at risk.
“When it comes to providing better health services and supporting our nurses, you can’t trust Labor.”
Labor must immediately reverse its decision to remove drumlines from north Queensland beaches after a surge in shark sightings, the LNP said today.
Eight beaches have been forced to close because of sharks since the Palaszczuk Labor Government removed drumlines from the Great Barrier Reef marine park just three weeks ago.
LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Industry Development and Fisheries Tony Perrett said only 15 beaches in the park were closed because of sharks in the whole of last year.
“The surge in shark reports show that drumlines protect swimmers and Annastacia Palaszczuk must put them back in the water now,” Mr Perrett said.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s decision to remove the drumlines is putting swimmers in serious danger.
“The LNP’s position is clear – put people before sharks and put the drumlines back.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk is gambling with the safety of swimmers and it has got to stop.
“The LNP has given Labor a solution to get the drumlines back in and they need to implement it.”
The LNP has welcomed Labor’s decision to ditch its cynical plan to force compulsory preferential voting (CPV) on councils following a fierce backlash from local government leaders.
Shadow Minister for Local Government Ann Leahy said Labor’s reforms would have resulted in higher rates and electoral confusion across Queensland as part of a desperate bid to shore up Labor’s vote in Brisbane City Council elections.
“I congratulate the LGAQ and all council leaders who stood up to the arrogant Palaszczuk Labor Government on this important issue,” Ms Leahy said.
“Labor’s plot to force compulsory preferential voting on councils would have been a disaster for local democracy.”
A question-on-notice earlier this year revealed that the cost of Queensland’s council elections would have increased from $17.2m to $27.4m under compulsory preferential voting.
Ms Leahy said Labor should now back the LNP’s Bill to abolish compulsory preferential voting in Queensland state elections.
"No-one should be forced to vote for a candidate they do not support, but that’s exactly what Labor forces them to do," Ms Leahy said.
"Compulsory preferential voting was scrapped in state elections between 1992 and 2015 because it takes power away from the people and gives it to politicians.
"Annastacia Palaszczuk only brought back compulsory preferential voting in state elections because she knew she could never win a majority if voters had a real choice at the ballot box.
"It's time to restore our democracy and let voters decide who gets their vote – and who doesn't."
Queenslanders will be gouged a staggering $1.4 billion in a secret Labor tax grab if Annastacia Palaszczuk signs off on the government-owned energy companies wanting to ramp up charges for households and businesses.
The Australian Energy Regulator has rejected submissions by Ergon and Energex on how much they intend to charge customers over the next regulatory period - 2020 to 2025*.
The state-owned energy companies are seeking to slug households by an extra $102 a year over and above what the national independent umpire has determined is acceptable.
Small businesses, already struggling under Labor’s 10-new or increased taxes, face coughing up an extra $131 a year in charges.
In order to stop Labor’s secret tax, LNP Leader Deb Frecklington has called on Annastacia Palaszczuk to back consumers and not to appeal the decision by the Australian Energy Regulator.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to accept the independent umpire’s decision and not slug Queenslanders extra on their power bills,” Ms Frecklington said.
**Audio grabs attached**
“Labor have been caught out trying to gouge customers up to $1.4 billion more than they should have.
“If Annastacia Palaszczuk doesn’t accept the umpire’s decision, it will be a massive failure of leadership and every Queensland household will be paying an extra $102 a year for the next five years.”
LNP Shadow Minister for Energy Michael Hart said Labor needed to stop their secret tax on electricity bills.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to come clean and rule out this outrageous tax grab,” Mr Hart said.
“Households and small businesses can’t afford to pay more, if Labor challenge this decision it will be grossly out of touch.”
*https://www.aer.gov.au/news-release/aer-issues-draft-determination-on-energex-2020-25-revenue
*https://www.aer.gov.au/news-release/aer-issues-draft-determination-on-ergon-2020-25-revenue
