Today’s decision is a kick in the guts for farmers who are already on their knees struggling with these costs.
Crippling electricity prices are sending many farmers out of business and Labor’s latest price hike makes things even tougher.
Today’s increase, which will see prices increase by more than 10 per cent for some farmers and irrigators, is the direct result of Labor’s decision to slug power companies with billions of dollars of debt.
These double digit increases are being driven by the short-sighted decisions of a Labor Government that has shown time and again it doesn’t care about farmers.
Only the LNP will stand up for farmers and jobs in regional Queensland and continue to fight against Labor’s policies to drive up power costs and treat Queenslanders like cash cows.
FACTS:
http://www.qca.org.au/getattachment/faaed5da-1312-4b44-99cd-c778c2dc11b1/Draft-determination-regulated-retail-electricity.aspx - page 51
LNP Leader Tim Nicholls said the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s incompetence to run the State had reached new lows this week with bitter Cabinet divisions putting major job-creating projects at risk and plunging Queensland further behind other states.
“Untold damage is being done to the Queensland economy by this do-nothing, inexperienced Labor Government and sadly all Queenslanders are paying the price,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The future of one of the state’s most critical job-creating resource projects hangs in the balance because Annastacia Palaszczuk can’t manage her government, let alone critical negotiations with Adani over the $16.5 billion Carmichael mine.
“We’ve seen three emergency cabinet meetings in a week to decide on an issue Labor’s had two and half years to sort out – what a debacle.
“First we had a secret royalty deal handing over hundreds of millions of tax payers dollars, then the hasty reneging on that deal by a Premier totally over-ruled by her Deputy and now a desperate plan C that hasn’t even been officially presented to Adani.
“It’d make you laugh if it wasn’t such a serious matter involving thousands of jobs, the livelihoods of Queenslanders and the future of our state.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s complete incompetence and failure to have a plan have jeopardised not only this project, but must put future investment decisions under a cloud.”
Mr Nicholls said the evidence was clear, that after two and a half years of Labor rule, Queensland continues to fall further and further behind the other states.
“Today the Property Council of Australia chief Chris Mountford put it simply when discussing the latest independent comparison of state economies by the AEC group,” he said.
“New South Wales are winning the economic game and the Queensland Government has a big challenge ahead of it to close the gap and re-establish Queensland as the state of choice to invest. The key point of difference… has been infrastructure investment, with the New South Wales economy riding high from record investment programs and Queensland slipping behind with a sizeable infrastructure deficit.” Chris Mountford, Courier Mail 27/5/17
“Latest surveys show Queenslanders have even given the thumbs down to Labor’s so-called number one infrastructure priority Cross River Rail – they just want the Pacific and Ipswich motorways fixed,” Mr Nicholls said.
“And what’s Labor done? Ripped more than $3 billion from the state infrastructure budget since it came to power.
“Queensland is stagnating, the community’s crying out for leadership and we have a do-nothing Labor Government stuck in neutral.
“A Liberal National Party government will be a common sense Government that listens, plans and acts to build a better Queensland.”
The LNP will stand up for our hard working frontline emergency services workers such as police, paramedics and firefighters who don’t deserve to be assaulted on the job.
LNP Leader Tim Nicholls used his address at the Queensland Police Union Conference in Brisbane today to announce mandatory jail time for people found guilty of assaulting frontline emergency services workers.
“We believe it’s fundamentally important to do more to protect those who protect us,” Mr Nicholls said.
“They put their lives on the line for Queenslanders, the least we can do is to do more to protect them.
“Under an LNP Government, those convicted of serious assault of police, ambos or firies will serve a mandatory minimum sentence of seven days behind bars.
“In other words – mandatory jail time – no ifs, no buts and no more excuses.
“This is about sending a strong and clear message to the community – if you assault our frontline emergency services workers, you will be jailed.”
Mr Nicholls said an LNP Government would also create a new offence under the Ambulance Service Act 1991 of assaulting or obstructing a paramedic or other authorised officer, similar to the existing offence for police officers.
“Our hard working emergency services workers have a tough enough job protecting the community, they don’t need the added worry of being physically attacked on the job and being treated like a punching bag,” he said.
“Only the LNP has the experience, energy and track record of standing up for victims of crime and ensuring strong penalties act as a deterrent and protect Queenslanders from violence.”
LNP Shadow Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Tim Mander said there had been repeated calls to strengthen penalties and deter acts of violence, but this do-nothing Labor government had refused to listen.
“The increasing number of violent incidents is a real concern and it’s clear that strong action is needed to protect those who protect us,” Mr Mander said.
“Labor’s softly, softly approach is failing frontline emergency workers.
“Statistics released by Paramedics Australia show physical attacks across Queensland have increased by almost 20 per cent compared with five years ago.
“In the first four months of this year, 176 ambulance officers have been assaulted across Queensland alone.
“Stronger penalties may actively deter people from committing the offence in the first place.
“The LNP is committed to building safe and liveable communities – and our frontline emergency services workers play a vital role in that.”
Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multicultural Affairs, Steve Minnikin, today called on Queenslanders to remember the Stolen Generation this National Sorry Day.
Mr Minnikin said National Sorry Day, held on May 26 each year, was an opportunity for Australians across the country to reflect on the past and focus on how to improve the future for Indigenous Australians.
“Today is a day where we can all reflect on the treatment of Indigenous Australians throughout our nation’s history,” he said.
“The events that happened over several decades when indigenous children were removed from their families had a long-lasting and damaging effect on Australia’s first families.
“I join with all Queenslanders in recognising these events and their devastating impacts on this National Sorry Day.”
Mr Minnikin said it was important Queensland looked to the future and worked to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
“It’s critical as a society that we continue to strive to improve the health, education, employment and economic opportunities available to our Indigenous Australians,” he said.
“The ‘Closing the Gap’ report handed down earlier this year by the Federal Government highlighted there is much work to be done to improve outcomes for Indigenous Queenslanders.
“I call on this Palaszczuk Labor Government to work with the Federal Government to ensure Indigenous Queenslanders receive every possible opportunity of a fulfilling life.”
National Sorry Day 2017 marks three significant milestones for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, the 25th Anniversary of the Mabo Decision and the 20th Anniversary of the “Bringing them home” report.
The Labor Government and Queensland cross benchers have combined tonight to ensure Queensland families are slugged with their third 3.5 per cent increase on family car rego.
Shadow Transport Minister Andrew Powell said that under Labor, Queenslanders always ended up paying more to cover for the government’s fiscal incompetence.
“Tonight’s voting by Labor, One Nation, Katter Australia Party and cross benchers show they do not care about Queensland families,” Mr Powell said.
“For the third year running do-nothing Labor has slugged Queensland families with a car rego cost more than twice the inflation rate.
“Mum and Dad’s in regional Queensland are hurting with the bills piling up and this latest cash grab by the do-nothing Labor Government will do nothing to relieve their stress.”
Mr Powell said Labor had form by raising car rego and treating Queensland families as cash cows.
“The LNP froze car rego costs for the three years we were in government and we’ve committed that any future rises are kept in line with CPI – not double the inflation rate like we’ve seen under Labor,” Mr Powell said.
“Only an LNP Government has the experience and competence to power up the economy, generate jobs and manage the state’s debt.”
New ABS figures highlight the extent of the youth jobs crisis facing many regions in Queensland under the do-nothing Palaszczuk Labor Government.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said young Queenslanders were being left behind, with youth jobs disappearing from a majority of regions in Queensland.
“This youth unemployment crisis extends to many, many parts of the state, particularly regional Queensland,” Mr Emerson said.
“In a week where we’ve seen the Palaszczuk Government sell out regional jobs for Green preferences, the youth unemployment rate has jumped up to almost 50 per cent in Outback Queensland.
“This is an indictment against a Labor Government that has consistently sold out the bush.
“The latest ABS figures show the number of young Queenslanders with a job has fallen by 10,400 in the last year – by far the worst fall in Australia. **
“Queensland should be leading the nation in job creation and job security but sadly under this government we are coming dead last.
“These job losses are being felt across many parts of Queensland, with the eastern and western parts of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Southern Moreton Bay hardest hit.”
Jobs losses experienced in the regions in the last year include:
The following regions had an increase in the youth unemployment rate in the last year:
“Unlike Labor, who has done nothing in over two years, the LNP has a plan to get young Queenslanders working,” Mr Emerson said.
“Our plan includes a $5,000 Queensland Apprenticeship incentive for small business; $500 Tools for Tradies vouchers; a $4,000 Job Start Incentive; together with discounts on Work Cover premiums for small business.
“Only the LNP can restore business confidence and get investment flowing to create jobs throughout all of Queensland.”
The dishonest scaremongering of an alliance of green groups has been exposed for their use of flawed data on the first day of a new campaign to frighten Queenslanders about vegetation management laws.
Shadow Natural Resources Minister, Andrew Cripps, said a Right to Information (RTI) application by The Australian had revealed green groups were using incorrect figures to exaggerate their claims.
Mr Cripps said he had previously warned Queenslanders that data in the Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) was being manipulated by green groups to trash the reputation of farmers.
“During the debate on the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s unjustified vegetation management bill last year, I highlighted just how SLATS was being unfairly used and abused by Labor” Mr Cripps said.
“To try to get that bill passed, Labor and the Greens ran a campaign of contrived misinformation about vegetation management activities in Queensland, but thankfully, that was rejected.
“Now the activist groups are back ahead of the state election to run a defacto campaign on behalf of Labor and they are peddling the same nonsense - but this time, they have been caught out.
“This RTI application underlines what I was saying during the debate last year – trees grow – and that quoting global figures in the SLATS report is dangerously misleading.”
Mr Cripps said the attempted “shock and awe” tactics by green activist groups were further compromised by the inclusion of certain types of management activities as vegetation clearing.
“I’m currently investigating the inclusion of thinning, fodder harvesting and other management activities in Labor’s published clearing rates data, a practice that is inappropriate and inaccurate,” Mr Cripps said.
“The reforms to Queensland’s vegetation management framework in 2013 by the former LNP Government were balanced and responsible, if people actually take the time to understand them.
“The focus on koala habitat on the weekend is a good example, because no changes were made to essential habitat mapping for koalas, or any other native species, as part of the 2013 vegetation management reforms.
“This do-nothing Government and the green activist groups are colluding to launch a bitter campaign against Queensland’s farmers and are using dodgy figures to pad out their propaganda.”
Mr Cripps said Queenslanders shouldn’t be fooled by ideologically-based campaigns from Labor and the Greens.
The Palaszczuk Labor Government is trying to rewrite history after being caught out on their sneaky plan to slug Queenslanders with higher taxes and charges to fund Cross River Rail.
LNP Deputy Leader and Shadow Infrastructure Minister Deb Frecklington said Deputy Premier Jackie Trad should have a long hard look in the mirror if she wanted to blame someone for the Cross River Rail debacle.
She said the Deputy Premier’s claim on ABC Radio this morning that the Federal Government wanted to slug Queenslanders with higher taxes was rank hypocrisy.
“It was Labor’s secret business case that revealed Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad’s plan to slug Queenslanders with six new taxes to fund their pipe dream,” Ms Frecklington said.
“They are now in damage control because it has come to light that the business case doesn’t stack up and both are looking to blame someone else for their own incompetence and failings.
“The Premier and Deputy Premier have gone to great lengths to conceal their six secret taxes plan but the cat is well and truly out of the bag now.
“Jackie Trad needs take responsibility for what is contained in the business case that she submitted to Infrastructure Australia instead of trying to blame the Prime Minister.
“Infrastructure Australia took the extraordinary step today of issuing a statement confirming there were a number of outstanding concerns surrounding the Cross River Rail business case.”
Ms Frecklington said Labor had bungled the Cross River Rail project from the beginning and now their incompetence had been laid bare for all Queenslanders to see.
“Labor has no real plan to deliver this project, the business case is an utter mess, the six secret taxes to fund the project have been exposed and deadlines have been missed,” she said.
“The LNP opposed Labor setting up the Delivery Authority which has virtually unfettered taxation powers designed to implement their secret taxes agenda.
“Jackie Trad has had more than two years to get her pet project off the ground but she has failed dismally at every hurdle.”
Ms Frecklington said Annastacia Palaszczuk embarrassingly had to concede this week the business case for Cross River Rail was flawed.
“Annastacia Palszczuk said in 2013 that this project was shovel ready,” she said.
“We now know that was a big fat furphy.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad’s total lack of openness and transparency on Cross River Rail has been exposed.
“If they maintain they have got nothing to hide, just release the secret business case so Queenslanders can make up their own minds.
“How can Queenslanders trust the Premier or Deputy Premier when they continue to hide the business case from public scrutiny?”
Labor’s hidden business case includes the following new taxes to fund Cross River Rail:
To help Queensland businesses get ahead, a Tim Nicholls-led LNP Government will aim to slash red tape by 20 per cent over six years.
Announcing the red tape reduction policy today, Mr Nicholls said the LNP was determined to build a better Queensland – and “vibrant businesses” were at the heart of the plan.
“My dad ran a car dealership in Brisbane so I have a real appreciation of the ups and downs of business,” Mr Nicholls said.
“To grow, employ more people and ultimately succeed, Queensland businesses need government to get out of the way and just let them get on with it.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government has made it harder to do business by increasing red tape and regulation.
“Labor scrapped the LNP’s plan to reduce payroll taxes, they’ve increased regulations in the hospitality, plumbing and resources industries and they’ve slugged a new investment tax on the property industry.
“Unnecessary regulation, compliance paperwork and approval processes are costly and consume time. Both are a hit to the bottom line.
“That’s why we owe it to businesses, especially those many family-run small businesses, to turn this around.”
In committing to a 20 per cent red tape reduction target over six years, an LNP Government will:
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said business confidence in Queensland had been negative since Labor was elected (according to the CCIQ Pulse Survey). A Sensis survey of businesses shows Palaszczuk Labor is viewed as the worst government in Australia.
However, Mr Emerson said the former LNP Government had been well on the way to achieving its 20 per cent red tape reduction target.
“We delivered important reforms including increasing the payroll tax threshold so more businesses pay less tax, halving the number of health and safety forms businesses need to fill in without compromising safety and reducing the need for unnecessary permits and licences,” he said.
“In less than three years, we progressed more than 500 red tape reform initiatives, with Queensland Treasury independently assessing the benefits of these changes at $425 million a year.
“This was a significant achievement and showed the LNP was tracking well against our 20 per cent red tape reduction target.”
The LNP’s plan was unveiled at Altec Patios and Carports – a well-known Seventeen Mile Rocks business established in 1974.
Shadow Minister for Science, Innovation and the Digital Economy and Member for Mount Ommaney Tarnya Smith said Altec and neighbouring businesses would reap the benefits of less red tape.
“There are many hard-working local businesses here and when we cut them a break and reduce their red tape burden, they can spend more time focused on creating jobs for more Queenslanders,” she said.
The LNP is committed to leading a government that is better for Queensland. More government isn’t the answer to our problems – better government is.
Crocodiles posing a danger to human life and communities will be euthanised under an LNP policy to keep Far North and North Queenslanders safe.
Shadow Environment Minister Dr Christian Rowan said the LNP had listened to the concerns of Far North and North Queenslanders and designed a policy to protect human life and empower communities living near crocodiles.
“This is a Far North and North Queensland policy for a Far North and North Queensland issue,” Dr Rowan said.
“This is a commonsense approach that puts the interests of humans ahead of crocodiles.
“The LNP understands that in some circumstances safe and quick capture is not practicable, when crocodiles venture near beaches, boat ramps or open water.”
Dr Rowan said while no natural waterway could be 100 per cent risk-free, areas in Far North and North Queensland would be managed thoroughly and effectively.
“The LNP believes more can be done to keep communities safe instead of simply spending millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money counting crocodiles,” he said.
“Our policy will also allow for the managed harvesting of crocodile eggs in areas where crocodile populations are rising.
“Under an LNP Nicholls Government, crocodile egg harvesting will be regulated as it is in the Northern Territory as a form of population control.
“While protecting crocodile habitats, farmers and landholders who harvest the eggs will potentially be provided with a commercial return.
“It beggars belief that Queensland crocodile farms currently have to import their eggs from the Northern Territory.”
Dr Rowan said the plan was centred on acting swiftly and decisively when crocodiles posed a risk.
“Under the LNP, locals and domestic and international visitors will know that their personal safety matters,” he said.
“We will provide our trained rangers with all the tools they need to protect people at popular beaches, swimming holes, boat ramps and marinas.
“Labor’s ‘observe and monitor approach’ for dangerous crocodiles has put people at unacceptable risk.”
LNP’s plan to keep communities safe from crocs:
It's a case of “you get a job” and “you get a job' for Labor ex-Ministers, MPs, staffers and ex-Directors General in the late Friday announcement of local Hospital and Health Board appointments.
LNP Shadow Minister for Health John-Paul Langbroek said the sneaky late Friday dump of board appointments showed Labor had no shame in helping its mates instead of everyday Queenslanders.
"This is a slap in the face to local communities and local regions when Labor mates have pushed out hard- working locals from Hospital and Health Board appointments,” Mr Langbroek said.
"On the Sunshine Coast, ex-Labor MP from Townsville Anita Phillips scored a plum job.
"In Brisbane's North, ex-Labor MP for Aspley Bonney Barry has made a comeback to the Metro North board.
"Ex-Labor Minister and Party Leader Tim Mulherin has scored another round on the gravy train in Mackay, backed up by ex-Labor staffer Karla Steen who also got another round on the board.
"Labor's go-to ex-director general Rachel Hunter scored another four years as chair of the Children's Hospital board.
"One thing is certain - Labor is clearing the decks for an impending election to ensure it has its own people in key places.
“An LNP government will create jobs across Queensland and better manage our finances to provide better health services for all Queenslanders.”
LNP Shadow Minister for Environment, National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef Dr Christian Rowan says the Federal Budget is good news for Queensland’s environment and the Great Barrier Reef.
Dr Rowan welcomed the $1 billion investment over five years in the National Landcare Program.
“This funding will help to support on-the-ground community projects in Queensland and deliver long-term sustainability outcomes for our environment,” Dr Rowan said.
“The National Landcare Program will improve areas such as soil health, erosion management and is particularly crucial to our farmers in regional and North Queensland.
“I strongly support the efforts of Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh Fydenberg, in continuing to deliver for our nation’s environment.
“At the last election, the Federal Government allocated an additional $1 billion for the Great Barrier Reef which will protect the World Heritage Site for generations to come.”
Dr Rowan said he urged minor party senators to support budget measures around these crucial environmental programs.
“Labor, Green and minor party senators blocked key aspects of the last two federal budgets, creating huge uncertainty in the community,” Dr Rowan said.
LNP Shadow Health Minister John-Paul Langbroek said claims from Labor Health Minister Cameron Dick that Queensland’s health funding had fallen under the Federal Budget are completely false.
“There is no $10 billion cut to Queensland Hospital funding,” Mr Langbroek said.
“This is an unfunded promise by Commonwealth Labor and Cameron Dick should take this matter up with Federal Labor Leader Bill Shorten.
“The Turnbull Government is providing an extra $1.292 million to Queensland hospitals over the next four years, a substantial 23.9 per cent increase in funding.
“This means more hospitals, more doctors and more services for Queenslanders.
“This new funding is part of a new hospitals agreement signed and agreed to by the Queensland Government in 2016.
“The Commonwealth has committed to substantially increasing hospitals funding over five years and the Queensland Government needs to commit to do the same in its budget.
“The Queensland Government is responsible for the allocation of funding and management of public hospitals.
“Minister Dick knows this and signed off on a new hospital agreement in November 2016.
“The Minister should focus on utilising record Commonwealth hospital funding to deliver better health outcomes for Queenslanders, rather than shedding crocodile tears.”
The Federal Government’s budget commitment to eradicate fire ants has been welcomed by the Queensland Liberal National Party.
LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture Dale Last said the Deputy Prime Minister’s statement on fire ants gave a strong commitment to continuing and upgrading the eradication program.
“The Federal Budget commits $1 billion to the National Landcare Program and the Deputy Prime Minister has given an undertaking to use part of this to eradicate fire ants from South-East Queensland,” Mr Last said.
“This announcement is great news for Brisbane, Ipswich, Gatton, the Lockyer Valley and beyond.
“There’s no question the program has had its ups and downs and controversies.
“But we’ve come a long way since the days when the Premier’s father and then Agriculture Minister Henry Palaszczuk hired hundreds of unemployed people from his own electorate of Inala to walk around and poke sticks into ant nests.
“We’ve stopped using it as a disguised jobless program, and introduced latest scientific techniques to fully determine the spread of the ants.
“We now have a genuine commitment to see this through, to step up surveillance and baiting of fire ants, widely regarded as among the world’s worst invasive species because of environmental, social and economic impacts, especially to farming.”
Background
Mental Health Nurses have warned that a ‘dangerous workplace culture’ has festered under the secrecy of Annastacia Palaszczuk - the latest in a spate of issues to hit the state’s crumbling mental health system.
LNP Shadow Health Minister John-Paul Langbroek said these issues were symptomatic of a Mental Health system that is broken under Labor.
“Under the ‘do-nothing, know-nothing’ Labor Health Minister Cameron Dick our Mental Health system has imploded,” Mr Langbroek said.
“Within twelve months, the Mental Health Tribunal has seen the chair resign, claims of nepotism, and unlawful appointments.
“Now we have nurses coming forward saying they have suffered from psychological distress because of systematic bullying within their workplace.”
Mr Langbroek said the fact the psychological health of nurses at the Ipswich Mental Health Unit had been jeopardised just goes to show the extent of the damage within the system.
“The latest reports of nurses experiencing psychological distress as a result of bullying and harassment at the Ipswich Mental Health Unit is the last straw that broke the camel’s back in a system that is riddled with secrecy and a toxic culture,” he said.
“Nurses are opting for sick leave, early retirement, secondment, resignation, and there have even been reports of a tragic death.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk and her Minister are treating Queenslanders as fools by telling us that everything is fine when we have nurses crying out for help because they can’t get the support they need within the crumbling system.
Mr Langbroek said the issues arising at Ipswich Hospital were endemic across our state.
“These issues of bullying within the workplace mirrors problems being reported at Townsville and Rockhampton Hospitals last year,” he said.
“Nurses are at their wits end because nobody is willing to fix the system in which these toxic workplaces are flourishing.
“This ‘all talk, no action’ Labor Government keeps telling Queenslanders that it supports our frontline workers, but we all know that they won’t provide any meaningful action.”
“Cameron Dick needs to come out of hiding and rebuild the Mental Health System which has collapsed on his watch.”
Labor’s dithering Attorney-General has ordered a review into her own cover-up of the McMillian Report into Youth Detention abuse.
LNP Shadow Attorney-General Ian Walker said today’s comments by the Premier and Attorney-General highlighted the lack of transparency in the youth justice system.
“We have a Labor Government that will not release the full McMillian Review into Youth Detention and does not even know if there is an issue of systemic abuse in the youth justice system,” Mr Walker said.
“Today’s comments by the Labor Premier and Attorney-General to review their own report is just another cover-up by this do-nothing government.
“The Labor Premier today could not even guarantee there is no systemic abuse in our youth justice system.
“Since this report was commissioned in August 2016, the Labor Government has been burying their hand in the sand and ignoring the systemic issues in our youth justice system.”
Mr Walker said he wrote to and met with the Attorney-General in November 2016 requesting an extension of terms of reference into the report.
“I requested the Attorney-General urgently expand the terms of reference to ensure a full and comprehensive report into our youth justice system,” Mr Walker said.
“What we got instead was one third of the report redacted and more questions raised than answered.
“The investigators stated that they were not able to identify if there was systemic abuse because of the short time frame and limited terms of reference.
“This review of redactions won’t go to the core issues here – the review’s terms of reference were too narrow to answer two crucial questions – is there systemic abuse in our system and is there capacity to accommodate 17 year olds
“We need to guarantee the safety of the staff, public and children in youth detention centres, and this Labor Government is failing to do this.
“Our youth justice system is in crisis under the Labor Government and only the LNP will provide safe and liveable communities.”
Queensland businesses are suffering under a do-nothing Labor Government with the most bankruptcies in the nation.
LNP Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said Queensland should be leading Australia’s business growth but sadly we were declining.
“Queensland has had more business bankruptcies than any other state every quarter under this Labor Government,” Mr Emerson said.
“Annual bankruptcies in Queensland have increased by 17.4 per cent under Labor.
“Queensland continues to lead the nation in job losses, with 30,000 jobs disappearing from Queensland in 2016 – the worst year on record.
“It’s not only harder to get a job in Queensland, it’s become much harder to do business in Queensland.”
Mr Emerson said that according to the Australian Financial Security Authority, a third of all business bankruptcies happened in Queensland.
“In just the past month, independent reports from Sensis, the ANZ-Property Council and CommSec – to name just a few – have documented our great state’s sad decline to the bottom of the economic heap,” Mr Emerson said.
“This is yet more proof Queenslanders and Queensland businesses are falling behind under a do-nothing Labor Government.
“Without a strong economy, Government does not have the funds to provide the services our communities need.
"Only the LNP has a plan to focus on six key economic drivers to Build a Better Queensland and deliver the jobs needed to restart our economy.”
Unlawful appointments, claims of nepotism, thousands of client cases under a cloud and secret releases of people who have killed back into the community, are symptoms of a mental health system in crisis under this do-nothing Palaszczuk Labor Government.
In recent months we have seen a string of catastrophes engulfing the mental health system that is supposed to keep the community safe, whilst treating those people with a mental illness or are deemed unfit to stand trial after committing serious crimes such as murder.
LNP Shadow for Health John-Paul Langbroek said Queenslanders have lost confidence in the mental health system and in particular the Mental Health Review Tribunal.
“Cameron Dick would rather protect the secretive mental health tribunal process at the expense of families who have lost loved ones at the hands of patients released by the tribunal,” Mr Langbroek said.
“Families across Queensland were left in the dark earlier this year over revelations of a dodgy appointment to the Tribunal that the Minister knew back in late 2016.
“Recently we saw the President of the Tribunal sacked on the back of revelations a mentally-ill killer was smuggling contraband into a mental health centre, which went unreported because of concerns it could jeopardise his discharge.
“The latest annual report of the director for Mental Health for 2015/16 is still being kept secret by Labor’s Cameron Dick.
“The tribunal conducts its business in a secretive manner and this is why the LNP can no longer support a system in such dangerous disarray.
Mr Langbroek said it is simply unacceptable and is putting the lives of innocent Queenslanders at risk.
“Uurgent steps are needed to get the mental health system back under control and restore confidence in the forensic process,” Mr Langbroek said.
“There is a mental health crisis occurring on Labor’s watch but they are yet to take action and look after those most in need.
“We need a Mental Health Court and Tribunal that is open and accountable to all Queenslanders.
“We need to lift the veil of secrecy on the Mental Health Review Tribunal and give victims and their families a true voice in the process.
“I know that the Queensland Homicide Victim Support Group deals with families who have been traumatized by this secretive forensic mental health system and left asking where is the justice in it all.
“Our mental health system needs to be finely balanced between treatment and support and with the protection of victims, their families and the safety of the community – something that is clearly not the case under this Labor Government.”
Between June 30 2014 and April 2017 152 people on involuntary treatment orders had their order ended due to a forensic order being made (That is they committed a serious criminal offence)
In the same period the Mental Health Review Tribunal revoked 19 forensic orders made by the Mental Health Court within 12 months of the original order being made.
The LNP has welcomed the Federal Government’s $20 million assistance package for prawn farms hit by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV).
LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Dale Last said the package, announced today by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, would help the industry deal with the loss of this year’s crop and the “stand-down” of farm operations in 2018 to complete de-contamination works.
“After much lobbying by the Queensland LNP, particularly from local Member for Coomera Michael Crandon on behalf of industry, it’s very pleasing that the Federal Government is providing this substantial assistance package,” Mr Last said.
“It’s been a very tough time for growers, their families and their employees, made all the worse by the failure of the Palaszczuk Labor Government and Minister Bill Byrne to be part of the package.
“Indeed, Minister Byrne’s decision to say no to any support and cost-sharing arrangement is a disgrace and shows a poor understanding of formal arrangements between the Commonwealth and States and industry in dealing with pests and eradication activities.
“Minister Byrne is either being pig-headed, poorly advised or mostly likely both.
“He must surely recognise the legally-binding deeds covering these activities and his uncaring, insensitive behaviour could seriously affect funding arrangements that cover other pests, including fire ants.
“Minister Byrne and the Premier, who is ultimately responsible, need to realise that their actions could jeopardise the additional $380 million funding package that is now being considered for the Red Imported Fire Ant eradication program.
“Instead of playing politics with this vital issue, the Minister and Annastacia Palaszczuk should be joining this initiative and standing by our prawn farmers.”
Two years since starting a child protection legislation review, Labor is are still no closer to finalising it.
LNP Shadow Minister for Child Safety Ros Bates said Labor was dragging the chain on critical updates to child protection legislation, putting kids at risk.
“Two years to review a piece of legislation says Labor are not serious about continuing important reforms from the Carmody Inquiry,” Ms Bates said.
“A full review of the Child Protection Act 1999 was a key recommendation of the child protection inquiry and since Labor came to power they have been slow to act.
“Given some of the tough changes needed around transparency and permanent placements, it’s clearly all too hard for this embattled minister to make a decision.”
Ms Bates said the child safety system has descended into crisis in just two short years of Labor government.
“With no major legislative changes since the LNP’s tranche in 2014, the system is now going nowhere,” Ms Bates said.
“Other states have already made major changes to the way child protection responds to permanency planning.
“On top of that, Carmody recommended changes to how child deaths were reported and an opening up of information following a child death.
“This review is one of 200 now chalked up on Labor’s watch and one that has been kicked into the long grass.
“While Labor dithers, children suffer and our child safety system spirals further into crisis.”
With less than four weeks until the start of the North Queensland cane harvest, Burdekin growers remain in limbo as a marketing dispute with sugar milling company Wilmar Sugar drags on.
LNP Shadow Agriculture Minister Dale Last said growers had been sold down the river by the Palaszczuk Labor Government and its Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne.
“Two months ago Bill Byrne and Labor teamed with Parliament’s speaker Peter Wellington to vote down legislation to deal with this ridiculous, long-running dispute,” Mr Last said.
“Bill Byrne attacked the LNP for bringing legislation to Parliament to mandate arbitration and bring a resolution to disputes when negotiations break down.
“Labor appointed former Supreme Court Justice Richard Chesterman as mediator on February 28.
“But now, more than two months later, as many as 1500 growers who have no choice but to send their cane to Wilmar mills, are still waiting for supply contracts which are legally required before cane can be crushed.
“Thanks to Bill Byrne and Labor, time has all but run out for growers who will be left with no other option but to go ‘cap in hand’ to Wilmar to sign a cane supply agreement.
“They’ve had to sit by and watch sugar prices slide more than 20 per cent in the past few months to be now back around $A460/tonne from earlier highs of $A600/tonne and more.
“This is a vital issue for our third-largest agricultural industry, but Bill Byrne and Labor are only interested in playing politics and siding with multi-nationals.
“The LNP will deliver better government, create jobs across Queensland and better manage our finances.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government must guarantee that every dollar of extra federal funding goes directly into schools to ensure better outcomes for our students.
LNP Shadow Minister for Education Tracy Davis said claims today by Kate Jones that Queensland would only receive an extra $1 million were false and scaremongering.
“Labor’s part-time Education Minister Kate Jones is crying crocodile tears when she knows full well that in 2017-18 alone Queensland’s state schools will get an extra $115.6 million in extra Commonwealth funding,” Ms Davis said.
“At a time when Queensland NAPLAN results are flat lining or declining, it is imperative that every single cent goes towards achieving better student results.
“It is irresponsible of the Minister to continue to play politics with our children’s education.
“We can’t afford to let our kids down by wasting one cent of the extra funding.
“It was the LNP that delivered the Great Results Guarantee that ensured funding went directly to schools.
“Only the LNP Government will create jobs and better manage our finances.”
Year, Funding increase and % Growth
For the second time in two weeks an independent survey has labelled the Palaszczuk Labor Government the most “unpopular” in the nation.
The Sensis Business Index, released today, shows the state’s business confidence still lags behind other major states, with Queensland once again neck and neck with Tasmania.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said Queensland should be leading the nation in business confidence and job creation but sadly we were declining.
“Worse still, the state government’s approval rating fell yet again, and has not once been in positive territory since the 2015 election,” Mr Emerson said.
“It’s clear when looking at the criticisms levelled at the Palaszczuk Government that the business community has no confidence in their economic management or ability to drive jobs.
“Employment conditions actually declined last quarter, with Queensland leading the nation in job losses.”
Quote from Sensis Survey:
The Queensland Government has become the most unpopular in Australia with a rating of -22. Taking too much notice of unions, followed by not understanding small business needs were the main criticisms.
Mr Emerson welcomed the slight rise in business confidence during the March quarter, which comes in spite of the state government’s economic mismanagement.
“Queensland should be firing but instead we’ve got the most “unpopular” government in Australia in charge,” Mr Emerson said.
“Today’s report comes on top of the ANZ-Property Council survey from last week which also showed the Palaszczuk Government was viewed as the worst in the nation.
“Instead of leading the way we are falling behind other states under this do-nothing government.
“Only the LNP has the plans to deliver jobs and kick-start the economy by building a better Queensland.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government had failed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with the latest December child safety data showing the system had stalled under a do-nothing, secretive Labor Government.
Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multicultural Affairs Steve Minnikin said the number of cases of suspected abuse of indigenous children had grown significantly.
“In 12 months more than 1,200 children were reported by police, teachers and members of the community for suspected abuse,” Mr Minnikin said.
“We have seen more than 5,400 substantiated claims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as cases of neglect which is far too high.”
Mr Minnikin said the December 2016 data showed a record number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children placed in care.
“More than 40 per cent are being taken away from their families and sadly it is continuing to grow,” he said.
“We are running the risk of these children losing their Indigenous culture. We need to remember that behind every statistic is a child in care that needs to be looked after.”
Mr Minnikin said the Palaszczuk Government and the Minister for Child Safety Shannon Fentiman were not only failing to protect Queensland children, but also putting child safety staff in highly stressful situations.
"Labor's Child Safety Department is in disarray and is imploding fast,” he said.
"The crisis and growing backlogs engulfing child safety investigations are nothing short of a scandal.
“It was the LNP that invested a record $406 million in the child safety system and it was the LNP that boosted child safety officer numbers by 77 in 2014.
“Only the LNP will build a better Queensland by building stronger families.”
A Tim Nicholls-led Liberal National Government would implement a comprehensive plan to improve engagement and service delivery for the Queensland public service as part of our plan to Build a Better Queensland.
Mr Nicholls today launched the LNP’s plan to empower public servants with the training, skills and leadership to deliver better outcomes for Queenslanders.
“We need to get better bang for buck for Queensland’s public service. We believe the best way of doing that is to improve engagement and service delivery,” Mr Nicholls said.
“An engaged workforce is a highly productive workforce that obtains the best results but, as shown in the Working for Queensland survey, less than half of employees believe the organisation is well managed.
“We believe the best way to engage public service employees is to better equip our leaders and to provide employees with the skills and opportunities they need to advance their careers. A more engaged, inclusive and diverse workforce leads to better decision making and higher levels of productivity and performance.”
Mr Nicholls also categorically ruled out any forced redundancies and said the public service would be held more accountable to deliver outcomes under a future LNP Government.
“The LNP is focused on streamlining processes and ensuring public servants spend less time dealing with bureaucratic red tape and can spend more time delivering outcomes for Queenslanders,” he said.
A Tim Nicholls-led LNP Government will deliver a more flexible and engaging public service to deliver better outcomes for Queenslanders by:
LNP Deputy Leader Deb Frecklington said all appointments and future opportunities offered under the Public Service of Excellence program would be subject to a merit-based selection process.
“Every year a select number of high-potential leaders in the Queensland public service will be given the opportunity to build their skill set through the Leaders of Tomorrow program,” Ms Frecklington said.
“The program will offer a number of development options tailored to the individuals in the program.
“Opportunities include education activities, coaching, mentoring, networking opportunities, secondments and other on-the-job exposure.”
Mr Nicholls said committing to a gender target made economic sense.
“Women occupy fewer than 36 per cent of senior executive positions in the Queensland public service[i], despite making up two-thirds of the total public service,” he said.
“A growing body of research shows that organisations with greater gender equality perform better, that more women in leadership roles are associated with better performance and that gender equality promotes an environment where innovation can flourish.
“Economic modelling undertaken by Deloitte Access Economics shows that gender equality on boards would improve the productivity of the Queensland economy by $87 million (Deloitte Access Economics Queensland Business Outlook December 2016).
“If we are to have a better-performing and more engaged public service it’s critical we seek to close the gender gap in management positions.”
Mr Nicholls said a diversity target was necessary to properly set about a culture of change in the Queensland public service.
