A Tim Nicholls-led LNP Government will establish a dedicated $10 million Emergency Volunteers Fund to support the Queenslanders that support us in times of emergency.
Mr Nicholls said our hardworking volunteer organisations received some government assistance, but relied heavily on community support and generosity to provide vital emergency services for our state.
“The LNP values the critical role volunteers play in helping Queenslanders cope with emergencies,” Mr Nicholls said.
“These dedicated grants will help provide greater funding certainty to our hardworking emergency service organisations.
“When a cyclone’s ripped the roof off your house, fire’s threatening your backyard or you’re caught in a rip at the beach – Queensland’s hard-working volunteers are just a yell or a phone call away in life-threatening emergencies.
“Organisations like the State Emergency Service, Volunteer Marine Rescue, Rural Fire Service Queensland, Surf Life Saving Queensland, Australian Volunteer Coast Guard and St John Ambulance Queensland rely on donations and local fundraising to purchase new equipment and upgrade local facilities.
“Thousands of emergency service volunteers give up time with family and friends to help Queenslanders and the least we can do is ensure their lives and ours are protected by investing in the best possible equipment.”
LNP Shadow Emergency Services Minister Tim Mander said an LNP Government would establish a dedicated $10 million Emergency Volunteers Fund, where organisations could apply for and receive assistance to improve local community resilience and maintain or increase capacity.
“Each year Queensland experiences extreme weather events and it’s important we provide our volunteer organisations with the equipment and facilities they need to deliver emergency services,” Mr Mander said.
“These funding grants for vital equipment and supplies would provide a more secure financial footing for volunteer organisations.
“Only the LNP has a plan to provide safe and liveable communities and ensure our hard-working emergency volunteers have the funds they need to keep Queenslanders safe.”
The LNP fund will be rolled out over three years and consists of two key elements:
Equipment Upgrade and Replacement ($6.8 million over three years)
Build Capacity and Improve Resilience ($3.2 million over three years)
Key facts:
A Tim Nicholls-led Liberal National Government will provide improved services, more opportunities and stronger representation for our retired servicemen and servicewomen as part of our plan to build a better Queensland.
In a Queensland first, Mr Nicholls today launched the comprehensive plan to assist ex-ADF personnel transitioning back into civilian life.
“Queensland is home to around 50,000 veterans (more than any other state) and I believe they deserve a state-based policy that provides better services and more opportunities for them,” Mr Nicholls said.
“If an LNP Government is elected at the next state election, Queensland will lead Australia in the recognition of and assistance we provide former ADF Members.”
Mr Nicholls said the LNP’s comprehensive plan would build better services and better communities by helping veterans in five key ways.
“We will appoint a Minister for Veterans responsible for leading strategies aimed at ensuring that State Government services are better targeted to this group. This could include initiatives such as delivering a veterans’ homelessness strategy,” he said.
“We will commit to a public service veterans target to increase the number of ex-ADF personnel working in the public service and provide proper recognition of their military training and how that fits into roles within the Queensland Government.
“This will see more veterans working in the Queensland public service, with their extensive skills, training and experience ensuring we deliver better government.
“We will appoint a senior representative in the public service as the Veterans’ Champion to mentor and establish a network of veterans in the public service. We will also make sure Queensland Government job websites are updated to provide more information to ex-ADF personnel about the jobs that best link to their skill set.
“We will create a $2 million Veterans Transition Grants Program, for ex-service and defence welfare organisations to access and fund programs that help veterans to transition back into civilian life and another career after leaving the Defence Force.
“We will also make the Queensland Veterans’ Advisory Council a permanent fixture of a future LNP Government.”
Mr Nicholls was joined by veterans at today’s launch as well as four LNP candidates for the upcoming state election who have all served in the ADF.
LNP Candidate for Southern Downs James Lister, who was in the RAAF for 17 years, said veterans had a unique skill-set to make them ideal employees.
“Veterans work well in a team, have a sense of duty, they’re organised and disciplined, adaptable, problem solvers and have a strong work ethic and that is why it is great the LNP has developed this policy to help veterans transition from military to civilian life,” he said.
“There is no question the transition from military to civilian life can be challenging especially when it comes to employment.”
LNP Candidate for Ferny Grove Nick Elston served in the Australian Army for 10 years and is proud of helping Queenslanders recover from Cyclones Larry and Yasi and the 2011 floods.
“A state-based policy is important as Queensland is home to 27 per cent of serving Australian Defence Force personnel,” Mr Elston said.
“Queensland also has some of Australia’s largest military bases, including the nation’s largest army base in Townsville, the ADF’s largest base, Amberley’s Royal Australian Air Force Base and two of Australia’s three army Beersheba Brigades (3rd in Townsville and 7th at Enoggera).”
LNP Candidate for Cooper Rob Shearman served for 23 years including operations in the Middle East.
“I’m still in the Army Reserves and work for a large family-owned manufacturing business. Some of our soldiers need extra assistance when they return from duty and it’s something I’m passionate about,” Mr Shearman said.
LNP Candidate for Buderim Brent Mickelberg was a former Army Captain who served in Afghanistan and helped in Grantham after the devastating floods of 2011.
“I still volunteer with the RSL and Legacy and ex-serving men and women deserve a policy that reflects the important sacrifice and contribution they have made to our state,” he said.
The Palaszczuk Labor Government was peddling false hope for smaller builders with its media blitz on a government housing and schools building bonanza.
LNP Housing and Public Works Shadow Minister Stephen Bennett said a sea of media releases from Labor’s Mick de Brenni would have people believe there’d be work for all when the truth was something very different.
“The housing and school building projects he’s been spruiking can only be undertaken by large, pre-qualified (PQC) building companies,” Mr Bennett said.
“The reality is very few companies will be able to tender for these projects under Labor.
“Even before they can register, builders need to gain pre-qualified contractor status, which can take up to twelve months and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Mr Bennett said there’d be no bonanza for smaller building contractors under Labor.
“Labor likes to keep it all with the bigger companies where most of the sites are ruled by union thugs from the CFMEU,” he said.
“Only the LNP has a plan to spread government construction work more fairly to ensure smaller, regional builders get a go without the need for costly government compliance and red tape.
“Under the LNP local builders will be given the genuine opportunity to compete for government building work.
“Only the LNP will build the schools, the roads and bridges to create jobs across Queensland.”
The latest AgTrends report highlighted strong growth in the value of state primary production, in stark contrast to Labor’s cuts to Departmental and regional infrastructure investment in the Budget.
LNP Shadow Minister Dale Last said the strong increase in the value of primary production to nearly $20 billion for 2016-17 was to be applauded.
“Agriculture’s bringing home the bacon for Queensland, but that hasn’t Labor from shafting rural and regional Queensland in its Budget,” Mr Last said.
“Primary industries right across Queensland are more than pulling their weight in generating economic benefit and jobs for tens of thousands of Queenslanders.
“Labor and Ag Minister Bill Byrne are quick to take credit for all of this, but they’re not so quick to highlight the cuts to the Agriculture budget and infrastructure spending in the regions.”
Mr Last said for all Labor’s build-up and hype about a “jobs bonanza”, last week’s Budget was a slap in the face for regional Queensland.
“The Budget underlines Labor’s failure to understand and deliver what Queenslanders outside the south east corner really need,” he said.
“Nowhere was there any relief for spiralling electricity and water charges - in fact electricity prices have spiked again, this time by over 5 per cent.
“Nowhere is there any relief from the nation’s highest vehicle rego charges, and nowhere is there any vision or new initiatives to help sustain and grow our vital agricultural industries.”
Mr Last said Western Queensland continued to suffer disastrously high rates of youth unemployment, and with no money in the budget for the LNP’s successful Royalties for the Regions program, these stubbornly high rates of joblessness would continue.
“While Bill Byrne likes to bask in the success of farm productivity, there was no genuine support for the sector in last week’s budget,” he said.
“In fact, funding for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has been cut from $438.954 million in 2016-17 to $424.742m in 2017-18 (down $14.212m); while funding for the department’s agricultural services has been slashed by 9 per cent, from $216.252m in 2016-17 to $197.63m.
“This demonstrates Labor and Minister Bill Byrne have no interest in cotton, grains, sugar cane, horticulture, beef, dairy research and development and services.”
Mr Last said when it came to regional infrastructure spending the story was equally grim.
“Regional Queensland simply isn’t getting the funding it deserves to build the roads, bridges and dams that are needed,” Mr Last said.
“A Tim Nicholls-led LNP government would re-introduce a ramped up $500 million Royalties for the Regions Fund, would create jobs across Queensland and better manage the state’s finances.
“We’ll deliver better government, not more government.”
A Nicholls-led Liberal National Party will introduce new laws to Parliament which will stop dodgy tow truck companies from ripping off motorists.
LNP Leader Tim Nicholls said the Private Member’s Bill would seek to stop motorists from being exploited by tow truck drivers when towed from private property, like car parks.
“There are currently no laws to stop motorists from being charged exorbitant towing rates when towed from private car parks,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Our new laws will introduce a cap on fees that can be charged, restrict how far away your car can be towed without your consent and ensure signage is clear and visible to motorists.
“If elected, the LNP will put a 20km distance cap on towing and cap towing charges at $337.15, ensuring there is no discrepancy between being towed from private or public property.
“But if our laws are passed, there will be nothing stopping the Palaszczuk Government from getting on and adopting our policy sooner.
“Our laws will also allow complaints against a person or company to be considered when granting a tow truck licence to weed out dodgy characters and make sure there is a proper and transparent complaints management process.
“Anyone who breaches our new framework will be hit with a $4,876 fine – this will be a big economic disincentive for dodgy practices and the use of immoral tactics like spotters.”
Mr Nicholls said a future LNP Government would seek to re-introduce measures to prevent criminal gang members from being granted a tow truck licence.
“Our strong criminal gang laws specifically targeted the tow truck industry to prevent criminal gang members from working in the industry,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The Government wound back these laws, with no real alternative – if we win government we will bring them back.”
Mr Nicholls said the former LNP Government acted to weed out rogue operators in the tow truck industry.
“The do-nothing Labor Government has had three years to act on this and all we have seen from them is inaction,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The problems are clear – we need to stamp out the rogues and the intimidation in the industry and these laws are the first step in this process.
“No Queenslander should be ripped off by a dodgy tow truck operator and this is why the LNP has listened to concerned motorists, planned and acted.”
FACTS:
Tow Truck (Towing from Private Property) Amendment Bill 2017
LNP Private Members’ Bill
What this bill does:
A breach of the LNP’s new laws will see tow truck operators hit with a $4,876 fine (40 penalty units)
Labor has been caught out over-estimating demand for rail services to prop up Cross River Rail.
Labor’s secret business case assumes six per cent year-on-year growth in passengers but the reality is, there have been 9.8 million fewer passengers on our trains over the last eight years.
In 2008, Queensland trains carried an estimated 60 million people; by 2015 this number had dropped to 51.1 million.
Labor’s claimed six per cent year-on-year growth can’t be believed.
Like all of Labor’s numbers about Cross River Rail, they just don’t add up.
The true cost of Cross River Rail is $14.5 billion, not the $5.4 billion claimed by Labor.
Labor’s cost estimate doesn’t include trains, works to integrate Cross River Rail with the existing network or running costs.
It would be like building a hospital but not having any money for beds and nurses.
Independent economists have called out the Cross River Rail business case as weak.
Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to release the secret business case in full, given every Queenslander will be paying the $14.5 billion price tag for this project.
Labor knows its numbers are dodgy. The capacity constraint on the Merivale Bridge won’t occur until 2026 at the earliest, so we have the time to get this right.
Labor has a record of wasting Queenslanders’ money on projects that aren’t needed, including the cancelled Traveston Dam ($500 million), the $380 million Wyaralong Dam that isn’t even connected to the water grid and the $2.6 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Corridor.
Funding allocations for two key programs within the Department of Natural Resources and Mines have been slashed in the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s third budget.
Shadow Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said investment in the programs for natural resource management (NRM) and resources exploration had been dramatically cut, exposing Anthony Lynham as a hypocrite.
“This is a bitterly disappointing result for two programs that are the backbone of Queensland’s natural resource management and resources exploration effort,” Mr Cripps said.
“In Labor’s own words the NRM program, ‘implements on-ground activities that protect, improve and restore waterways and rangelands by addressing weeds and pests. They also improve soil, vegetation and water quality at a river catchment or other landscape level’ – and yet they’ve seen fit to slash their funding.*
“Labor’s cuts are all the more extraordinary given the hollow rhetoric we hear from the Palaszczuk Government about how concerned it is about protecting Queensland’s environment.
“In the 2013-14 State Budget, the former LNP Government invested a record $80 million over five years into the Queensland Natural Resource Management Program.
“Labor has cut that funding to just $42.3 million over four years.
“This means natural resource management funding has been effectively slashed by one-third, threatening the long-term future of Queensland’s well-respected NRM groups - an appalling outcome.”
Mr Cripps said the other short-sighted cut to the Natural Resources and Mines portfolio was the lack of funding allocated to the Strategic Resources Exploration Program – a program designed to provide vital geological data to encourage new discoveries of gas and minerals in North West Queensland.
“Labor has announced $20 million over four years, after trading on the former LNP Government’s 2013-14 Future Resources Program investment for two years, without any additional funding,” he said.
“The Palaszczuk Government has effectively bludged off the $30 million allocated by the LNP in 2013-14 and the last two years’ exploration results are the direct result of that investment.
“Once again, when it has come time to renew investment in this critical program that supports resources exploration, Labor has come up short and it doesn’t bode well for future Queensland resource projects.”
Mr Cripps said the savage program cuts under the Palaszczuk Government revealed a sad story about what was happening inside the once proud Department of Natural Resources and Mines.
*https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/agriculture/sustainable-farming/nrm-investment-program/
Today’s independent ABS labour force data shows Queensland continues to have the second-worst unemployment rate in the country.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said the statistics showed Labor’s jobs “bonanza” budget was nothing more than a budget con.
“Sadly we’re still fighting South Australia for last place when it comes to unemployment,” Mr Emerson said.
“Queensland’s unemployment rate is 0.6 percentage points above the national average and 1.5 per cent higher than New South Wales.
“Labor’s own budget papers show unemployment in Queensland won’t drop below six per cent for the next four years.
“Over the next three years 80,000 fewer jobs will be created in Queensland because employment growth forecasts have fallen so substantially.”
Mr Emerson said he was particularly concerned by the continued transition to part time employment, the rise in underemployment and the loss of youth jobs.
“Seasonally adjusted full-time employment fell by 11,200 jobs last month,” he said.
“The number of underemployed Queenslander’s also grew by almost 10,000. That’s 10,000 people who would like to have more work, but can’t get it.
“We saw another 5,000 youth jobs disappear from Queensland in May – another sad indictment on the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“Labor’s so-called jobs budget is a con and will do nothing to drive down unemployment in Queensland.
“Queenslanders, particularly Queensland jobseekers, can’t afford another three years of this do-nothing government.
“Only the LNP can build a better Queensland.”
Massive job creation, building the roads, bridges and dams Queensland needs and an assault on cost of living pressures such as rising family car rego and power costs will be central themes of a future Liberal National Party Government.
LNP Leader Tim Nicholls used his Budget Reply speech to outline his vision to literally build a better Queensland.
“Queensland currently has a ‘do nothing’ Labor Government with an inexperienced Premier, a power-hungry Deputy Leader and an inept Captain Risky Treasurer at war with themselves,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Queenslanders have been stranded for three years without leadership, without direction, without a clear plan.
“Labor’s legacy is one of job losses - 30,000 jobs lost last year alone, massive cost of living increases, raids on public servants’ superannuation, shovelling of debt onto Government-owned corporations and a soft-on-crime approach that has put fright into regional Queenslanders.
“Today I fired our first salvo to offer Queenslanders a clear alternative to this ‘do nothing’ Labor Government and that is a common sense LNP Government which will listen, plan and act to build a better Queensland.
“The LNP’s plan will create jobs, support small business, invest in education to raise standards and we will provide better services and contain cost of living pressures for families and retirees.”
A Real Plan
Mr Nicholls said over coming months the LNP would unveil more policies and plans to literally build a better Queensland.
“Our resolute focus will be to provide Queensland with a Government that creates more jobs, lowers crime rates, contains cost of living pressures, enhances environmental protections, provides a strong and stable business environment and provides better Government, not more Government,” Mr Nicholls said.
“We will build stronger families and one of the main ways to do that is take the pressure off is to contain cost of living pressures. If elected, one of the first things we will do is freeze family car registration for three years.
“It is the first part of our assault on cost of living pressures which hurt both families and businesses.”
A Government for all of Queensland not just inner city Brisbane Labor seats
Mr Nicholls said all of Queensland had been neglected by Labor for three years, especially regional Queensland and electorates in the south-east outside of Jackie Trad’s.
“Make no mistake, this Labor Government is run by Jackie Trad and that’s why billions have been promised in South Brisbane and not much anywhere else,” he said.
“The LNP is the only political party that has a plan for all of Queensland.
“For example, we will grant “priority project” status to a new, economically-viable, low-emission ultra-supercritical coal-fired power station in North Queensland.
“The LNP will also implement a new 10-year action plan to continue to improve the Bruce Highway.
“We will also ensure we build new infrastructure right across Queensland, including dams to provide water security and job-creating agricultural projects.
“To ensure Regional Queensland gets its fair share, the LNP will implement a ramped-up $500 million Royalties for Regions infrastructure program.
“We will implement our $100 million Get Queensland Working plan which will provide up to 20,000 jobs for young Queenslanders, reduce expenses for apprentices and incentivise businesses to train and retain young job-seekers.
“And there’s plenty more to come.”
Labor must rule out fear campaign
Mr Nicholls said the next election would be fought on who had the best ideas and plans for Queensland’s future and called on Labor to rule out a scare campaign and run on its record.
“The next election should not be about who can say the most outrageous thing or who can tell the biggest untruth in an effort to trick Queenslanders,” he said.
“It will be about who has the best plan to Build a Better Queensland.
“Today I am drawing a line in the sand once and for all on two issues that Labor and its union mates are obsessed with.
“First let me make it very clear, we will not sell government- owned corporations.
“We took a plan to the last election to repay debt, help with the cost of living and boost infrastructure spending through asset leasing – that plan, to borrow a phrase, is “dead … buried and cremated”.
“The public has made its view clear and I have listened. Let’s never forget, it was Labor who sold Queensland Rail, it was Labor who sold the Port of Brisbane and it was Labor who sold Forestry Plantation Queensland.”
Mr Nicholls said the second issue Labor and the unions were fixated with was the LNP’s plans for the public service.
“Unless, like every other workplace, people voluntarily decide to leave the public service, everybody who is a public servant will keep their job.
“Building a Better Queensland means delivering outcomes, not outputs, for the people of Queensland.
“To do that, we need all hands on deck.
“The Premier and her Labor Government have managed to stifle enterprise while at the same time growing the bureaucracy and reach of government.
“It’s costing more to deliver less.
“We will focus on a public service of excellence, one measured by outcomes and service delivery – not volumes of paperwork and mind-numbing, restrictive processes.
“The public service is not a warehouse for, or a monument to, public servants but a means to serve the public.”
The LNP’s Pledge
Mr Nicholls pledged the LNP would be a Government for the Queensland people, not big unions or big business.
“We will be a Government which is straight with the people of Queensland,” he said.
“I will not be taking my riding instructions from a union, or from Canberra for that matter.
“I pledge to put Queensland and Queenslanders first.
“I love Queensland and I want to Build a Better Queensland today, and for generations of Queenslanders to come.
“Together, Let’s Build a Better Queensland.”
Despite skyrocketing crime rates across Queensland, the Palaszczuk Government’s 2017 Budget reveals Labor has underspent on critical police resources.
LNP Shadow Police Minister Tim Mander said the budget showed Labor had their priorities all wrong when it came to protecting Queenslanders.
“Crime’s on the rise, the bikies are back on the Gold Coast and yet Annastacia Palaszczuk is happy to underspend on the Queensland Police Service,” Mr Mander said.
“The capital budget for police was also significantly underspent, meaning that our frontline police aren’t getting the support and equipment they need to keep Queenslanders safe.
“Only last year we heard of a significant shortfall in the number of additional police vehicles being supplied to the service and this year the measure’s not even reported – another Labor cover-up of their neglect for our men and women in blue.
“Youth crime in North Queensland is out of control, the bikie gangs are re-establishing themselves and yet Labor are putting their heads in the sand when it comes to law and order.”
Mr Mander said even more disturbing were the cover ups planned by Labor in future budgets.
“This year the budget hid important figures such as police car purchases, but next year the cover up continues with the budget failing to record individual crime statistics,” he said.
“Crime rates should be the most important service standard for the Queensland Police – their number one job is to protect the community – which is why scrapping the measure from next year’s budget is extremely concerning.
“A Tim Nicholls Liberal National government will build stronger families and provide safe and liveable communities.”
Key facts:
Crime statistics are being hidden after this year’s State Budget. The Service Delivery Statement usually reports a breakdown of offences per 100,000 people. None of that will occur in the coming year.
A Tim Nicholls led Liberal-National Government will launch an assault on cost of living pressures for all Queenslanders should it win the next election.
In his Budget reply speech, Mr Nicholls announced family car registration would be frozen for three years as part of his plan to build stronger families.
“For two consecutive years, this Labor Government has increased family car registration by 3.5 per cent – twice the inflation rate,” Mr Nicholls said.
“In this, their latest Budget, we discover they’ve slotted in a further two years of these hits and yet debt is still going to hit $81 billion.
“This Labor Government is treating motorists like cash cows because the Premier and her Treasurer can’t sustainably manage the finances.
“Labor’s family car rego slug means a four-cylinder family car now costs $700 to register – a jump of $50 in just two years.
“We just can’t build stronger families when they keep getting smashed with higher costs.
“Families can’t continue to pay more and more.
“As part of our plan to ease cost of living pressures for families, we will freeze family car registration prices for three years from 1 July 2018.
“The LNP’s family rego freeze will save a Queensland family with two 6-cylinder cars $200 over three years.
“The LNP understands every little bit helps and this will return more money to tight family budgets.”
Mr Nicholls said the family rego freeze was just the first of many cost of living measures the LNP would announce in the lead up to the next election.
“Labor uses electricity, family rego and water as a tax by stealth and it is hurting hard-working families and killing businesses and jobs,” he said.
“I won’t stand for it.
“The LNP’s Plan will create jobs, support small business, invest in education to raise standards and we will provide better services and contain cost of living pressures for families and retirees.
“The LNP will be a common sense Government which listens, plans and acts to build a better Queensland. Only by Building a Better Queensland, will we deliver the jobs needed and restart our economy.”
Queensland’s health system is fading fast under the incompetent economic management of the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
LNP Shadow Health Minister John-Paul Langbroek said Queensland Labor had delivered a health budget of massive cost blow outs, poor patient outcomes and millions underspent in promised capital investment.
“It’s back to the bad old days of Labor with this budget with costs blowing out, but services to Queenslanders going backwards,” Mr Langbroek said.
“Ambulance ramping is back with a vengeance at our hospital emergency departments with Queenslanders left lying for hours on stretchers because Labor has no solution.*
“Almost half of all category 1 and 2 patients are languishing on waitlists, many of them needing life-saving surgeries.**
“Despite health funding being a primary responsibility of the states, this year’s Queensland Budget saw growth in state funding to our health system shrink to just 3 per cent, compared to 14 per cent growth in funding from the Commonwealth Government.***
“This budget also shows critical health infrastructure isn’t being provided reflected by an underspend in the Queensland Health capital budget of $196.5 million in the past year.”
Mr Langbroek said Labor was underspending on infrastructure, but allowing massive cost blowouts in others.
“In 2016/17 we saw supplies and services blow out by almost $700 million, putting pressure on the ability of our health system to deliver services to Queenslanders in the future,” he said.
“Labor’s so desperate to make hospital budgets look good, their budget papers have even resorted to reporting on the percentage of Queenslanders eating fruit and vegetables as a performance measure. (page 22 of the Service Delivery Statement)
“This is classic Labor mismanagement. Cost blow outs, poor patient outcomes and millions underspent in promised capital investment.
“A Tim Nicholls-led Liberal National government would build a better health service for all Queenslanders.”
*Ambulance ramping:
**Category 1 and 2 waitlists:
***Queensland vs. Commonwealth contribution to health funding:
Labor’s inability to properly manage the state’s finances has again been laid bare, with the 2017-18 State Budget showing a blow-out in debt, deficits and expenses growth.
LNP Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said Labor’s reckless approach to financial management was obvious in the huge growth in expenses above previous budget forecasts.
“Expenses have blown out by 7.2 per cent in 2016-17, or $3.6 billion, under Labor – way above previous budget forecasts and more than four times the inflation rate,” Mr Emerson said.
“Employee expenses continue to grow out of control, with the Palaszczuk Government once again missing its previous forecasts for employee expenses growth as the number of public servants surged again.
“Total employee costs have blown out by a whopping $5.6 billion, but despite paying more Queenslanders are getting less with a continuing child safety crisis, a rail fail, crime rates on the rise and the return of ambulance ramping.”
Mr Emerson said Treasurer Curtis Pitt had embarrassingly been forced to admit he’d broken the fiscal principle he introduced at the last State Budget.
“Mr Pitt stood hand on heart and pledged to link growth in the public service to population growth – but his own budget papers show him missing the mark,” he said.
“Nothing illustrates this Treasurer’s inadequacies more than the fact he’s broken his very own promise in its very first year.
“This is just more proof he can’t be trusted to properly manage the budget and his promises aren’t to be believed.
“While expenses are growing out of control, revenue forecasts next year are being revised down and it’s Queenslanders who are going to have to pick up the tab.
“Queenslanders deserve better than a government that still has no coherent economic plan and quite clearly can’t manage the budget.”
BUDGET FACTS:
Liberal National Party Leader Tim Nicholls has labelled Labor’s state budget as one of the greatest cons in the state’s history.
Mr Nicholls said Queenslanders were promised a jobs bonanza but unemployment was forecast to be higher for longer.
“This budget is a con – it is full of rubbery figures and accounting trickery,” Mr Nicholls said.
“What is more staggering is the fact the state’s debt will crack the $80 billion dollar mark for the first time in history, despite the $10 billion in raids and rip-offs that were the hallmark of Labor’s budget last year.
“What have they got to show for it? Nothing.
“For Queenslanders, this means $15,795 of debt for every man, woman and child living in this state – that is an increase of $1142 per person.”
LNP Deputy Leader Deb Frecklington said Regional Queenslanders would continue to be starved of vital infrastructure projects under this incompetent Labor Government.
“This is a government that promised to invest in infrastructure, but underspent on infrastructure by $1.7 billion last year – that is on top of the $2 billion underspent in 2015-16,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Infrastructure spending over the next four years is still going to be half a billion dollars lower than what the LNP was set to deliver.
“This do-nothing Labor Government continues to starve Regional Queensland of vital infrastructure investment – they have essentially sold out Regional Queenslanders.
“Labor always promises the world but never delivers.
“Once again Regional Queensland will miss out on its fair share in favour of securing inner-city votes.”
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said business investment went backwards yet again under Labor last year, and is forecast to stay flat this year.
“The Palaszczuk Government has hurt confidence and this is the result,” Mr Emerson said.
“Unemployment is going to remain above six per cent and higher than the national average over the coming years.
“Employment growth for the coming year has almost halved in just six months. Employment growth is going to be weaker than expected next year as well.
“Economic growth has also been revised down across multiple years.”
Key budget points:
Growth Gross State Product (Real)
Debt (NFPS)
Operating balance:
Fiscal balance:
Debt (GG)
Gross State Product (Nominal)
Unemployment rate:
Wages:
It’s been confirmed today Queenslanders will be slugged with higher taxes in tomorrow’s 2017-18 State Budget.**
Tomorrow’s State Budget will show taxes per person increasing to $2,691 – a $34 increase since the last budget update just six months ago.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said taxes had increased by more than $200 per family under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“Before the election Labor promised no new or increased taxes, but since then they’ve increased car registration at double the inflation rate and broken a key promise not to slap new taxes on the property industry,” Mr Emerson said.
“Labor has shown time and again it can’t manage the budget and it is Queensland families who end up paying the price through higher taxes.”
Mr Emerson said households and businesses were also being gouged through higher power prices.
“Queenslanders are being slugged more because Labor has loaded up government-owned electricity companies with $5 billion of debt – forcing them to increase prices,” he said.
“Labor Treasurer Curtis Pitt says he wants to attract more businesses to Queensland, but how many businesses are going to want to come to a state where wholesale power prices have increased 70 per cent on his watch?”
**Budget facts:
LNP Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson says this week’s State Budget will be straight out of the Queensland Labor playbook – big on promises but short on delivery.
“Labor has so far relied on dumb luck and gouging households through increasing electricity prices,” Mr Emerson said.
“A fluke increase in coal royalties has led to another Labor pre-election splurge - but Labor still has no overarching economic strategy and their numbers can’t be relied on.
“Labor are treating families like cash cows with car registration increasing by $55 in just two years.
“Under Labor, wholesale electricity prices have increased by 70 per cent and Labor’s bungled water grid has seen bulk water price increases of 350 per cent.
“Labor has also failed to invest in the infrastructure Queensland needs, cutting the LNP’s infrastructure investment by $3 billion.
“The Palaszczuk Government is investing less than any previous Queensland Government in infrastructure while also failing to deliver 20 per cent or $2 billion of the infrastructure promised in its first budget.
“Labor has already promised two “jobs” budgets but in 2016 more than 30,000 Queenslanders lost their job - Queensland’s worst job losses on record.
“Youth employment is more than 20 per cent in most of the state and above 48 per cent in Outback Queensland. Under Annastacia Palaszczuk almost 15,000 young Queenslanders have lost their jobs.
“Labor was elected promising to pay down debt, yet the last budget update showed debt continuing to increase to $77.5 billion.”
Mr Emerson said Labor deserved a gold medal for rhetoric and broken promises but the wooden spoon for economic management.
“Labor was elected promising surpluses, but their last budget update showed Labor spending $7 billion more than it was earning over the forward years,” he said.
“Before the last election Labor never once mentioned its plans to raid $15 billion from public servants’ super, long service leave and government-owned businesses.
“Despite these one-off raids, debt continues to increase, the budget is still in deficit and infrastructure spending in Queensland has been savagely cut to the tune of $3 billion.
“This is shaping up as a typical pre-election Budget, Labor will over-promise on just about every metric and make commitments they know they won’t be able to keep.”
**Budget Facts and Background:
- The 2015-16 State Budget forecast employee expenses growth at 5.3 per cent in 2015-16. Actual employee expenses growth in 2015-16 was 7.8 per cent.
- The 2015-16 State Budget forecast revenue growth at 3.2 per cent in 2015-16. Actual revenue growth was 2.1 per cent.
- The 2015-16 State Budget forecast economic growth at 4.5 per cent in 2015-16. Actual economic growth in 2015-16 was 3.2 per cent.
- The 2015-16 State Budget forecast total infrastructure spend was $10.08 billion in 2015-16. The actual total infrastructure spend in 2015-16 was $8.04 billion.
- The 2015-16 State Budget forecast capital purchases spending at $8.6 billion in 2015-16. The actual capital purchases spend for 2015-16 was $6.9 billion.
- In 2015-16, the budgeted size of the public service was 205,896 full-time equivalents (FTEs). The estimated actual for 2015-16 was 209,999 FTEs.
- In 2016-17 the budgeted size of the public service was 215,087 FTEs. Media reports have confirmed the size of the public service in 2016-17 at 216,636 FTEs.
**All figures are based on available budget papers including the 2015-16 State Budget, the 2016-17 Mid Year Fiscal and Economic Review and the 2015-16 Report on State Finances.
With today marking one year after the death of Mason Jett Lee, there has yet to be any change in the troubled child safety system under the tenancy of the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
Shadow Minister for Child Safety Ros Bates said child safety staff are still struggling to deal with mounting caseloads and no reprieve is in sight for at least two years.
“Labor’s embattled Minister for Child Safety couldn’t even acknowledge little Mason’s death at her pre-budget press conference,” Ms Bates said.
“We have seen a culture of secrecy and cover-up descend over the Department to shield this incompetent Minister.
“Since Mason’s death we have seen more shocking cases of systemic failure with at least two further child deaths, including a baby at Yeppoon, and more recently Maddilyn Stokes.
“At least one in five children known to child safety who died in the last 12 months committed suicide.
“Our child protection system is supposed to be protecting these kids.
“As I have travelled around the State visiting child safety centres it has become clear the backlogs that have plagued Caboolture are not confined to that area.
“Labor have forgotten little Mason and wants everyone else to forget how the system they presided over failed him.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government today showed its true colours by launching its own “Mediscare” campaign to spread lies about health funding in Queensland.
Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls said it was clear Annastacia Palaszczuk had sent her Health Minister out to engage in some good old fashioned Labor gutter tactics.
“It’s lucky Cameron Dick’s the Health Minister because he appears to be suffering from a chronic disease - he’s a chronic liar.
“The LNP delivered record health budgets each and every year in office. *
“And thanks to Federal Government funding - no thanks to Queensland Labor - our state’s health budget will increase by approximately $1 billion over the next four years. **
“Not only did the Queensland LNP boost the health budget year in, year out, we also built the $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital; we eliminated the long waiting list for dental care and we got rid of ambulance ramping at our hospitals to ensure patients weren’t left to lie for hours on stretchers.
“Today’s comments from Labor’s Cameron Dick are nothing more than a cheap political scare campaign, and I know Queenslanders will see it for what it is.”
Mr Nicholls called on Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor to run on their record, not on lies.
“Labor has to resort to lies because they have no record of their own to stand on,” he said.
“They’ve cut $3 billion from Queensland’s infrastructure budget, power prices are spiralling upwards, car rego costs are rising, the SEQ rail system is a mess and our child safety system is failing vulnerable kids.
“So make no mistake - all we’ll see from Labor over the coming months is nasty, dirty negative campaigning because they have no positive achievements to sell. I don’t think that’s what Queenslanders want or need.
“Queenslanders deserve a government that will deliver the jobs and infrastructure they need and create the stronger and safer communities that they want.
“The LNP’s plan will create those jobs and better manage state finances to build a better Queensland.”
New national data released today shows the do-nothing Palaszczuk Government is failing to provide training for tens of thousands of young Queenslanders.
LNP Shadow Skills and Training Minister Jarrod Bleijie said new data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research revealed over 21,000 fewer young Queenslanders were in some form of vocational training in 2016.
“These figures show the Palaszczuk Labor Government isn’t providing the training opportunities our young people need to get their first job,” Mr Bleijie said.
“When it comes to training and vocational education, Labor’s all talk and no action.
“2016 figures show 21,700 fewer Queenslanders were in some form of training, 1,100 fewer had started a training course and 3,100 fewer had finished.
“Youth unemployment is at crisis levels in regional Queensland - more than 20 per cent in the Cairns region and over 50 per cent in Outback Queensland – yet Labor’s still more interested in keeping their own jobs than they are in creating jobs for Queenslanders.”
Mr Bleijie said Labor tried to con Queenslanders at the last election with their ‘TAFEscare’ campaign, but they had failed dismally to provide a proper training framework for young Queenslanders.
“Labor’s good at glossy brochures and glib slogans but they can’t hide the fact that apprenticeship and traineeship commencements and completions have gone backwards on their watch.
“A Tim Nicholls-led LNP government would create new jobs, support small business and invest in education to raise standards.”
The LNP has a four-point plan to help get young Queenslanders working and create up to 20,000 jobs for young Queenslanders. It 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.
Key facts:
Source: National Centre for Vocational Education Research, December 2016 quarter released today.
The Palaszczuk Labor Government has today put politics ahead of proper school planning by announcing it will spend half a billion dollars to build new high schools in inner city Brisbane while regional communities miss out.
Liberal National Party Leader Tim Nicholls said Annastacia Palaszczuk and Kate Jones had ripped up the 2013 findings of the Queensland Schools Planning Commission and instead chosen to protect the political backsides of inner-city Labor MP’s Jackie Trad and Grace Grace.
“Today’s announcement shows the Palaszczuk Labor Government has ignored key recommendations of the Schools Planning Commission Report,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The Planning Commission recommended no new schools were needed for inner city Brisbane until after 2031.
“Today’s announcement is a blatant $500 million sand-bagging effort to save Labor MP’s at the expense of proper planning and genuine need.
“It smacks of sheer political desperation to save the seats of Labor heavy weights Jackie Trad and Grace Grace - pure and simple.”
Mr Nicholls said, through the creation of the Queensland Schools Planning Commission, the LNP properly planned for 11 new schools across Queensland, while Labor had so far delivered just one.
“We took the politics out of school planning and ensured all Queensland kids will get access to the education they deserve – today’s announcement shows Labor is more interested in its own political survival.
“There are other areas of Queensland, including the northern Gold Coast, Ipswich, North Coast and regional Queensland that have been ignored by Labor for the past two years. Why could this money not have gone to those kids?
“A Tim Nicholls-led LNP government will listen, plan and act to build a better Queensland.”
Key facts:
The LNP established the Queensland Schools Planning Commission on 24 July 2012 as a Ministerial Advisory Committee. The Commission analysed future population trends and school capacity, and produced a Queensland schools infrastructure demand map. Based on that analysis, and in less than three years in government, the LNP planned for the delivery of 11 schools:
In just over two years in government Labor has delivered one school:
The Palaszczuk Labor Government has delivered cuts to a key program that provides support to regional Queenslanders trying to access proper health care.
LNP Shadow Health Minister John-Paul Langbroek said Labor had axed increases to the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme made in 2012.
“Patients across regional Queensland are being short-changed and abandoned by this ‘do-nothing’ Labor Government.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk has cut funding to the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme, with a boost provided by the LNP in 2012/13 not renewed,” Mr Langbroek said.
“Is it any wonder regional health services are delaying or denying reimbursements of payments since funding dried up in 2016 under this Labor Government?
“The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme is a critical part of ensuring all Queenslanders get access to medical treatment and care by offering subsidies to cover the cost of accommodation for regional Queenslanders undergoing treatment away from home.
“Next week’s budget is an opportunity for Labor to right the wrongs of the 2016 budget and re-instate the extra funding that the LNP had provided.
“Labor is failing the sick and ill in regional Queensland as it sits on its hands on this issue.
“The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme Ombudsman’s Report, released yesterday, provides an opportunity for Labor to tackle poor administration of the scheme, but the real issue is Labor’s slashing of funding to the program.
“It was the LNP that doubled the patient travel subsidy scheme in 2012 from $30 to $60 per night, the first time it had been changed in more than two decades.
‘Only the LNP will provide a better health system for all Queenslanders.
Official economic data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today provided further proof that Queensland’s economy is flat-lining under the do-nothing Palaszczuk Labor Government.
LNP Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said State Final Demand figures for Queensland showed growth in our domestic economy was stagnant under Labor.
"The Palaszczuk Labor Government gets the gold medal for rhetoric but fails every time to deliver for Queenslanders,” Mr Emerson said.
“In the last 12 months Queensland has recorded the second worst economic growth in Australia and without growth, jobs will be lost and Queenslanders will be worse off.
“Our domestic economy has shrunk by $6.5 billion since Labor came to office and business investment has fallen by almost $23 billion on Labor’s watch.
“Clearly Queensland is losing the economic State of Origin and doing even worse than Tasmania.
“We’re second last on unemployment, worst on business bankruptcies and business confidence is still at negative levels.
"Next week's Labor budget will be a document of empty promises and lost opportunities.
“Without a strong economy, government doesn’t have the funds to provide services in our hospitals, a better education for our children or give police the resources to protect our community from drugs and crime.”
Mr Emerson said today’s independent ABS statistics shows Labor has no idea how to manage the Queensland economy.
“Queensland is stagnating, the community is crying out for leadership and we have a government stuck in neutral,” he said.
“A Tim Nicholls-led Liberal National government will be a common sense government that listens, plans and acts to build a better Queensland.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s rhetoric on jobs isn’t matched by reality, after two state budgets that have delivered higher unemployment and a cut in full-time jobs.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said Labor’s claims of a “jobs bonanza” next week were nothing more than empty promises, with their record after two years in government telling the true story.
“Last year 30,000 jobs disappeared from Queensland. This was our worst year on record,” Mr Emerson said.*
“We have the second highest unemployment rate in the country. Queensland is battling South Australia for last place and even Tasmania is beating us, meaning more and more Queenslanders are being left behind.
“If not for the continued fall in the participation rate, unemployment would be even higher.
“Labor’s first two budgets promised ‘jobs now, and jobs for the future’, but delivered billions of dollars in cuts to infrastructure spending.
“These cuts to infrastructure investment have had a devastating impact in regional communities where unemployment is spiraling out of control.
“Unemployment in Townsville peaked at 11.6 per cent just two months ago.
“On the Sunshine Coast 11,500 jobs have been lost in the last 12 months, while on the Gold Coast 7,000 jobs have disappeared.
“Youth unemployment in Outback Queensland is close to a staggering 50 per cent. There is a lost generation of kids in the bush who can’t get a job and it’s happening on this Premier’s watch.
“Youth unemployment is above 20 per cent in many regions, including Townsville, Cairns, Wide Bay and Brisbane’s East. The youth unemployment rate has doubled in Brisbane West in the last year and has increased across most Queensland regions.
“Since Labor’s election almost 15,000 youth jobs have disappeared from Queensland.”
Mr Emerson said the true test for next week’s budget was whether it forecast lower unemployment and stronger employment growth than comparable states like New South Wales and Victoria.
“Queensland’s unemployment rate is currently one and a half per cent higher than New South Wales,” he said.
“Victoria’s budget forecast employment growth at 3.25 per cent in 2016-17. By contrast, Queensland’s employment growth forecast halved to just 0.75 per cent in Labor’s last budget update.
“We are losing the economic State of Origin and all this government is offering is more spin and empty rhetoric.
“Only the LNP has the plans to restore confidence and get investment flowing to create jobs and build a better Queensland.”
* data sourced from Australian Bureau of Statistics series:
6202.0 Labour Force, Australia
6291.0.55.001 Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery
6291.0.55.001 - RM1 - Labour force status by Age, Labour market region (ASGS) and Sex
Soaring power prices under Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor are set to cut even deeper into Queensland families and businesses, warns LNP Leader Tim Nicholls.
Mr Nicholls said wholesale electricity costs had increased 70 per cent under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“Today the Premier announced she had taken nine months to come up with nothing but more reviews and taskforces,” he said.
“‘Investigating’ and ‘potentially establishing’ is not a comprehensive energy plan.
“It’s a billion-dollar hoax.”
Mr Nicholls said Labor had confirmed its policies meant power bills would leap by $54 a year for households and $110 for businesses.
“Under Labor, power costs are soaring and will go through the roof under Annastacia Palaszczuk’s ideologically-driven, headlong rush to a 50 per cent renewable energy target,” he said.
“Queensland families and businesses will be paying the price in the taxpayer subsidies and higher power bills to prop up this rush of renewable projects.
“Labor’s extreme renewable energy target also poses a grave risk to energy security, the worst scenario being a repeat of the South Australian blackouts.”
Mr Nicholls said Labor’s poor financial management had triggered the skyrocketing cost of power, with the Government increasing borrowings against government-owned electricity companies to try to plug its budget black hole.
“Labor has loaded up government-owned electricity companies with $5 billion of debt – forcing them to increase electricity prices,” he said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to treat the government-owned electricity companies like ATMs has put the pain of higher power prices on families and businesses just trying to get ahead.
“Now she says she is going to pay for part of the power price rise that Labor has created by subsidising the increase with $770 million of taxpayers’ money.
“It’s a money merry-go-round. A game of hide-the-debt. And Queenslanders are paying the price.
“If elected, an LNP Government will make sure Queensland’s energy security is not put at risk and that we don’t end up like South Australia with blackouts and industry shutting up shop.
“The rush to a 50 per cent renewable energy target in Queensland will mean higher prices and we won’t stand for it.
“Only a Tim Nicholls-led LNP Government will build a better Queensland.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s do-nothing attitude continues to hurt Queenslanders – this time it’s a “feasibility study” for a $300 million transmission line, instead of acting to drive down power prices.
LNP Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart said another study would not lower power prices for families and businesses as cost of living pressures continued to increase.
“Queenslanders need decisive action to ease the price of energy, but instead Annastacia Palaszczuk wants to wait and see by investigating the feasibility of old ideas,” Mr Hart said.
“Labor is simply dusting off an old plan called CopperString on which millions of dollars was spent looking at a 700km electricity transmission line. That study sat on a bureaucrat’s desk in Brisbane.
“Yet another study won’t reduce electricity prices, which are set to rise by more than 7 per cent this year, driven up by Labor’s policy of higher wholesale electricity prices.
“The price of wholesale electricity has increased by 70 per cent under Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor.”
Mr Hart said an investigation commissioned by Townsville Enterprise showed a coal-fired power station in North Queensland would put strong downward pressure on electricity prices.
“Instead of acting, Labor re-heats a transmission line thought bubble which will do nothing to help North Queensland,” he said.
“There are currently nine coal-fired power stations in Queensland, but with the most northern one in Rockhampton, North Queensland is missing out.
“Coal from the Galilee Basin could be used to fuel the new power station, which would support the development of the Galilee basin and provide cheaper electricity in North Queensland.
“Labor should pick up the work done by Townsville Enterprise and get on with the job of delivering cheaper electricity in North Queensland.
“Labor could lower wholesale electricity prices tomorrow by supporting the LNP’s policy to support a coal-fired base load power station in North Queensland.”
