Media | State News

State News - August 2019

More jobs at risk under Labor’s anti-resources agenda

30th August 2019

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said Annastacia Palaszczuk is all talk when it comes to supporting resources jobs and will be to blame for 150 job losses at the New Acland Coal Mine near Toowoomba, if she fails to grant long-awaited project approvals.

“Whether it’s in North Queensland, Central Queensland or the Darling Downs, Annastacia Palaszczuk is anti-resources, anti-regions and anti-jobs,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Adani’s Carmichael coal mine project in the Galilee Basin and the New Acland Coal Mine at Oakey have been used as a political football by the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk keeps dragging the chain on vital projects for regional Queensland.

“These communities are desperate for jobs and they’re sick of being treated like second-class citizens.

“Labor is trying to destroy New Acland Stage 3 just like it tried to destroy the Carmichael mine.

“The New Acland Coal Mine at Oakey has said it will begin to lay off 150 workers as soon as Monday, because the mine’s present coal reserves are on the brink of exhaustion.

“Community leaders fear the wider economic impact of the redundancies will cause hundreds more non-mining jobs to be lost across the local economy.”

LNP Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said if Annastacia Palaszczuk was serious about jobs she’d tick off New Acland Stage 3 today.

“Regional Queenslanders are sick and tired of Annastacia Palaszczuk’s blatant disregard for the natural resources industry,” Mr Last said.

“I will continue to fight for each and every mining job that is under threat from this out-of-touch Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“Only the LNP has a job-creating blueprint that will make the Queensland economy the powerhouse it once was.

“You can’t trust Labor to create jobs.”

LNP Member for Condamine Pat Weir said the redundancies would devastate the local economy.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk cares more about getting Greens preferences than saving people’s jobs,” Mr Weir said.

“Labor must stop playing politics with people’s lives and keep this mine open.

“If Labor won’t listen to the LNP or the local community, they should at least listen to the CFMMEU.

“The union has warned that workers will leave Oakey in their droves and they’re right.

“We are on the brink of an economic disaster.”

Draft plan confirms NQ not a priority for Labor

29th August 2019

North Queenslanders have had to wait a staggering 1,100 days for a draft regional plan that Deputy Premier Jackie Trad promised three years ago.

LNP Shadow Planning Minister Andrew Powell has today slammed Annastacia Palaszczuk’s lack of leadership for yet another broken Labor promise made to North Queensland.

“Jackie Trad promised the final North Queensland Regional Plan would be in place by early 2018,*” Mr Powell said.

“Three years on and the Palaszczuk Labor Government have only just released a draft document.

“Given that Jackie Trad was able to release, finalise and implement a regional plan in Brisbane in half the time it has taken for a draft to be developed for North Queensland, it’s clear where the Palaszczuk Labor Government priorities are.

“Labor have updated Brisbane’s regional plan yet they don’t see fit to update any others.”

Labor’s Mundingburra MP Coralee O'Rourke disgracefully tried to blame residents and the council for her own Labor Government’s proposed five-storey Aitkenvale Youth Foyer development earlier this year.

Now in estimates it was revealed that she didn’t even bother to put in a submission to the regional land use plan to fix the issue she passed the buck onto**.

“Labor’s Coralee O’Rourke has been exposed for a complete phony, it’s clear the only thing she cared about during the Youth Foyer saga was protecting her Brisbane Labor master’s,” he said.

Whether it’s Jackie Trad buying investment properties near her own multi-billion dollar Cross River Rail project or Minister Dick’s refusal to look beyond Brisbane’s planning boundary, it’s always the same anti-regions agenda with Labor.

Deadline knocks for probe into Palaszczuk’s right-hand man

29th August 2019

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington has called on Annastacia Palaszczuk to publicly release the audit into how a company owned by her right-hand man received a $267,500 government grant.

August 30 is the deadline for the investigation by Ernst & Young into the taxpayer handout to the Premier’s chief-of-staff and Fortress Capstone founding director David Barbagallo.

Ms Frecklington said it was in the public interest for Annastacia Palaszczuk to release the audit.

“The Premier must release the report because Queenslanders have a right to know why the Palaszczuk Labor Government wrote a six-figure cheque for David Barbagallo’s business,” she said.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s leadership has failed miserably so far. She has 24 hours to be open and transparent with Queensland by showing what the investigation into her right-hand man uncovered.

“Labor giving a business owned by David Barbagallo a cheque for $267,500 from the Queensland Treasury doesn’t pass the pub test.

“Now Queenslanders have been slugged tens of thousands of dollars for an audit into a taxpayer-funded grant.

“The Premier’s credibility has been rocked by this scandal and hiding the report would only add to the perception of corruption inside her government.

“Queenslanders deserve reassurance the Premier won’t turn this into another Labor cover-up.”

Fortress Capstone received the grant from the Advance Queensland Business Development Fund to support the growth of CruiseTraka – a social media app for cruise ship passengers.

The Crime and Corruption Commission has paused its assessment of allegations of corrupt conduct relating to the Premier’s chief-of-staff until it receives the report from Ernst & Young.

“Asking Ernst & Young to investigate was completely inappropriate in the first place,” she said.

“An Ernst & Young partner was on the expert panel for Advanced Queensland when the taxpayer-funded grant was awarded to a company owned by David Barbagallo.

“There’s a clear conflict of interest because Ernst and Young was on the expert panel for Advance Queensland and is also the internal auditor for the Premier’s department.

“We have always demanded that the independent Auditor-General investigate this issue because the review must be at arm’s length from the Premier’s office.

“The Premier has also failed to release the integrity advice sought by David Barbagallo on the grant.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk is already the weakest Premier in living memory and must publicly release the review into her chief-of-staff.”

Queensland construction in freefall under job-destroying Labor

28th August 2019

The Palaszczuk Labor Government is failing to get Queensland’s construction industry back on track, with shocking new figures not seen since December 2006.

LNP Deputy Leader and Shadow Treasurer Tim Mander has today warned Queensland’s economy is coming to a standstill under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“Construction work done for this quarter was $7.8 billion less or a fall of 55% than Queensland’s peak under the last LNP Government,” Mr Mander said.

“By Labor’s own preferred measure, construction work dived by another 2.5 per cent in the last quarter.

“The last quarter was the worst for construction we’ve seen since December 2006*, well before the GFC struck.

“The June 2019 quarter marks the fifth consecutive quarter construction work has fallen in Queensland.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk has no plan to support Queenslanders working in the construction industry.

“In the last year alone 2700 jobs have been lost in the construction industry in Queensland.

“There are now over 173,000 Queenslanders look for work – the highest number ever recorded in the state’s history.

“With no construction and no business confidence in the Palaszczuk Labor Government, it’s no wonder Queensland continues to have an unemployment rate that’s the worst in mainland Australia.

“Workers in the construction industry continue to be ripped off under the Palaszczuk Labor Government and that’s why the LNP will call a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Queensland’s building industry, if elected in October 2020.

“You can’t trust Labor to create jobs.

“Only the LNP has a job-creating infrastructure plan to make the Queensland economy the powerhouse it once was.”

Results prove Palaszczuk is failing our students

28th August 2019

Today’s NAPLAN results are conclusive proof that Labor is failing to deliver a better education for hundreds of thousands of Queensland kids.

The results showed Queensland state schools are lagging behind the rest of Australia across every age group and in every subject.

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said she was alarmed that most of Queensland’s NAPLAN results had gone backwards on a year ago.

“The latest NAPLAN results show Labor is failing our kids,” Ms Frecklington said.

“No wonder Labor is so desperate to scrap NAPLAN testing – and no wonder the Education Minister is hiding out in Cape York instead of facing the cameras.

“National testing proves that Annastacia Palaszczuk is letting down our kids, our teachers and our parents.

“My message to mums and dads is clear. Unlike Labor, the LNP will make better schools our priority.”

Shadow Education Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the LNP’s plan for education would put the needs of students first.

The LNP is committed to air-conditioning every state school classroom in Queensland, de-cluttering the curriculum to prioritise literacy and numeracy and saving the Independent Public Schools program – giving principals, teachers and parents a bigger say in their schools.

“All we ever get from Labor on education is excuses and finger-pointing,” Mr Bleijie said.

“The LNP wants a world-class education system in Queensland and we have the policies to deliver it.

“We will air-condition every state school classroom because we know that cool kids are smart kids.

“We will empower parents, principals and teachers to make the best decisions for their schools – because no-one cares about their students as much as they do.”

Labor creates driveway health service as ramping skyrockets

27th August 2019

Patients are being kept on ambulance stretchers instead of receiving care in hospital beds as ramping rates surge under Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Queensland Health data for July revealed the statewide ambulance ramping rate had jumped to 28 per cent – the worst monthly performance result of Labor’s latest term in power.

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said the alarming increase in ambulance ramping was a sign of a health system in crisis under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“The rate patients are being stranded on stretchers before they are treated is disgraceful,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk has created a driveway health service where ambulance stretchers are used like hospital beds.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is failing patients and it’s failing our health staff.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk promised better health services at the last state election but they are clearly getting worse.
“Queensland needs more hospital beds and better planning for health service delivery.

“Labor’s record on health is skyrocketing ambulance ramping, massive bed shortages and cancelled surgeries.”

Ambulance ramping refers to the number of patients waiting longer than 30 minutes to be admitted to emergency care and transferred from ambulance stretcher.

LNP Shadow Minister for Health Ros Bates said the rate of ambulance ramping had increased from 20 to 28 per cent since the 2017 election.

“These aren’t just numbers in a spreadsheet – it’s your mum or your grandad or your son,” Ms Bates said.
“As a former ED nurse, I know our hard-working nurses, doctors, and paramedics need more help on the frontline.

“Labor can’t deliver better services when they’ve cut the hospital building budget by $203 million this year.
“Only the LNP will fix the ramping crisis – just like we did before. The rate was only 15 per cent when the LNP left office.
“When it comes to better health services, you can’t trust Labor.”

Labor's humble ski retreat is worth a cool $7.2million

24th August 2019

The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s tattered integrity has been dealt another blow after it was revealed the Canadian ski lodge where senior Ministers Jackie Trad and Shannon Fentiman enjoyed free accommodation is worth more than $7.2 million (AUD).

Yet Ms Trad had dismissed claims the five-bedroom Whistler lodge was a ‘luxury’ property when she was questioned about her free stay during Estimates hearings (see transcript below).

The home, described as ‘a masterpiece of modern design’ in one of Whistler’s most exclusive enclaves, is owned by Nicole Scurrah – former chief-of-staff to Anna Bligh and now a consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

“This shows how arrogant and out-of-touch Labor has become,” said LNP Deputy Leader Tim Mander.

“Jackie Trad might not think an $7.2 million ski lodge in Whistler is luxurious, but millions of Queenslanders would disagree.

“Thanks to Jackie Trad there are 173,000 Queenslanders looking for work, but all she cares about is free ski trips and adding to her property portfolio.

“Jackie Trad must be the most entitled and out-of-touch politician in the Palaszczuk Labor Government – and that’s saying something.

”Shannon Fentiman isn’t much better, she couldn’t even be bothered to declare the free accommodation on her register of interests.”

Last month it was revealed that PwC has been hired as a consultant to the Palaszczuk Labor Government to investigate ways to cut spending – on consultants – by $1.7billion.

Ms Scurrah will be part of the consultant-busting PwC ‘razor gang’.

Extra drought money for milk not flowing to farmers

23rd August 2019

It’s about time Queenslanders got answers as to why major supermarkets Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have been allowed to get away scot free in deceiving customers and in the process destroying our local dairy industry.

LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture Tony Perrett today said enough is enough, after supermarkets failed to pass on to processors and farmers the extra 10c a litre it started collecting at the checkout.
“Clearly, supermarket giants are milking the system in asking more for milk at the checkout but continuing to and squeeze our dairy farmers by refusing to pass on extra revenue,” said Mr Perrett.
“The additional 10c a litre price increase last month has been estimated that it will deliver an extra $100 million straight into the supermarket profits while giving noting to farmers.
“It’s time for these Supermarket big wigs to come out from behind their glossy spin doctors and start paying our farmers properly for their milk.

“I recently visited and talked with dairy farmers on the Darling Downs who were doing it extremely tough due to drought.

The increased cost of feed due to drought, had pushed milk production prices well beyond what they’re getting paid.
“According to Queensland DairyFarmers Organisation, a dairy farmer is leaving the industry approximately every 5-7 days due to the behavior of the supermarkets.
“The time for action is now.

“Unfortunately, Labor Agriculture Minister Furner is nowhere on this issue, in fact after the first increase to milk prices in February this year he astonishingly told ABC radio that he said he wasn’t happy farmers were getting paid more for their milk*.

“If we want to save our Queensland dairy industry, I’m calling on the supermarkets to come clean and pass on the extra money.

“Time for supermarkets to start paying farmers for what for what milk is worth.”

LNP seeks to scrap Labor’s tax on craft breweries

22nd August 2019

The LNP has moved to block the Palaszczuk Labor Government from increasing the annual fire levy on craft breweries by almost 900 per cent.

LNP Shadow Minister for Fire Lachlan Millar and Shadow Minister for Small Business Fiona Simpson said the fire levy increase could force craft breweries to close, costing local jobs and pushing up beer prices.

Micro-breweries in Brisbane and regional cities will see their fire charge skyrocket from $527.80 to $5224.20 a year.

“A 900 per cent increase is totally unacceptable for any business and can’t be justified,” Mr Millar said.

“Labor’s beer tax must be stopped or some breweries will close and jobs will be lost.

“The LNP is asking the Palaszczuk Labor Government to give breweries a break and stop Labor’s latest tax grab.”

The LNP has moved a disallowance motion in Parliament aiming to stop Labor from increasing the fire levy on craft breweries.

Ms Simpson said Queensland’s craft breweries were a great small business success story.

“Smashing breweries with a 900 per cent increase in their fire levy is bad for business and bad for jobs,” Ms Simpson said.

“This is nothing more than a greedy Labor tax on beer.

“Labor should be encouraging small businesses to open, not smashing them with new or increased taxes.

“If Labor were serious about supporting small business they would scrap this beer tax.”

Previously, craft breweries paid the level 3 fire levy charged to small-scale industrial premises, but the Palaszczuk Labor Government has now ordered them to pay the far higher level 7 levy.

Labor’s Infrastructure Crisis Revealed

21st August 2019

A new government report released by Building Queensland has revealed the dire situation of infrastructure projects under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

LNP Shadow Infrastructure Minister Andrew Powell said the latest report shows delays on project-after-project under the weak leadership of Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“Whether it was infrastructure for schools, dams or rail lines, projects across the board have been delayed, postponed or canned altogether,” Mr Powell said.

“The reality is Labor are borrowing more and building less.

“Infrastructure spending across the forward estimates has actually decreased by $23 million, compared with last year.

“Not only is Annastacia Palaszczuk the weakest leader Queensland has ever had she’s also invested the least in infrastructure than any Premier in living memory.

“Our roads are congested, our schools are overcrowded, our hospitals are at breaking point and prisons overflowing all thanks to Annastacia Palaszczuk’s failure to show any leadership.

“With infrastructure cuts and major project delays it’s no wonder why Queensland has had the worst or second worst unemployment rate in the nation for most of the past 12 months.”

Example of Project Delays in Building Queensland Report:


• Schooling infrastructure upgrades – promised to open in the early 2020’s now business case won’t even be finished until first half 2020

  • Page 25, https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/December_2018_Pipeline_Report.pdf
  • Page 21, https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Infrastructure-Pipeline-Report-2019.pdf

• Paradise Dam Improvement Project – business case started as far back as 2016 and it’s not planned to be complete until second half of 2020

  • Page 34, https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Infrastructure_Pipeline_Report_June_2016.pdf
  • Page 25, https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Infrastructure-Pipeline-Report-2019.pdf

• Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade – business case which was supposedly complete in 2017 is now still in ‘detailed design phase’

  • Page 13, https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PIpeline-Report-June-17.pdf
  • Page 33, https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Infrastructure-Pipeline-Report-2019.pdf

• Burdekin Falls Dam – announced to be operational by end of 2020, now business case won’t even be completed by late 2020

  • Page 51, https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/December_2017_Pipeline_Final.pdf
  • Page 36, https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Infrastructure-Pipeline-Report-2019.pdf

 

LNP calls on Labor to appeal soft sentence of deadly Christmas Day crash

19th August 2019

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington and Shadow Attorney-General David Janetzki are calling on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to appeal the soft sentence of Mark Veneris for the horrific Christmas Day crash which saw a mother and daughter killed.

Mr Veneris lost control of his BMW sedan at Manly West, reaching speeds of up to 100km/h in a 70km/h zone, smashing head-on with the Tritton family’s vehicle.

While on their way to a family Christmas Day lunch, Makayla,18, and her mother Karin, 56, tragically died while Tarmeka, 23, and her father Laurence, 55, received life-threatening injuries.

“This was not a random accident. This was 1.7km of reckless, drug-induced driving which led to the deaths of two people and a life sentence for two of their family members,” Ms Frecklington said.

“The fact that a reckless drug driver could be out as early as 2021 after serving only 3.5 years is an insult to the memory of Makayla and Karin.

“Harsher sentences need to be imposed so we can deter other road users from driving with drugs in their system.

“The Tritton family will never be able to celebrate Christmas as they once did. Mr Veneris took that away from them.”

Mr Janetzki said Mr Veneris’ long history of speeding fines and previous drunk-driving records indicated an accident waiting to happen.

“Any driver who gets behind the wheel with drugs in their system should face the full force of the law,” Mr Janetzki said.

“I have urgently written to the Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath to lodge an appeal against the horrific 2017 Christmas Day case.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government need to prove they’re serious about crime and appeal this soft and insulting sentence.”

Sentence:

  • Veneris was convicted on 26 July 2019 of dangerous driving causing death and grievous bodily harm
  • He was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment to be served concurrently with 6 months for drug and alcohol related offences
  • He will be eligible for parole in June 2021 (after serving a minimum 3.5 years in prison)
  • His licence was suspended indefinitely
  • The offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
  • Appeal period runs out 26 August 2019

Transcript of Court Proceedings: https://archive.sclqld.org.au/qjudgment/sentencing/2019/veneris26072019.pdf

 

Rorts and rip-offs exposed in Labor's 'jobs' scheme

15th August 2019

Nearly $1.4m dollars has been ripped off in fraudulent payments under Labor's flagship employment program and another $20m spent on jobs that only lasted 4 weeks.

LNP Shadow Minister for Employment and Small Business Fiona Simpson labelled Labor's administration of the Back To Work Program as shoddy and a rip-off for job-seekers and taxpayers.

“The scheme is riddled with rorts and rip-offs which is unfair to the unemployed and legitimate small businesses whose taxes are subsidising the abuse of others," Ms Simpson said.

The program pays grants of up to $20,000 to employers who take on unemployed workers.

The Back to Work frauds were detailed in the answer to an LNP question on notice (see link below).

“Labor's Back to Work scheme is creating lots of work opportunities – for fraudsters," Ms Simpson said.

“The cost of these scams is alarming and it's likely many other cases have gone undetected.”

The Palaszczuk Labor Government has also admitted that in 2018-19, 6,703 Back to Work jobs ended after the first four-week incentive subsidy was paid.

"Labor has paid out $20million of taxpayers' cash for jobs that basically went nowhere," Ms Simpson said.

"I'm concerned that many of the 'jobs' created through Back to Work disappear as soon as Labor sends out the cheque.

"Labor must urgently fix the flaws in its Back to Work program.

"This is more proof that Labor isn't working, which is why Queensland has the highest unemployment rate in mainland Australia."

Background
Fraud QoN: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2019/1055-2019.pdf
Estimates Transcript (see page 96): https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2019/2019_08_01_EstimatesEEC.pdf

Palaszczuk’s unAustralian beer tax will cost jobs

13th August 2019

Shadow Minister for Small Business Fiona Simpson has again called on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to dump the huge hike for craft breweries in their emergency services management levy, which came into effect from July 1.

During a trip to Cairns today, Ms Simpson said the levy hike for small breweries was a cruel blow for the popular industry, causing operators unfair financial pressure.

“The high-taxing Palaszczuk Labor Government can’t keep its hands out of people’s pockets and now they’re even going after their beer,” Ms Simpson said.

“It’s unAustralian and true to form there was no consultation with businesses owners from Labor.

“They’re trying to blame councils, but it is the State Government that sets the rate and it is the State Government that has gazetted a new regulation to change the group under which craft breweries are charged the levy.

“They just didn’t bother to come clean and tell anyone before they slugged them and now, they’re trying to blame shift instead of fix the problem.

“Craft brewers in urban areas will see their State Government emergency management levy rise from $527.80 a year to $5224.20 this year.*

“However, brewers in all areas will see a massive increase in their previous emergency management levy.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk has slugged Queenslanders with ten new or high taxes and our we have the worst unemployment rate in Mainland Australia and her beer tax will cost local jobs.

“Only the LNP will support businesses owners, create new jobs, reduce power bills and make Queensland the economic powerhouse it once was.

Background explanation and references:

The emergency management levy is broken into different Groups A-E (classifying the type and size of business) and Classes (different geographical areas, determined by proximity to fire station and a services).

See map in link below to determine which geographic class businesses fall into, determined by proximity to fire stations and services:

https://publicsafetyqld.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PanelsLegend/index.html?appid=c50813e4c4f9421d99ebfedf3c447123

The new regulation shifts microbreweries into a new Levy Group, thus the hike in charges.

Links to the new regulations:

* * 2019 - Fee change (annual update) - https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/sl-2019-0110
* 2019 - Levy Group change from Category 3 to Category 7 for micro-breweries (NEW) https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/sl-2019-0130
* 2018 - previous regulation - which shows previous charges - https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/sl-2018-0079

The numbers don’t lie but the Minister does

13th August 2019

The Palaszczuk Labor Government is letting down some of Queensland’s most vulnerable citizens, as the amount of public housing applications continues to skyrocket.

LNP Shadow Housing Minister Michael Hart said Annastacia Palaszczuk and her embattled Minister Mick De Brenni should be ashamed of their appalling record.

“Minister Mick De Brenni must be sacked for his incompetence,” Mr Hart said.

“When the LNP left government the total figure had fallen by 7004 to 16,546.*

“As of the end of March 2019, that figure is closing-in on 20,000.

“The numbers don’t lie.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is failing Queensland’s homeless and they don’t have a plan to reverse the trend.

“8,625 applications have been made in the ‘very high’ segment of need, which is more than double, since the LNP left office in 2015.

“In March alone, 1037 families applied for housing assistance, which is a staggering increase of 14%.

“These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet, these are desperate Queenslanders who looking for a roof over their head.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s priorities are all wrong, while Mick De Brenni clearly can’t handle his portfolio and needs to go.

“Queenslanders are doing it tough thanks to ten new or higher taxes, since the last election.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk can’t be trusted to create jobs.

“Queensland has the worst unemployment rate in mainland Australia and the Palaszczuk Labor Government has no plan to fix it.

“Only Deb Frecklington and the LNP has an economic plan to help everyone get ahead.”

* https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2019/621-2019.pdf

 

Business confidence goes from Trad to worse

13th August 2019

Businesses have passed a damning vote of no confidence in the Palaszczuk Labor Government after its latest Budget delivered higher taxes, more debt, less jobs and less infrastructure.

The latest Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) Pulse survey (released today) shows business confidence in Queensland stood at 43.5 points in the June quarter – 4.2 points lower than June 2018.

The first post-Budget survey also showed 80 per cent of businesses are expecting the state’s dire economic conditions to stagnate or worsen.

LNP Deputy Leader and Shadow Treasurer Tim Mander said Labor was smashing business with almost $3.5 billion of new taxes, slashing infrastructure investment and destroying jobs.

“The overwhelming majority of Queensland businesses fear for the future with Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad in charge,” Mr Mander said.

“Sadly, businesses and workers are right to be worried.

“Labor has hit Queensland with 10 tax hikes, sent our debt surging to $90 billion and delivered the highest unemployment rate in mainland Australia.

“Jackie Trad may be making a mint from her private property portfolio, but she has been a disaster as Treasurer of this state.

“Only a Deb Frecklington LNP Government will restore Queensland’s confidence by building job-creating infrastructure, ending Labor’s waste and guaranteeing no new taxes.”

Palaszczuk must stop elder abuse cover-up

7th August 2019

Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington has condemned the Palaszczuk Labor Government for covering up the shocking physical and sexual abuse of residents in state-run aged care homes.

The catalogue of 16 disturbing incidents was only uncovered by a right-to-information request and Labor is refusing to release details of which facilities were involved.

“It is sickening that vulnerable old people have been physically and sexually abused in state-run facilities that are meant to care for them,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to stop the cover-up and tell Queenslanders what has happened, where it happened and what she is doing about it.

“Once again, Labor is more interested in covering up scandals than in tackling them.

“Elder abuse is a despicable and cowardly crime.

“Every family has a right to know if their loved one is at risk of abuse.”

Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates accused Annastacia Palaszczuk of blatant hypocrisy after the Premier last month promised to ‘name and shame’ private care homes with low staffing ratios.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk threatened to name private care facilities over staffing levels, but she won’t identify state-run homes where old people have suffered disgusting abuse,” Ms Bates said.

“There’s one rule for the Palaszczuk Labor Government and another rule for everyone else.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk must drop her double standards and guarantee the safety of residents in state-run aged care.”

In 2018 it was revealed that two state-run care facilities – Cooinda House, Redcliffe, and the Dr EAF McDonald Nursing Home in Oakey – failed inspections, with inspectors reporting that residents were exposed to ‘serious risk’.

“The warning signs have been there for a long time, but Labor chose to ignore them,” Ms Bates said.

Tricky minister breaks prickly promise

2nd August 2019

The LNP is demanding Labor Agriculture Minister Mark Furner stops squirming and pays up the $5 million he promised to fight the spread of prickly acacia in the flood-affected North-West.

Mr Furner publicly promised the cash in a media statement he jointly issued with the then Federal Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud on March 29 (media release attached).

LNP Shadow Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett called on Minister Furner – who met with Federal Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie on Wednesday in relation to the missing money – to publicly declare his hand on Queensland’s contribution.

“Canberra’s money is still on the table – despite the Palaszczuk Labor Government refusing to fund its agreed share,” Mr Perrett said.

“Mark Furner calls himself the farmers’ friend. But with friends like Furner, farmers don’t need enemies.

“He made a promise to help farmers fight this damaging weed and he has blatantly broken his word.

“Rural Queenslanders cannot trust a word the Palaszczuk Labor Government says.

“This is another Labor kick in the guts for farmers who are really struggling.

“The clock is ticking for Labor to act before this weed spreads out of control.

“The region is facing yet another environmental catastrophe unless action is taken now.”

The Agriculture Minister said there was ‘some confusion’ when he was quizzed about his commitment by Mr Perrett during the agriculture estimates hearing* – but refused to say if the $5m would be paid.

“The only person who is confused about this is Labor’s hapless Agriculture Minister,” Mr Perrett said.

“The Minister doesn’t make sense most of the time, but he surpassed himself in estimates.

“His attempt to dispute his own words was confusing and pathetic.

“I promise graziers and farmers that the LNP will keep fighting to ensure the Palaszczuk Labor Government sticks to its promises and fights the spread of prickly acacia.”

* See page 71: www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2019/2019_07_24_EstimatesSDC.pdf

Labor doesn’t give a damn about dams

2nd August 2019

Another hammer blow for regional Queensland today, after the Palaszczuk Labor Government crushed the Nullinga Dam project, in another sign they don’t have a plan to create new jobs.

LNP Deputy Leader Tim Mander said Annastacia Palaszczuk would rather see North Queensland dry-up than build crucial water infrastructure.

“Labor will make-up any excuse not to build dams in Queensland,” Mr Mander said.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is anti-regions, anti-jobs and anti-dams.

“Only the LNP is committed to Nullinga Dam because it will kick-start the regional economy, create new jobs and provide water security for generations to come.

“We are listening to locals, and farmers are telling us they need water security to grow their businesses.

“Just a few months ago, LNP Leader Deb Frecklington unveiled a plan to create a government-owned corporation based in Townsville to construct new dams and unleash the economic potential of regional Queensland.

“The new Queensland Dam Company (QDC) will create new jobs in Townsville and implement the LNP’s plan for new dams and dam upgrades in Central and North Queensland.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government have also turned a blind eye to Rookwood Weir.

“They are deliberately delaying this project and don’t understand how vital it is for Central Queensland.”

LNP Shadow Minister for Natural Resources Dale Last said Annastacia Palaszczuk is blatantly treating regional Queenslanders like second-class citizens.

“Rookwood Weir has been delayed by two years by Labor – they have no one else to blame for any cost blowouts than themselves,” Mr Last said.

“Labor spent $36 million on Rookwood Weir last year without a shovel in the ground.

“We are sick of this Brisbane-centric Government failing regional cities and towns across the state.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s priorities are all wrong, Cross River Rail has blown out by more than $1 billion but Labor can’t find a cent for Nullinga Dam.

“Ten new or higher taxes have been slugged on Queenslanders, cost of living has soared, unemployment is the worst in mainland Australia and farmers can’t cope with the crippling cost of water.

“You can’t trust Labor to build critical water infrastructure or create new jobs.”