Annastacia Palasazcuk’s promise of more efficient government coming back to bite

In the dying days of the 2015 election campaign, then-opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk promised to make government more efficient. Now those words are coming back to bite, writes Hayden Johnson.

Annastacia Palaszczuk promised a smaller Cabinet when in Opposition. File picture

It was a certain political sugar hit for then-opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk in the dying days of the 2015 election – a promise to slash the number of well-paid politicians and make government more efficient.

Now Premier Palaszczuk is reminded that words come back to bite.

Two weeks before defeating Campbell Newman in a political comeback for the ages, Ms Palaszczuk, then leader of a diminutive Labor Party, promised a smaller cabinet and just one assistant minister.

“Make no mistake, government can operate under 14 ministers,” she declared.

Eleven months later Ms Palaszczuk would increase the cabinet to 17 and then 18.

Now it seems the government cannot operate without eight assistant ministers, including ones responsible for tourism industry, train manufacturing, education and energy.

Annastacia Palaszczuk and Bruce Saunders at the Downer Rail Manufacturing facility at Maryborough. Picture: Lachie Millard

Exactly what these eight assistant ministers offer taxpayers for the $720,000 they’re collectively paid each year will remain unknown while the Premier refuses to proactively release their diaries.

Ms Palaszczuk sees little value in meeting her assistant minister and none are able to step up when their cabinet minister is on leave or travelling, so what is their purpose?

It’s worth noting trains will be built and serviced in Maryborough for the next 10 (but likely 30) years, raising questions about what Bruce Saunders, the Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, and local MP, will do until 2058.

How assistant ministers fill their diaries can only be discovered through a costly Right to Information application.

This is despite Peter Coaldrake’s integrity review espousing the need for greater transparency and noting the “worrying” trend of departments attempting to subvert the Right to Information process.

If Queensland needs assistant ministers – despite Ms Palaszczuk previously saying they don’t – their diaries must be released and purpose made clear.