Editorial: Multibillion-dollar blowouts but integrity too expensive

The same state government that hid a $2.4 billion blowout in its train building program and built a $200 million quarantine white elephant now claims an integrity measure is too expensive, writes the editor.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

It does seem strange that the same state government that hid from taxpayers a $2.4bn blowout to its train building program AND happily defends its decision to build a $200m quarantine centre that was hardly used (and then given away for free) also rejected a critical integrity measure designed to weed out public sector corruption simply because it would have cost too much. And yet here we are.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s office was quick off the mark early Wednesday to deny her decision to not go ahead with the single one-stop “clearing house” for public sector complaints was a squib and a broken promise. Her spokesman pointed out the review of public sector culture by Professor Peter Coaldrake had only recommended “consideration” be given to the idea – that, we point out, he also devoted 2870 words making the case for.

Public Sector Commissioner David Mackie was then sent in to explain – and he revealed he had indeed presented the Coaldrake clearing house as an option to Ms Palaszczuk, but it was rejected because it would have cost $10m to establish and then $6m a year to operate.

Instead, Mr Mackie said the fact that more complaints had been lodged this year than last showed a new simple web form was working – entirely missing the point of the Coaldrake recommendation. Sigh.

WE’RE FOR BACKING THE HEARTLAND

Regional Queensland is the lifeblood of this great state, from the seaside towns at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef to the dusty outback plains around Mount Isa.

A proud history of farming and mining in the regions has poured billions of dollars into the state’s coffers over hundreds of years.

But regional Queenslanders are often forgotten, and we risk a state of haves and have-nots if this inequity is not addressed.

That is why News Corporation’s Bush Summit series – presented by Hancock Agriculture – is so important. Over the next week, The Sunday Mail and Courier-Mail – along with our sister publications across the entire nation – will run stories showcasing our regional towns and cities, and highlighting the challenges they face.

This coverage will be supported by a series of events – one in each state, starting tonight with a dinner in Tamworth, followed by a summit there on Friday featuring a keynote address from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Queensland’s inaugural Bush Summit event will be held in Rockhampton on Friday week (August 18) where politicians – including both Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli – will join regional leaders across a range of industries to discuss the big issues facing the Bush in the heart of the state’s
Beef Capital.

The summits provide the perfect opportunity to celebrate and showcase regional Australia, but also address the challenges facing communities outside the city centres. And importantly, they will identify solutions, which will form part of a communique to be given to governments to address.

For decades, our state’s regional mining towns have been the driving force behind the state’s economy.

But the people in those towns invariably do not feel like they’re getting bang for their buck. From dilapidated roads to accessing basic health services, they’re struggling.

This year, The Courier-Mail highlighted the desperate plight of mothers in Gladstone who could not even give birth at the local hospital, in a town of about 60,000 people. We – and News Corporation’s local mastheads from Gympie to Cairns – have also shone a light on housing issues across the state as the cost of living soars.

More people are moving to Queensland to take advantage of work-from-anywhere arrangements – breathing life into small towns – but at the same time there is also huge connectivity issues in some areas.

And as ever, the possibility of drought looms large over our farmers’ heads as others despair over the possibility the state’s next big cyclone or flooding event is just around the corner.

But through it all, the resilience of regional Queenslanders always shines through.

In an interview ahead of tomorrow’s summit in Tamworth, Mr Albanese said increased population in regional areas, higher employment, and better services – such as the NBN, education and health facilities – would be among the benchmarks of success he had set for his first term in government.

We back this endeavour.

As we reported on Tuesday, up to one in three of those Australians living in capital cities – about 3.4 million people – are considering a move to a regional or rural area.

Now is the time to capitalise on that anticipated migration of people from the city to the bush, and to ensure there is no disadvantage to anyone who chooses to live outside a metropolitan area. We welcome your input to the debate.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here