Editor’s view: Debt will have to be paid one day

The revelations that Queensland Government departments and agencies are overspending $5327 for every minute of every hour should be of major concern, writes The Editor.

Queensland Government departments and agencies overspent their budgets to the tune of $2.8 billion in the past year.

The term “banana republic’’ was coined to describe poor, unstable economies in Latin America. Queensland is not there yet, but after two and a half years of Treasurer Cameron Dick at the helm of the state’s finances we appear to be on the way. And that deserves calling out.

With cost overruns now bedded into projects like the planned rebuild of the Gabba and the almost-done Cross River Rail, Queensland is getting a reputation as a state that can’t manage its finances. Whether it’s because of union muscle, incompetence or simply an inability to get the maths right, the Palaszczuk government is living in a fantasyland when it comes to being responsible and accountable with taxpayer’s money.

The latest example came yesterday when it was revealed state government departments blew their budgets by a staggering $2.8bn in the past year – that is, $7.6 million every single day, or $5327 for every minute of every hour.

We know this because Mr Dick had to embarrassingly introduce new legislation to parliament to pick up the tab for the “unforeseen expenditure” racked up in 2021-22 – laws the government will no doubt use its numbers to wave through. But remember, it’s all your money.

Mr Dick’s own department, Treasury, managed to blow its budget by more than half a billion dollars – overspending $1046 every single minute of the year.

Treasurer Cameron Dick. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

The Youth Justice Department needed an extra $175m in funding, the Small Business Department an extra $138m, and the Environment Department blew their budget by $623m. Over at Transport and Main Roads the cost overruns hit $330m, while the Department of State Development and Local Government managed to miss its budget target by $573 million!

Mr Dick has blamed a range of things, from floods to rail and road projects. But the total amount of “unforeseen expenditure” was six times greater than the $449m in overruns recorded the year before.

This is not a way to run any budget, let alone the state’s. That is because, as obvious as it may sound, it is called a budget because there are constraints attached.

Can you imagine if you ran your household this way? To just put on your credit card whatever you want on whatever you like this year – just adding it to your already huge debt?

Can you imagine a company that did the same? No. Chief executives either stick to their budget or they are asked to look for another job.

But not in government, where spending other people’s money apparently gives the green light to blow budgets with impunity.

Even the Office of the Governor was $76,000 over its allocated budget last year.

The real fear in all of this is that the Palaszczuk government, which has already racked up a $100 billion debt, is kicking everything down the road for the next generation to pick up the tab. It’s bad policy, poor decision-making and it is a long way from responsible.

The late Keith De Lacy, a man some say was our state’s best Labor Treasurer, lamented just before his death that politicians had lost the regard for accountability and responsibility – instead addicted to racking up big debts with little or no prospect of paying it back.

Talking up an on-paper surplus is totally meaningless if the state’s debt is ballooning. Because one day, taxpayers will have to pay the piper.

COP SHOCK NEEDS A RESPONSE

IT has become blindingly clear that there is a serious problem in our police service when it comes to what can only be described as misogynistic – and at times predatory – behaviour.

While the vast majority of officers serve our community with distinction and courage, the lid has now been lifted on a culture that is a long way from what is appropriate at any time – but particularly in modern-day Queensland.

The latest revelation today that senior female officers have been taking aside female recruits on the eve of their swearing-in to warn them they will be hit on by their fellow officers – who will consider them to be “fresh meat” will shock Queenslanders this morning.

It demands a proper response from Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll. But Ms Carroll has not exactly covered herself in glory over the past few weeks as the Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland Police Service has heard similar stories. And sadly, she has also not left anyone convinced that she is the right person to lead the service out of this mess.

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 are available at couriermail.com.au/help/contact-us