Opposition Leader David Crisafulli vows to overhaul Queensland budget grilling if elected Premier

Premier Annastacia Palasczuk and Treasurer Cameron Dick are set to be grilled as budget estimates kick off today. It comes as Opposition Leader David Crisafulli vows to overhaul the process.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli is digging in his heels on his pledge to overhaul Queensland’s budget estimates process should he be elected Premier next year.

Mr Crisafulli said he would seek to have the annual process chaired independently – such as by the Speaker – and expand time for questions from members of the opposition party.

This year’s budget estimates will kick off on Tuesday, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk the first to be grilled followed by Treasurer Cameron Dick.

Mr Crisafulli was critical of the time currently used for government ministers to be able to “wind down the clock” by asking “Dorothy Dixer” questions of MPs.

“Budget estimates should be an opportunity for ministers to be held accountable, but it has descended into a farce, shielding underperforming ministers from scrutiny,” he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“It’s the best opportunity for an opposition to put the blowtorch on the government, but at present it’s another forum where the sun isn’t allowed to shine in.”

The budget estimates process sees each portfolio committee hold a public hearing each year following the handing down of the state budget.

At each hearing the relevant minister – along with that portfolio’s senior public servants – are alternately questioned by the committee, which contains a split of government and non-government MPs.

But slamming the “stalling” tactics as “dodgy”, the Opposition Leader said the current process was proof “the integrity issues exposed by the Coaldrake Review continue to flourish”.

“The landmark Coaldrake Review exposed deep-seated integrity issues in this government, a lack of ministerial accountability and the culture of fear and cover-up in the public service,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli. Picture: David Clark

“Queenslanders deserve an end to Labor’s culture of fear and bullying of the public service, which operates as a protection racket during budget estimates.

“An LNP government would reform budget estimates to deliver the true ministerial accountability and transparency Queenslanders deserve from their parliament.”

Last year’s budget estimates saw several fiery moments, including the Premier taking a stab at Mr Crisafulli when he said Ms Palaszczuk was “glitz glamour, no vision”.

“I say to the Leader of the Opposition, don’t come up to me at social events and be nice … then come in here and put on a turn,” she retorted back.

“You come up and be nice, I take your photo with Peter Beattie.”

It was also during the budget estimates process that Deputy Premier Steven Miles revealed the $200m-plus cost to taxpayers of the Wellcamp quarantine facility – a figure the government had refused to provide for months citing “commercial in confidence”.