George St Beat: Gabba rebuild leads to a billion more questions

Revelations the Gabba’s epic $1b redevelopment price tag never had a solid business case to back it up caused some confusion in the corridor’s of power.

• Govt defends $2.7bn Gabba price tag

Revelations the Gabba’s original $1bn price tag never had a solid business case to back it up had long been rumoured, but was finally confirmed this week thanks to comments from the always upfront Auditor-General.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles was left to pick up the pieces on Thursday, delivering a carefully curated statement outlining stadium architectural firm Populous’ involvement with delivering the initial design and the $1bn figure ­– which not only went to the IOC, but also the Queensland public.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

It was fitting that was left to Miles, given we hear he appeared to accidentally reveal the government had scrapped the Olympic Coordination Authority when an official announcement – complete with the soft landing of a leadership board to oversee – had been planned for the coming days.

When unsatisfied journos bombarded Energy Minister Mick de Brenni later on Thursday he was quick to stonewall questions, handballing any queries on the topic to the Deputy Premier.

But Education Minister Grace Grace had no such qualms, and managed to make a confusing issue of semantics even more confusing.

Pressed on whether the $1bn was a figure calculated by Populous or by the government while looking at Populous’ research, Ms Grace said “either way, we’ve worked with Populous to come to $1bn”.

“It was done in connection with Populous, no doubt about it at all,” she said.

Crystal clear then.

YOU SNOOZE YOU LOOSE

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

If there is one person more passionate about the Gabba redevelopment than the Premier it is probably South Brisbane MP Amy MacMahon – although for vastly different reasons.

So it came as no surprise to anyone when the member jumped into the debate on the LNP’s motion to force the government’s hand to release any costs Gabba. Anyone except, Transport Minister Mark Bailey.

During the debate Dr MacMahon, as is permitted, rose to contribute to the debate despite not being on the running list of speakers. Mr Bailey then jumped up on a “point of order”, asking Speaker Curtis Pitt “I am just inquiring whether the member for South Brisbane got the call there”.

Mr Pitt quickly issued a curt reminder, saying “she got the call because she rose to her feet and sought the call. That is the process in this place. Speaking lists are a guide only, members.”.

But the Transport Minister wasn’t the only one being caught short by the parliamentary rules this week. Logan MP Linus Power was forced to issue an apology after sneaking back into the chamber to retrieve documents from his desk after being kicked out for an hour.

And Greens MP Michael Berkman was, not for the first time, referred to the ethics committee for “refusing to withdraw offensive words” during the heated youth crime debate.

SPINNERS GET SPUN

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has been adamant there will be no reshuffle of her frontbench, but this clearly doesn’t apply to the media spinners in the wider Palaszczuk News Network.

There has been major movement within ministerial offices and the PNN’s gold medal poaching of Nine News remains strong, with journalist Natarjsha Kramer coming in as Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman’s newest adviser.

Newspapers have not been immune, with The Daily Telegraph losing chief of staff Campbell Gellie to Treasurer Cameron Dick’s office — increasing his media spinning workforce to two.

Former NT News business editor Gary Shipway, one of the most senior spinners for the Northern Territory government in the three years the Country Liberal Party was in power, has come in for Minister Di Farmer.

There was a return of a familiar face in Scott Chandler, a card-carrying Labor Old Guardian who a few years ago worked for Minister Grace Grace and is now with Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard via a stint in the department and a sojourn north as Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill’s head of media.

Daniel Webb, a Taswegian pinched from the Shepparton News in Victoria, has come in for Education Minister Grace’s office and rounds off the new additions.

She needed a new media adviser after Bryce Heaton, the unsung hero who asked the question that sparked Bob Katter’s “may a thousand blossoms bloom” quip during his time as a journalist, moved to Agriculture Minister Mark Furner’s office.

Mr Furner’s former adviser Ron Goodman, known to his media advising colleagues as their de facto “union rep” for caring most about their wellbeing, has moved back to the department.

After copping an absolute battering through Covid-19 and the health crisis spinner Marty Philip has swapped Minister Yvette D’Ath’s office for Housing Minister Leanne Enoch, whose long-time media man Bill Walker has moved to Minister Stirling Hinchliffe’s office.

No one has been immune to the shake-up, not even Deputy Premier Steven Miles who has had duo Kat Wright and Amy Hunter by his side for years. Though Wright hasn’t left the office, rather a promotion as his chief of staff meant a new media adviser was needed.

The spot was filled by Emilia Hutchinson, regional journalist turned media adviser for Water Minister Glenn Butcher — who remains without a spinner of his own, though it’s understood a replacement is almost locked in.

VALE VAUGHAN

Vaughan Johnson. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Politics was put aside for a bipartisan honouring of the late Vaughan Johnson, the former LNP Member for Gregory on Thursday.

The Premier hosted a lunch at Parliament House alongside current Member for Gregory Lachlan Millar for Mr Johnson’s family, with the Premier’s father Henry Palaszczuk also in attendance.

Queensland MPs spent Thursday morning remembering the “fierce advocate”, acknowledged for his deep affection for western Queensland, genuine concern for people’s struggles, the great love he held for his family, and his unbridled larrikinism.

Mr Johnson worked as a grazier and contractor before trying his hand at politics as a councillor in the western Queensland town of Quilpie, ultimately serving in state parliament for more than 25 years.

He died on January 22, aged 75.

His three children Monique, Tanya and Michael and their mum Robin were present in the public gallery of parliament as MPs remembered his life and service to the state.

Warrego MP Ann Leahy recounted Mr Johnson’s penchant for pranks, including the time as a young man he and mates tied a goat to the bell of the Anglican Church in Quilpie about 2am resulting in the goat pulling on the rope, ringing the bell, and first waking a bewildered priest then the whole town.

And he kept up his antics in parliament, including pouring a glass of water down the shoe of colleague Ian Walker (Mansfield MP) while he was “in full flight speaking” in the chamber.

“He was a larger than life character, and so many of us were privileged to know him,” Ms Leahy said.

STUNT MEN

When a load of hay bales was delivered out the front of parliament this week you could have been forgiven for thinking the Ekka had come to town early.

But nope, it was the work of the LNP in an attempt to highlight 250 days since the Gladstone maternity hospital was put on bypass and the plight of mothers in regional areas.

We didn’t totally get the link, but we do agree the situation needs to be resolved as soon as possible.

Not to be outdone, climate activists Extinction Rebellion also turned up at parliament this week complete with their 4-metre high, animatronic “Blinky the burning koala” just in time for the Green to introduce their own climate action bill.

Thankfully they didn’t try and sneak into the chamber this time – we can only imagine the reaction of the Speaker had Blinky made an appearance.