George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip

A Welcome to Country ceremony at the government’s “tower of power” has raised eyebrows among some staff. THIS IS GEORGE STREET BEAT

The Welcome to Country took a strange turn at 1 William St. (File picture)

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General took a Welcome to Country event to a whole new level recently.

George Street Beat spies informed us bureaucrats working in 1 William St, attending an awards ceremony, were asked to take their shoes off, wiggle their toes and close their eyes so they would feel more connected to the Earth.

The Welcome to Country raised eyebrows among some staff, who questioned whether it would become a regular occurrence.

Kate Jones is no longer in the Senate race but question marks still linger. Picture: Liam Kidston

KEEPING UP WITH JONES ALTERNATIVE

The exit of former minister Kate Jones from Labor’s Senate race was thought to have pretty much anointed Corrine Mulholland as its candidate – but GSB hears otherwise.

Ms Mulholland, a lobbyist with Star Entertainment, has been telling confidants there’s no suggestion she’s a certainty for the ticket.

Some sources tell GSB the party isn’t locked in behind Ms Mulholland, is keeping its options open and won’t make a formal decision until July.

Another source insisted it was a done deal.

Also in the mix is former Townsville mayor Jenny Hill.

The lack of certainty has raised rumours about whether Ms Mulholland will stand at the state election, where Labor is facing a heavy defeat.

It’s unlikely, however, because she’s pregnant and due to give birth around election day.

The lengths some go to avoid handing out how-to-vote cards.

MILES SURVIVES TORY TOWN HALL

Premier Steven Miles waded into enemy territory for community cabinet this week and emerged incredibly unscathed. It’s no secret the town hall hosted on the Gold Coast was in the heart of the LNP lion’s den – and Labor spinners arrived braced and at the ready. Bart Mellish was spotted buried in a binder, intensely preparing for an anticipated barrage of light rail and congestion questions, but all MPs were quietly pleased to find a cool, calm and collected crowd who were mostly concerned about environmental impacts and protection. With no hecklers in sight and not a single raised voice, it seemed the only thing attendees got riled up about were the extra long sausage sangers put on by the rotary club.

Premier Steven Miles escaped relatively unharmed after a Town Hall on the Gold Coast. Picture: David Clark

BANNER CAMPAIGN BEGINS

Another day, another taxpayer-funded promotional banner to celebrate the state government’s cost of living measures.

On May 2, two pull-up banners promoting the government’s $1000 energy bill relief emerged as Premier Steven Miles and Deputy Premier Cameron Dick trumpeted this landmark move to help Queenslanders.

This week we saw a new pull-up banner promoting the government’s 50c fares.

At this rate, come election day, there will be more posters than journalists.

The government might even need a second plane to ferry them around the state during the

campaign.

HE’S ONLY A BABY

Speaking of cut price public transport fares, Premier Steven Miles was at pains this week to explain the measure was not a cynical vote buying ploy.

Indeed he had been thinking about this for a while, but hadn’t been in a position to make it happen.

Mr Miles insisted he had actually put a motion forward at Young Labor conference many moons ago to slash public transport fares.

State Development Minister Grace Grace, who is herself skilled at being ageless, proceeded to sledge Mr Miles in the background.

“That was just two years ago Premier,” she heckled.

For the record Mr Miles is 47. Baby Labor upstarts age out of the party’s youth wing in their mid-20s.

Callide Power Stations B and C.

CALLIDE FARCE

State-owned power company CS Energy never intended to make public an independent report by forensic engineer Sean Brady into exactly what caused part of Callide C to explode.

At least that’s the central argument of the company’s lawyers in court this week.

For those unfamiliar, there are at least six separate Federal Court proceedings involving the Callide C power station, CS Energy, and its joint venture partner IG Power.

Special purpose administrators working on behalf of IG Power and its various shareholders have been pushing for the Brady report – which isn’t complete – to be released.

But CS Energy’s lawyers – of which there are too many to count – have been arguing for weeks that the report doesn’t need to be released because it is covered by legal privilege.

And in fact this was the purpose of the report all along.

This week in the Federal Court, in front of Justice Roger Derrington, lawyers for CS Energy, who are effectively paid for by the taxpayer, confirmed Dr Brady was hired to inform the company of its legal risks following the initial catastrophe which cut power to nearly 500,000 homes and businesses.

A confused Justice Derrington pointed out CS Energy’s initial media release about Dr Brady coming on board in June 2021 never mentioned the report was to cover the company legally.

The saga continues through the courts.