George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip
Finance Minister Ros Bates is unlikely to have expected such a dramatic debut when she touched down in South Korea in her first international trade mission. THIS IS GEORGE STREET BEAT
QLD Politics
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The sheer volume of musical talent flowing through the halls of Queensland’s parliament has been a well-kept secret.
But deep investigation and eyewitness accounts have now unearthed even more tortured artists among our political class.
To recap, this column recently revealed Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland could belt out a tune. The news was swiftly followed by confirmation Mt Ommaney’s own Jess Pugh had been singing the New Zealand national anthem in two languages as an Anzac Day side gig.
Two more MPs can now be officially named as seasoned stage performers.
New Member for Barron River Bree James has indeed been part of a cover band for more than a decade.
The band – 3’s a Crowd – is helmed by her husband Trent and bills itself as “cover duo, trio or band. We play a range of music from the ’60s to now”.
Staying in the North, Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter has also come forward with footage of himself singing and playing guitar at the Hughenden Country Music Festival.
The Mount Isa-based MP said he gets dragged out as a “North West B Lister” at every second event and tempered expectations by insisting he was not “a real singer” and didn’t “practice much”.
The pull of the stage is a powerful force, and it simply must be embraced.
BATES FLIES HEADLONG INTO CRISIS
She went from the badlands of Opposition health spokeswoman to the hefty position of Finance and Trade Minister, before flying straight into a South Korean political crisis.
Ros Bates wasn’t expecting her first trade mission, a week across Japan and South Korea, to be so dramatic.
As a quick recap South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday, sparking mass protests, before withdrawing the shock move hours later. He is now facing impeachment.
Ms Bates, in a short proof-of-life clip filmed by her team on the ground, revealed she had sought confirmation from Australian authorities that it was safe for the trip to continue.
“We can continue our trade mission, this trade mission is very important … South Korea is our fourth largest trading partner,” she said.
“We might have some additional challenges but we know how important trade with South Korea is, and to let them know we are open for business.”
What precisely the “additional challenges” are weren’t make clear but we’d hazard it’d be the East Asian nation being wholly distracted by its significant internal political struggles.
PROPERTY WHO’S WHO
So much can change in a year. Just look at the Property Council’s annual Christmas lunch attendance list.
In 2023 the Opposition sent David Crisafulli and Tim Mander as their representatives, while the Labor government mustered up one assistant minister in Charis Mullen.
Then premier Annastacia Palaszczuk sent in her apologies (eight days later she would announce her retirement).
But fast forward to 2024, and it seems the schedules of Labor MPs significantly cleared up.
In attendance were Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick along with colleagues Grace Grace, Shannon Fentiman, Meaghan Scanlon and Chris Whiting.
On the government side, Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie was very much in his element, accompanied by fellow ministers Sam O’Connor and Andrew Powell.
JUMPING THE GUN?
Labor’s arch nemesis Red Union was eager to be first to congratulate new Liberal National MPs on their election victories – but it might have jumped the gun.
GSB can reveal the union sent an “introductory letter and meeting request” to the electorate offices of new LNP politicians just days after the October 26 state election.
Turns out, however, they were received by defeated Labor MPs who still had access to their electorate office emails and equipment until November 15.
Red Union – the bane of Labor and threat to its supportive cash-cow unions – welcomed Liberal National MPs and the opportunities.
GREENS PREPARE FOR ELECTION DOGFIGHT
The Queensland Greens are primed and cashed up to the gills as it steels itself for the impending federal election.
Electoral Commission of Queensland data shows the minor party – walloped at the state election – has secured nearly $177,000 in donations since the Queensland poll.
Most of the cash came from the national and Victorian arms of the Greens but a handful of individual citizens have also given generously.
This includes a serial donor named Scott Farquhar, which Queensland Greens head office confirmed shouldn’t be confused for the tech billionaire and co-founder of Atlassian.
No, this Scott Farquhar lives in the inner-south suburbs of Brisbane and isn’t, as far as we’re aware, a globally known identity.
PARLIAMENT’S GOT TALENT
GROWING PAINS
Queensland, you’re growing so fast. How fast? Well, Electoral Commission of Queensland data shows in the four months leading up to the election the state added enough voters to fill a whole new electorate. Yes, in just four months we added 39,980 voters.
In a system of one vote one value the electorates are meant to be as evenly distributed as possible, with the exception of certain rural seats – like Gregory and Traeger – that will always have fewer voters to contend with sheer footprint.
But as it stands the largest electorate, Coomera, now has more than double the number of voters (54,209) compared to Gregory (26,632).
Under the state’s electoral laws a redistribution will start in late 2025. But with Queensland grappling with such significant growth, there are some MPs flagging concerns the boundaries will be off by the time the 2028 election rolls around.
SOUND OF THE POLICE
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington needed some mid-press conference help from her Police Minister colleague Dan Purdie after being inadvertently gatecrashed by what could be the loudest division of Queensland Police.
Ms Frecklington, at the top end of Queen St Mall spruiking safe Christmas toy shopping, was taking serious questions about the government’s planned inquiry into convicted pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith.
Almost on cue the Queensland Police Pipe and Drums began warming up ahead of a noon show.
Ms Frecklington tried to power through momentarily but the presser had to be paused and the QPS asked politely to pipe down (pun intended) for a few minutes.
“Can we use the power of government to shut these bagpipes down?” a press gallery journalist pipped.
To which Ms Frecklington replied; “Can someone please call Dan Purdie?”.
HEALTH CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Queensland Health is embracing a “new year, new me” mantra with a changing of guard among its higher ranking executives just weeks after the LNP brought in a new Director-General.
Dr David Rosengren, Queensland Health’s near million-dollar man, has had to move quickly to install new deputies.
An internal memo sent to staff, and seen by the Courier-Mail, revealed Deputy Directors-General Colleen Jen, Melissa Carter, and Priscilla Radice all left within weeks – if not days – of each other.
Ms Radice, after two years at the helm of Queensland’s famously on time and on budget health big build (complete with $1.2m for a communications framework), is now in charge of Victoria’s health infrastructure pipeline.
Ms Carter, who alongside Ms Jen and a handful of other executives left Queensland Health in 2021 to join Deloitte for a year before returning (we keep a list), has started up her own health advisory.
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