A whistleblower has provided information to the Opposition alleging a young girl was sexually assaulted by another detainee in the Cairns watch house, with Opposition frontbencher Ann Leahy asking Premier Steven Miles if an investigation is underway.
Mr Miles said this was not an incident that should be referred to him, urging her to refer the “very very serious” matter to police.
Question Time live: Miles government extends Question Time in unprecedented time
The state government has thrown an unprecedented curveball during Question Time in a move likely designed to shock the LNP. FOLLOW QUESTION TIME LIVE
The state government has moved to extend question time by 15 minutes in a highly unusual move likely done to surprise the LNP.
FOLLOW QUESTION TIME LIVE BELOW
Updates
Alleged assault against child at Cairns watch house
Alarming query of child sexual assault
Child Safety Minister Charis Mullen has rejected a question from the Opposition about children being sexually assaulted by fellow detainees in police watch houses.
The LNP asked the recently promoted minister if she could “confirm that no children have been sexually assaulted by another detainee”.
But Ms Mullen said this “is not information that would be provided to me”.
She also asked to speak with the Opposition about the assertion to have the allegations verified with her department.
Indigenous housing question draws scathing response
LNP seniors spokesman John-Paul Langbroek cited a Productivity Commission report which noted overcrowded households in indigenous community housing and asked Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon what the government was doing to improve overcrowding.
"We have explained at length what these are the actual facts of that data yet you continue to mislead Queenslanders," she said.
"We have increased housing in remote communities in this state by hundreds of homes and we could have done more if his mates in the Liberal National Party who discontinued the National Partnership Agreement.
"I can't even believe he has the audacity to come in here and asked that question, it is pathetic."
Where is pumped hydro detailed report?
A detailed analytical report into one of the government’s two pumped hydro projects is not yet finalised, Energy Minister Mick de Brenni has confirmed.
The minister is first up in this extended Question Time, responding to a question from the Opposition about the timing of the detailed report into Borumba Pumped Hydro south of Gympie, which was due by the end of 2023.
Mr de Brenni says the state government will “respond to the detailed analytical report at the point at which it is finalised”.
Unprecedented scenes as govt extends question time
The government has moved to extend question time by 15 minutes in a highly unusual move likely done to surprise the LNP.
Both sides strategise before question time with the idea of catching each other out, but only a limited number of questions are prepared.
The government is answering its own questions quite quickly – indicating it is hoping to run the LNP dry.
'Betrayed and undervalued': Queries of volunteer medal delays
Thousands of Queensland firefighting volunteers who fought the 2019 Black Summer blazes “feel betrayed and undervalued” over delays to receive their national emergency medals, according to the Opposition.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett quizzed the Fire and Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd about the cause of the delay for these “dedicated volunteers”.
But the question was shut down by the Minister, who said the medals were the responsibility of the Commonwealth.
“Given these are national medals, I'm happy to look into the matter and get back to the Member for Burnett around timeframes,” Ms Boyd said.
Number of children in residential care grows
A whopping 1807 children and young people are living in government-funded residential care in Queensland, child safety minister Charis Mullen has revealed.
This represents 15 per cent of all children in out-of-home care.
“I acknowledged that is too high and whilst residential care is an important part of the placement mix for child safety, I do believe it is over utilised,” she said.
“And we know that many children and young people would be best served in family placements, either in foster or kinship care.
“And those growing concerns around the utilisation of residential care is what led to this review.”
No waiting in the line of fire
No, rural firies won’t have to wait for urban red firefighting trucks to arrive on scene before fighting a blaze.
One Nation Mirani MP Stephen Andrew, pointing to legislation before parliament relating to the restructure of fire services, asked if the government was “planning to require Queensland's rural fire brigades to hold off from fighting fires until an urban red truck has arrived on the scene”
Fire Minister Nikki Boyd said “no”.
What are the costs for the Jackie Trad matter?
Steven Miles has refused to reveal the cost to taxpayers for funding the Jackie Trad matter.
The Premier said the cost of the proceedings will be revealed at a later date, as the government has previously flagged.
Greens MP questions premier on coal mine's human rights effect
Greens MP Michael Berkman noted the government's approval of Whitehaven's Winchester South coal mine and asked the premier if he accepted the coordinator-general's findings that the decision would impact the human rights of children and first nations people due to its climate impacts.
"Like all projects that apply for approvals, they go through Queensland's rigorous environmental assessment process," he said.
"I of course have confidence in our Coordinator General and the Office of the Coordinator General.
"In order to address climate change, there is a series of global treaties that allocate emissions to the location in which those fossil fuels are burned.
"What we announced yesterday was a very strong plan to reduce the emissions for which Queensland and Australia are accountable for."
Join the conversation
Suburbs at war over Olympic stadiums. ‘Just don’t call us NIMBYs’
Thousands of residents in well-organised community groups opposed to Brisbane 2032 are fighting to ensure their backyards don’t become the centre stage when the city is beamed to the world.
Read more
Bleijie’s massive rail backflip sparks residents fury
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie takes great delight in going after Labor on the floor of parliament. But he should face some questions of his own after appearing to walk away from a key election promise to his own community.
Read more