Question Time blog: Steven Miles under fire over construction workers comment

Steven Miles has caused an uproar in parliament over explosive comments relating to construction workers, for which he has apologised. QUESTION TIME BLOG

Premier Steven Miles has been forced to apologise over a comment made about construction workers.

To release or not release the Jackie Trad and Peter Carne reports - that’s the question facing Queensland MPs as parliament resumes today for the second-last sitting before the October 26 state election.

SEE HOW QUESTION TIME UNFOLDED BELOW

Updates

11:23 am August 20, 2024 Highlight

Major Callide Power Station investigator was not denied access to interviews

Rose Innes

LNP Spokeswoman for Energy Deb Frecklington asked Energy Minister Mick de Brenni why Dr Sean Brady was prevented from interviewing whoever he wanted as part of his $10.4 million investigation into the explosion at the Callide Power Station.

Callide C Power Station.

The question comes after on thursday, Dr Brady told the court he was unable to conduct interviews with everyone he wanted to during his investigation into the explosion of the power station.

Mr De Brenni said Dr Brady had now stated that categorically, he was not denied access to anyone.

11:14 am August 20, 2024 Highlight

No detail on cost of Trad's battle with CCC

Hayden Johnson

The cost of Jackie Trad's legal battle against the Crime and Corruption Commission isn't yet known, despite them being resolved.

Shadow Attorney-General Tim Nicholls noted CCC chair Bruce Barbour's evidence at estimates that Ms Trad's solicitors have resolved the final costs of the battle with the CCC.

Former deputy premier Jackie Trad.

He asked Ms D'Ath what those final costs were?

"I am still awaiting final confirmation that settlement has occurred," she said.

11:12 am August 20, 2024 Highlight

Black lung bus for coal miners only, Minister confirms

Greens MP Michael Berkman has asked Resources Minister Scott Stewart whether he would expand the coal mine workers health scheme to allow other workers exposed to coal dust outside of mines, like port and railway workers, free lung health checks.

Mr Berkman said access to free lung health checks was critical due to the increasing cases of pneumoconiosis or black lung disease in the sector.

Greens MP Michael Berkman.

Mr Stewart said free lung checks were paid for by mining companies, and workers outside of mines sites could receive a lung check under WorkCover.

He said the black lung bus, which travels around the state to offer the free lung checks, had done "outstanding work," travelling some 80,000km over the past 12 months.

"That is paid for by the coal companies…for the workers of those coal companies," he said.

"To cover those who work in places like the trains that carry the coal, to cover the workers who work at ports that might be exposed to that coal dust is actually covered under WorkCover and we've been working very closely with Minister Grace and her portfolio to ensure that workers are covered."

-Taylah Fellows

11:00 am August 20, 2024 Highlight

Education Minister to look into 'pedophile' school book

Rose Innes

Katter's Australian Party Leader Robbie Katter asked the Minister for Education Di Farmer if she would urgently remove a book off the shelves of Queensland schools.

"The book gender queer shows its author fantasizing about pedophilia with an image of a man touching a boy's genitalia, can the minister please confirm that this book is not on the shelf at any Queensland school," he said.

Education Minister Di Farmer.

Minister for Education Ms Farmer said she was unaware of the book and would make inquiries about it.

"It is very important Mr Speaker that we are very transparent about everything that happens in all of our portfolios," she said.

10:58 am August 20, 2024 Highlight

Extra police sent to car theft battleground of Goondiwindi, border boss coming

Southern Downs MP James Lister has asked Premier Steven Miles why the Goondiwindi police station was left operating at half capacity with just nine officers during a "youth crime crisis".

Member for Southern Downs James Lister.

"Following escalating youth crime in Goondiwindi, the Premier told the media that there are 18 officers at the local police station, whistleblowers have confirmed to the LNP that as few as nine officers have been available to be rostered in recent weeks," Mr Lister said.

Goondiwindi, which sits on the border of New South Wales, experiences high car theft, with offenders stealing cars in Queensland and dumping them over the border.

Mr Miles said the government would appoint a cross border commissioner "as quickly as possible" to help police operations between Queensland and New South Wales police services.

Additional police have also been deployed from Toowoomba to Goondiwindi to assist with officer shortages."We will act this week to expedite the appointment of Queensland's cross border commissioner," Mr Miles said.

-Taylah Fellows

10:54 am August 20, 2024 Highlight

No threat to patients over surgeon's actions: Minister

Hayden Johnson

Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates noted an investigation was underway into the actions of a breast surgeon at the Gold Coast University Hospital and asked Health Minister Shannon Fentiman for details.

Minister Shannon Fentiman.

"I'm advised it has not identified any surgeon operating outside of their scope of practice, nor has it been found to cause any harm to patients or patients needing to be recalled to the hospital," Ms Fentiman said.

"I'm also advised that the surgeon has not been operating while this investigation is underway."

10:45 am August 20, 2024 Highlight

'You want to see workers die': Premier's comment sparks furious response

Rose Innes

Premier Steven Miles has sensationally claimed the LNP's deputy leader wants "to see construction workers die", before apologising for the quip.

Deputy LNP Leader Jarrod Bleijie had asked Mr Miles if he would reintroduce 24-hour right of entry notice provision for Queensland worksites.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie.

"The Member for Kawana might want to see construction workers die, but on this side of the house we do not," Mr Miles said.

It prompted a furious response from Mr Bleijie, who demanded an apology.

"The premier just said I want to see workers dying," he said.

"That is the most offensive thing I've ever heard, I ask him to withdraw the comments that he made about me."

Mr Miles withdrew and said worker safety was a personal passion.

"My mother was a Workplace Health and Safety Inspector, there is nothing more important than workers being able to call upon a representative immediately where there is an imminent risk," he said.

10:37 am August 20, 2024 Highlight

Premier to remove CFMEU members from govt boards

Hayden Johnson

Premier Steven Miles says CFMEU members will be removed from government boards.

Responding to a question from Shadow Treasurer David Janetzki, Mr Miles confirmed representatives of the militant union would be removed from boards as the state government supports the federal government's move to appoint an administrator to the CFMEU.

Mr Janetzki noted CFMEU member Kurt Pauls, who has previously been fined by the Fair Work Commission for worksite entry breaches, was on the government's Workplace Health and Safety board.

10:34 am August 20, 2024 Highlight

Premier calls CFMEU election question 'pretty stupid'

LNP housing spokesman Tim Mander asked the Premier whether he would legislate to remove the CFMEU as a registered third party during the upcoming election campaign in October, or "accept the help of the militant union to secure a fourth term".

Premier Steven Miles.

Premier Steven Miles said he expected any future appointed administrator would not allow the branch to participate in the state election, and called Mr Mander's question "pretty stupid".

"By the end of this week, an administrator will be appointed to the CFMEU, and that administrator has indicated that they do not intend to participate in third party campaigns or political campaigning," he said.

"A pretty stupid question, frankly."

-Taylah Fellows

10:25 am August 20, 2024 Highlight

"Grossly misleading" reference to shocking CFEMU leader assault

Rose Innes

The Leader of the Opposition asked the Premier if he would join him in committing an overhaul of the Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) to "empower police to do their job" following shocking reports of masked men assaulting a Cross River Rail worker outside his home after he stood up to the CFMEU.

The Premier said MOU's the Opposition Leader referred to were "grossly misleading".

"I have said, we are and will continue to take action to ensure that Queensland building unions have a strong union to keep them safe and well paid, but one that doesn't tolerate bullying, intimidation or illegal behavior, and that is the action that we will take this week by supporting and ensuring that the administrator is equally appointed to the state registered entity," he said.