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Qld Question Time: Cash boost for security in party precincts
The state government has been grilled about free flu shots after a fiery start to Question Time when the Premier blasted an LNP MP for dragging her dog into parliamentary debate.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has blasted an LNP MP after her dog was dragged into Question Time. It comes after the announcement of a boost to security within Queensland's Safe Night Precincts.
The Palaszczuk government on Wednesday released its response to the independent evaluation of the government’s Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence policy.
“The report shows there’s been a 49 per cent drop in the number of serious assaults between 3am and 6am on Friday and Saturday nights across Queensland," she said.
“Significantly, there’s been a 52 per cent reduction in these assaults in one of the state’s most popular precincts - Fortitude Valley.”
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Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman said the research looked at three-year trends from July 2016 to June 2019.
“It was positive to see the average number of monthly ambulance call-outs during these early morning hours reduced by 21 per cent in Surfers Paradise,” the Attorney-General said.
“Importantly, the report also found these proactive measures have not had an adverse impact on businesses, and there’s no evidence violence has shifted to venues outside of safe night areas."
Accepted recommendations from the report include providing lists of banned patrons to all venues that operate after midnight, best practice advertising and communication campaigns aimed at reducing risky alcohol consumption and a independent review of alcohol and drug safety education in schools.
Ms Fentiman said the Palaszczuk government's initiatives to keep Queenslanders safe were working.
"We know that it only takes a single, senseless punch to claim a life and with late night venues once again packed after the pandemic we need to be reminded of this more than ever," she said.
Former Palaszczuk government minister Anthony Lynham, who was a key driver behind tackling alcohol-fuelled violence, said the independent report proved again that evidence-based policy worked.
“I welcome the Palaszczuk government’s commitment to an ongoing focus on safe behaviour and attitudes in venues,” he said.
“The tragic death of Cole Miller shows that policy-makers must continue to monitor and respond to the latest evidence to protect the community.”
Updates
Question Time has finished
How many seats will Labor lose before it acts on the climate: Greens
Greens MP Michael Berkman noted Queenslanders had voted for strong action on climate change at the federal election, and asked the Premier how many seats Labor would continue to lose before it adopted stronger emissions reductions targets.
The Greens defeated Labor's Terri Butler in Griffith at the weekend's federal election.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Greens had failed to deliver action on the climate because they weren't in government, and said she was acting.
"We have a very strong renewable energy target and we are acting on that," she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said there was $10bn renewable energy investment in the state and said Queensland was "getting on with the job".
– Hayden Johnson
D'Ath pans LNP call to reimburse Qlders for flu shot
LNP frontbencher Dan Purdie has asked the government whether they will reimburse Queenslanders who have already got their flu jab.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said, previously, vulnerable people could access the vaccine free.
She said this time, the state needed to act.
"What we are trying to do is save lives," she said.
"What we have seen with the rapid escalation of cases – doubling within a week – and a very low take up… we've stepped in and done the right thing."
She said the Opposition was was "playing politics" with a vaccine program which should be supported.
– Hayden Johnson
Janetzki: Why weren't flu jabs distributed?
Opposition frontbencher David Janetzki has asked Yvette D'Ath why flu vaccines hadn't been distributed before the state government announced it was making them free until the end of June.
The Health Minister said GPs and pharmacies were already approved to deliver the vaccines.
"We are now covering the cost," she said.
– Domanii Cameron
D'Ath defends free flu vaccination bungle
Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates said the LNP had been contacted by a number of GPs who said they were caught unaware of the government's free flu jabs until their patients asked for them and asked when the government advised them of the new policy.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said authorities took advice from public health officials and decided the announcement couldn't wait because of its importance.
She said stakeholders, including the RACGP and AMAQ and Pharmacy Guild, were all consulted and it was not true to say those peak bodies were unaware.
Ms D'Ath said it was decided that delaying for a week couldn't occur.
"The consequence of that would have been people delaying their vaccine until they could access it for free," she said.
Instead, people had been "flooding to GPs and pharmacies across the state" to get their vaccines, which was a good thing.
"We will work with all of these GPs and pharmacies to support them," the Minister said.
– Jessica Marszalek
Premier refuses to detail cost of stand down
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wouldn't reveal how much Education Department Deputy-Director General Jeff Hunt was paid while he was stood down for two years following a Crime and Corruption Commission probe, or if he would be forced to pay it back.
Mr Hunt stood down in the days after then deputy premier Jackie Trad exited cabinet following questions over the appointment of a school principal at Inner City South State Secondary College two years ago.
Ms Palaszczuk was asked by LNP education spokesman Christian Rowan.
The Premer said it was "standard procedure" for a public servant to be stood down during an investigation, and attacked the Opposition's record on bureaucrats.
Ms Palaszczuk said it was "in their DNA" to cut the public service.
It prompted howls of "no integrity" from the LNP.
– Hayden Johnson
Bleijie: When will the cost be released?
Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie has referred to committee member Jonty Bush's comments about the release of the CCC's legal cost.
“there will be a time … that is not now," she said on Tuesday during the committee hearing.
Mr Bleijie asked Annastacia Palaszczuk when that time would be.
The Premier said she had already answered the question.
– Domanii Cameron
'Don't hide': Crisafulli's quip at Premier over Trad secrecy
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has asked Ms Palaszczuk how four Labor MPs voting against the release of costs relating how much has been spent fighting to release a CCC report into Jackie Trad fits with her "2015 commitment to run a transparent government?"
He also asked whether the Premier, her ministers or office discussed how the four Labor MPs – Ali King, Jonty Bush, Jess Pugh and Corrine McMillan – should vote.
Ms Palaszczuk said she "reject some of the premises of that question".
The Premier said she was "not going to interfere" or reflect on the committee's decision and attacked the Deputy LNP Leader Jarrod Bleijie.
"I'm not going to be lectured to by an Opposition… by the Member for Kawana who comes into this chamber and grandstands… when that member was the architect of sacking that very committee," she said.
Ms Palaszczuk then attacked former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and said voters were "sick and tired of the adversarial nature of politics".
Mr Crisafulli yelled "don't hide" across the chamber at Ms Palaszczuk – of which she took offence and asked for it to be withdrawn.
– Hayden Johnson
Question Time kicks off
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has used his first question to ask Annastacia Palaszczuk how Queenslanders benefited from Labor's decision to block the release of information revealing how much taxpayers spent on the state's corruption watchdog's fight to release its report concerning an appointment made by Jackie Trad.
The Crime and Corruption Commission had provided information to its parliamentary oversight committee which detailed how much the organisation spent fighting legal action brought by Ms Trad in the Supreme Court to suppress the report relating to her appointment of under-treasurer Frankie Carroll.
After Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee chairman Jon Krause on Tuesday moved a motion to release a redacted letter from the CCC which would have detailed the cost of the legal action, the committee’s Labor MPs Jonty Bush, Jess Pugh, Corrine McMillan and Ali King used their majority to vote against the release – despite the CCC approving it.
Ms Palaszczuk said she was not commenting on matters before the court.
She said legal indemnity was offered to both sides of politics.
– Domanii Cameron
Premier slams 'pathetic' criticism of her groodle
Annastacia Palaszczuk has snapped back at "pathetic" LNP criticism about her dog, Winton.
Ms Palaszczuk was describing the government's achievements in curbing the number of wild dogs in outback Queensland – prompting LNP Deputy Leader Jarrod Bleijie to comment on the Premier's own groodle.
"Winton the wild dog," he said, referring to the dog's infamous bite that forced the Premier to get a tetanus shot in 2021, delaying her Covid-19 vaccination.
"You are pathetic," the Premier hit back.
-Hayden Johnson
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