Budget Estimates and the events politicians can’t prepare for

It’s a political event they prepare for weeks in advance - mock question and answer sessions, sticky notes on every possible surface. But as this week has shown, there are times when even the best prepared politician can come unstuck, writes Sarah Vogler.

LABOR was expecting a strong showing at this year’s Budget Estimates.

Sure, they were anticipating coping more heat over Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s current woes.

She had referred herself to the Crime and Corruption Commission the day before.

But they had a major Olympics announcement to make on the first day when both Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Ms Trad were due to be grilled.

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And they thought much of the Opposition’s focus would likely be on topics like the new taxes unveiled in the June Budget.

They were prepared for that.

They did not foresee the hearings enlivening a second integrity saga in Ms Palaszczuk’s own office.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Brisbane this week. Picture: Josh Woning/AAP

Nor did they expect the Crime and Corruption Commission boss to have to sideline himself from Ms Trad’s to protect the CCC’s integrity as a result of information aired during the first four days of hearings.

But that is the thing about the political rollercoaster that is Budget Estimates.

Politicians prepare for weeks ahead of the hearings. They conduct mock question and answer sessions. They arm themselves with briefing notes on every tricky issue they can think of in anticipation of possible Opposition and crossbench questions.

But when they strap themselves and their top bureaucrats into the rollercoaster, anything can happen.

Chief of staff David Barbagallo looks on as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks during estimate hearings. Picture: Jono Searle/AAP

Sometimes that rollercoaster makes it through the ride’s course perfectly all day long and sometimes it gets stuck upside down on a loop and the passengers need to be rescued.

Last week, the rescuers had their job cut out for them.

It started with the first Opposition question in Premier’s session.

“Is the Premier aware that Fortress Capstone, a company owned by the Premier’s chief of staff, received a business development grant of $267,000 from the Palaszczuk government,” LNP Leader Deb Frecklington asked.

Ms Palaszczuk was initially unable to say if she knew about the taxpayer handout to the company part-owned by David Barbagallo before confirming that she had indeed been told.

She ordered her director-general to conduct an audit.

It didn’t really matter what else happened after that. That would be the story.

Then it was Ms Trad’s turn.

As expected she was asked about the investment property at the centre of conflict of interest allegations levelled against her.

But it was her decision to offer up that she had made a courtesy call to CCC boss Alan MacSporran last Sunday ahead of self-referring herself to the body the following day that dominated the agenda for the rest of the week.

Queensland deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad at Estimates. Picture: Dave Hunt/AAP

The call was also made just days after the LNP had already referred her to the CCC.

It sparked calls for Mr MacSporran to stand aside from dealing with her referral.

The CCC boss was up on Friday morning before the hearings and he chose to wait until then to answer questions about the call.

He assured the hearing that the call — taken while he was at home in his trackie pants putting together an Ikea bookcase — was in fact just a courtesy call, albeit unusual and “a little unwise”.

But Mr MacSporran declared he would sideline himself from any decision making role regardless, to protect the body from accusations its integrity had been compromised.

That was just week one.

It is not over yet. The Estimates rollercoaster will take off again on Tuesday with Transport Minister Mark Bailey to kick off the week.