George Street Confidential: Cameron Dick’s presidential picture
Back when US presidents were presidential, this was a hallmark. Now Queensland’s own treasurer has tried to channel the vibe.
QLD Politics
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Our picture of the week is this moody black-and-white number posted to social media by Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick.
Taken before he delivered this week’s State Budget, it is reminiscent of official portraits of US presidents in the Oval Office
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PREMIER IN THE DARK
“Who’s in charge of the lights?” PremierAnnastacia Palaszczuk glowered as she stood at the lectern to begin the traditional Budget lockup press conference.
Palaszczuk was none too impressed that the light above her were switched off and the room full of journalists and Treasury officials were deathly silent for what seemed like an eternity.
Turns out Palaszczuk was in charge of the light after an official trotted up and pointed out the lighting was actually controlled from the switches on her lectern.
Awkward.
NOT THE ONLY ONES
Meanwhile, another awkward moment was occurring in the other lockup for the bevy of interest groups who turn up each year to plough through the Budget papers.
Problem was that there were no Budget papers.
The groups were only given access to the plethora of spin documents that no-one really reads until the embargo came off at 2pm on Tuesday.
Topping it off, Treasurer Cameron Dick’sspeech was prerecorded so there was no opportunity for them to ask him questions.
“Not even Campbell did that,” one observed.
Ouch.
RUBBERY FIGURES
But hats off to the best Budget spin by Opposition LeaderDavid Crisafulli.
He produced his own charts to demonstrate how New South Wales was spending significantly more on infrastructure over the next four years than Queensland, under the Palaszczuk Government’s blueprint.
The blue NSW line looked dramatically bigger than the red Queensland one.
However, our eagle eyed George Street foot soldier noticed that the Opposition Leader’s chart contained a wee bit of an error because it only started at $50 billion when surely it should have begun at zero?
PARTY OF TWO
And a scene reminiscent of Monty Python’s Holy Grail ensued in State Parliament on Wednesday as MPs voted on legislation.
“Would the Leader of the Greens report the votes?” Speaker Curtis Pitt asked.
“I’m not the leader Mr Speaker,” an affronted Greens MP Michael Berkman insisted.
“Would the delegate for the Greens report the votes?” Pitt amended when the next vote came along.
In the defence of the Greens, having an even number of two MPs does make a majority decision a tad difficult at times.
WINNERS AND LOSERS
Finally, from the Parliament canteen queue during the opening of Parliament the previous week...
“Congratulations on your win,” former member for WhitsundayJason Costigan to Hinchinbrook’s Nick Dametto.
“Congratulations to you too,” Dametto responded, before hightailing out with his food while Costo was still trying to explain that he was actually a loser.
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