Opposition frontbencher David Crisafulli asked both Ms Enoch and her director-general Jamie Merrick if they had received any input from Deputy Premier Jackie Trad or her staff regarding the mine’s environmental approvals.
Both have answered no.
Mr Crisafulli also asked what role Environment Department staffers Tim Seelig, also a veteran environmental activist, and Kirsten Lovejoy, a three-time Greens candidate, played in Adani’s environmental approvals.
Ms Enoch replied that they had no role.
The mine has dogged the Government throughout its two terms.
It received its environmental approvals from the Government in June after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk performed an about-face on the mine following Labor’s shock Federal Election loss in Queensland’s coal country, ordering an end to the drawn out approvals process.
She called in the coordinator-general to negotiate a timeline.
It comes after the LNP this morning quizzed tourism bureaucrats over whether Annastacia Palaszczuk’s chief of staff had any involvement in the development of the government’s cruise ship terminal.
It comes after it was revealed last week that a company part-owned by David Barbagallo received $267,500 in taxpayer cash to develop a smartphone app that lets people track their cruises.
The questions were raised during Parliament Estimates hearing this morning. The Premier’s office has denied Mr Barbagallo played any role in the development of policies related to cruise ships.
They have also denied he had anything to do with the new cruise ship terminal under construction at the Port of Brisbane.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LIVE BLOG FROM ESTIMATES
LNP Tourism spokesman David Crisafulli seized an opportunity at this morning’s Budget Estimates to ask Tourism Department director-general Damien Walker if he was aware if Mr Barbagallo had declared an interest in the cruising industry and whether the Premier’s office had anything to do with the development of cruise ship policies.
Meanwhile, Google's announcement it will launch its drone delivery service in southeast Queensland has been dubbed a 'game changer'.
Items like bread, coffee, ice cream and non-prescription drugs such as Panadol will soon be delivered straight to southeast Queensland homes via drones, with Google to launch its new delivery service in the Sunshine State within months.
The Courier-Mail today revealed Logan has been chosen by Wing – the delivery arm of Google’s parent company Alphabet – as the launch suburb for its new drone delivery service, with a swarm of at least 30 drones on hand to deliver to homes from September.
Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones described it as a 'game changer' for Queensland business and will give more detail about the program when she speaks first up in Estimates this morning.
Meanwhile Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch is expected to be grilled over Adani's Carmichael coal mine after lunch.
Ms Enoch was slammed after two embarrassing videos surfaced last month, including one where she was seen telling an environmental activist she was "devastated" in the wake of her own department's approval of the mine.
At the time, Ms Enoch said she was blindsided by the activist.
“She asked me how I felt about the way Traditional Owners have been affected by the Adani mine, to which I responded, 'devastated'," the Minister said last month.
Updates
THE Queensland Art Gallery will consider donating proceeds raised from merchandise sold at a current exhibition featuring a pedophile artist to charity.
The gallery is currently showing two drawings by known pedophile Donald Friend in its exhibition that celebrates artist Margaret Olley, which runs until October 13.
His featured pieces are sketches of Olley who he was close to.
In a note that hangs next to Friend’s drawings, the gallery has noted, “Friend’s diaries published in 2010 after his death, openly discussed his inappropriate relationships with underage boys when living in Bali from 1967-80. While Friend was never charged by authorities, Balinese victims have corroborated his accounts of these events."
LNP arts spokesman Christian Rowan asked Minister Leeanne Enoch whether the Government would ensure a portion of proceeds raised were given to child, youth and support groups.
Queensland Art Gallery Chris Saines said while the gallery had not contemplated doing that, he would consider it.
“The only receipts as it were or the new income will be received from the exhibition will come through the form of merchandise associated with the exhibition,” he said.
“I am prepared to give consideration to the proposal but I have not given consideration to it to this point.”
– Domanii Cameron
THE Queensland Art Gallery will consider donating proceeds raised from merchandise sold at a current exhibition featuring a pedophile artist to charity.
The gallery is currently showing two drawings by known pedophile Donald Friend in its exhibition that celebrates artist Margaret Olley, which runs until October 13.
His featured pieces are sketches of Olley who he was close to.
In a note that hangs next to Friend’s drawings, the gallery has noted, “Friend’s diaries published in 2010 after his death, openly discussed his inappropriate relationships with underage boys when living in Bali from 1967-80. While Friend was never charged by authorities, Balinese victims have corroborated his accounts of these events."
LNP arts spokesman Christian Rowan asked Minister Leeanne Enoch whether the Government would ensure a portion of proceeds raised were given to child, youth and support groups.
Queensland Art Gallery Chris Saines said while the gallery had not contemplated doing that, he would consider it.
“The only receipts as it were or the new income will be received from the exhibition will come through the form of merchandise associated with the exhibition,” he said.
“I am prepared to give consideration to the proposal but I have not given consideration to it to this point.”
– Domanii Cameron
ENVIRONMENT Minister Leeanne Enoch has refused to reveal the longest time taken for her department to deal with a problem crocodile declaration.
Ms Enoch was grilled about the issue at Estimates today, where she confirmed 61 per cent of recognised problem crocodiles were dealt with within 24 hours.
“Cleary when we are seeing those kinds of results from the department, we want to be able to measure those results in a way that better reflect the efficiencies of the department,” she said.
The LNP’s environment spokesman David Crisafulli again tried to ask Ms Enoch about the longest time taken to deal with a problem crocodile, and even requested she take the question on notice.
But the committee’s chair Duncan Pegg insisted the Minister had already answered the question.
“You may not like the answer, but the Minister’s answered,” Mr Pegg said.
– Jack McKay
ENVIRONMENT Minister Leeanne Enoch has revealed the Government’s koala conservation strategy is set to be delayed by months.
It comes after The Sunday Mail revealed the Palaszczuk Government was yet to implement the strategy despite promising to do so before May this year.
Ms Enoch today confirmed during Estimates, that she had granted an extension to the koala advisory council for it to complete the strategy.
She said she expected the council to endorse a strategy for Cabinet’s consideration “within the timeframe heading into the fourth quarter of this year”.
“The Chair (of the council) has been very clear that the work has been quite substantial,” she said.
“It is complicated and that he has very much recommended that the consultations with councils in particular … is forthcoming."
Ms Enoch confirmed the council has met five time since it was appointed in November last year.
– Jack McKay
NO overseas travel requests were rejected by the Environment and Science Department last financial year.
There were 23 trips taken by department staff during 2018-19, costing $99,643.97.
One of these was paid for by the staff member who travelled.
Environment and Science Minister Leeanne Enoch said no trips were rejected during Estimates this afternoon, following a question from LNP environment spokesman David Crisafulli.
“Obviously, as I’ve said in my opening statement, scientists in this state that we back and we support connecting globally and delivering locally, and of course international travel not just for the portfolio of science but obviously across the portfolio including the arts, that kind of travel is critical to ensure we are connecting globally,” she said.
“In this last financial year, none were rejected.”
In a question on notice released earlier today, Ms Enoch said only overseas travel considered essential was approved.
“In accordance with the Queensland Government’s Air Travel Policy, only overseas travel considered essential to agency and/or government objectives is approved and only then after all other avenues of gaining the relevant knowledge or the experience have been considered,” she said.
Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, America, Geneva and Italy were among locations visited.
– Domanii Cameron
TAXPAYERS forked out $27,000 for an independent review into Adani's black-throated finch management plan.
Environment director-general Jamie Merrick revealed the figure during Estimates this afternoon.
– Domanii Cameron
ENVIRONMENT director-general Jamie Merrick says the department sought independent advice on Adani's black-throated finch management plan after
“a number of matters were unresolved.”
LNP environment spokesman David Crisafulli questioned why the government contracted external consultants during Estimates this afternoon.
“The Carmichael coal mine is the site of the largest and most significant … population of the endangered black-throated finch,” Mr Merrick said.
“As a result of engagement with the proponent, over a period of time … a number of matters were unresolved, and the significance of the black-throated finch population, the regulator formed the view that there should be a review by an independent expert panel.
“The review was to ensure that the final decision regarding the potential approval of the BTFMP (black-throated finch management plan) was consistent with the very best threatened species and conservation science.
“It was assessed and reviewed externally by highly qualified experts in the field.”
– Domanii Cameron
ENVIRONMENT director-general Jamie Merrick says the department sought independent advice on Adani's black-throated finch management plan after
“a number of matters were unresolved.”
LNP environment spokesman David Crisafulli questioned why the government contracted external consultants during Estimates this afternoon.
“The Carmichael coal mine is the site of the largest and most significant … population of the endangered black-throated finch,” Mr Merrick said.
“As a result of engagement with the proponent, over a period of time … a number of matters were unresolved, and the significance of the black-throated finch population, the regulator formed the view that there should be a review by an independent expert panel.
“The review was to ensure that the final decision regarding the potential approval of the BTFMP (black-throated finch management plan) was consistent with the very best threatened species and conservation science.
“It was assessed and reviewed externally by highly qualified experts in the field.”
– Domanii Cameron
QUESTIONS over the awarding of taxpayer money to a company part-owned by Annastacia Palaszczuk’s chief of staff David Barbagallo continue to come during today’s Budget Estimates hearing.
The LNP has this time asked Minister Kate Jones’s director-general Damien Walker if he had ever had a conversation with former chief entrepreneur Steve Baxter about the Business Development Fund.
Company documents show Mr Baxter is a shareholder in Fortress Capstone – the company part-owned by Mr Barbagallo.
Mr Walker responded stating he had never had a conversation with Mr Baxter about the fund.
As has previously been revealed, Fortress Capstone last year received $267,500 in funds from the Advance Queensland fund as a co-investment.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet’s internal auditors Ernst & Young is currently auditing the grant.
The Courier-Mail revealed today Queensland’s Auditor-General Brendan Worrall has indicated he will keep an eye on that audit before deciding if he should launch his own independent probe.
The Premier’s office has insisted the granting of the funds was done by an independent panel, at arms’ length from government, with Mr Barbagallo declaring the investment to Ms Palaszczuk as well as on his pecuniary interest register.
Mr Barbagallo also sought integrity commissioner advice.
The Government has declined to publicly release that advice or his pecuniary interest register.
– Sarah Vogler
TAXPAYERS have forked out almost $200,000 to fund Tourism and Events Queensland's hospitality bill.
In response to a question on notice, Tourism Minister Kate Jones defended the spend, insisting hospitality was part of TEQ’s core business.
“Hospitality is for official purposes only, must be necessary for TEQ to conduct its business effectively, efficiently and economically and properly documented, budgeted and approved by the appropriate delegate in accordance with high standards of public accountability,” Ms Jones said.
“The standards in the guidelines for hospitality at TEQ are consistent with the guidelines under the Newman Government.”
Ms Jones said some examples of hospitality spending included hosting stakeholders in Queensland, such as airlines, tourism trade partners and the International Olympic Committee.
– Jack McKay
