Question Time: Queensland Parliament resumes
NEW speaker Curtis Pitt has flexed his muscle in parliament this morning, ejecting Health Minister Steven Miles from the chamber.
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STATE Parliament has today resumed for the first full sitting week of the new term, with the Opposition attacking the Government over a ICT cost blowout which they claim has cost tax payers over $250 million.
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said thousands more nurses, police officers and firefighters could have been hired if the cost blowouts had been kept under control.
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“The LNP will properly manage projects, unlike Labor who are happily taking money out of your pocket,” she said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk countered by attacking Ms Frecklington over her role in the cutting of public servants during the Newman Government after questions.
When asked by Ms Frecklington during Question Time about the $250 million in ICT blowouts, Ms Palaszczuk did not deny the cuts, instead going on to talk about job cuts delivered by the LNP.
“We have a robust process of capturing data of this sort on a online dashboard,” she said.
“If you have a look at that dashboard, one of the projects that has increased in cost is one that started under the LNP.”
Digital Technology Minister Mick deBrenni told parliament that added “scope” and “functionality” needed to be added to many ICT projects over their lifespan.
Mr deBrenni attacked the LNP for conducting “nothing short of cheap maths” in coming up with their $250m over-run figure.
“There is currently $1.354bn worth of projects currently on the dashboard,” he said.
“As with all projects, scope and functionality is needed to be added.”
The Government is also expected to introduce a swag of legislation including their controversial tree clearing laws and new rules surrounding developer donations.
It all comes as Federal Labor Leader Bill Shorten declared he does not support the Adani coal mine despite the Labor State Government giving its approval during their last term.
Pitt: No ‘trivial’ complaints
SPEAKER Curtis Pitt has warned all MP’s against referring “trivial” matters to him when it comes to alleged misleading of the house complaints.
Mr Pitt said 87 complaints were sent to previous speaker Peter Wellington during the last term, 83 of which were dismissed.
“Any correspondence should be directed to the Speaker, I will not accept CC emails,” he said.
“I expect the member to provide clear analysis and I will not hesitate to write back to the member requesting specifics.”
Premier spruiks benefits of US visit
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has kicked off Parliament by spruiking her trip to the United States last month, saying her visit will secure jobs for Queenslanders.
Ms Palaszczuk said she held a number of high-end meetings with executives including the CEO of the Marriott Group, which is building two new hotels in Brisbane.
With Jeff Horn set to fight American Terrance Crawford in April, Ms Palaszczuk said she would be unable to “be in his corner” due to the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
“I met with promoter Bob Arum while I was over there and believe me he knows how much we want another Battle of Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium,” she said.
In light of a recent deluge of rain in North Queensland, Ms Palaszczuk also said she was glad to report the Ross River dam in Townsville is now over 85 percent full along with heavy falls in Ilfracombe in Western Queensland.
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said another “milestone” for Cross River Rail had been ticked off.
Ms Trad said she had announced the shortlisted bidders for the two major packages of work for the project.
“ The strong industry response and quality of bidders points to a highly competitive bid process, that will drive cutting edge innovation and ultimately, strong value-for-money for Queenslanders,” she said.
“The shortlisted consortia must detail in their bids, plans for sourcing from local and regional Queensland suppliers and manufacturers, fulfilling our commitment that Cross River Rail will support jobs for thousands of Queenslanders.
“This includes the 7700 jobs that our economic advisors KPMG estimate will be generated over five years of construction.”
Finishing touches for Commonwealth Games
The final touches are being placed on the preparations for the Commonwealth Games, Minister Kate Jones has told Parliament.
Over 61,000 temporary seats are being assembled around the venues on the Gold Coast, while 151,000 pieces of furniture will be installed into the athletes village.
The trouble prone New Generation Rollingstock trains will run exclusively on the Gold Coast line during the Commonwealth Games, Transport Minister Mark Bailey has revealed.
Speaking in Parliament this morning, Mr Bailey said nine trains will service the line for the 24-hour schedule, despite the Human Rights Commission last week ruling the trains did not have acceptable facilities for people in wheelchairs.
Mr Bailey also said all of the refit work would be carried out in Queensland for the trains.
“These trains will run for the Commonwealth Games,” he said.
Premier backs in Adani mine
LABOR supports the Adani coal mine, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has told parliament despite Federal Leader Bill Shorten saying he is against the project.
After being probed by the Opposition during Question Time, Ms Palaszczuk said she supported the resource industry and the jobs it delivers to Queensland.
“This Government supports the Adani project if it stacks up, we have from day one,” she said.
“I will stand up for Queensland and for jobs in the resources sector for what it brings this state.”
While saying she supported the project, Ms Palaszczuk again moved the discussion towards gas resources, saying she had spoken to many people about it during her trip to the United States.
Speaker @Curtis_Pitt_MP has expelled @StevenJMiles for an hour. #sinbin
— Steven Wardill (@stevenwardill) March 6, 2018
Pitt ejects Labor Minister from chamber
HEALTH Minister Steven Miles has been expelled from Parliament for one hour following a heated debate over Commonwealth funding.
Freshly minted Speaker Curtis Pitt expelled the minister after he made “remarks across the chamber” while Mr Pitt was on his feet ordering silence.
It’s the first MP that Mr Pitt has expelled from the chamber during his time as Speaker.
Mr Pitt told The Courier-Mail today that he was banning himself from Labor caucus meetings in order to be be “independent.”
Nicholls vows to open up committee
TIM Nicholls has vowed to ensure one of Parliament’s most secretive committees becomes more open under his watch.
Mr Nicholls held his first public meeting as the chair of the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee today.
The former Opposition leader used the meeting to outline his views as to how the committee - which acts as the Crime and Corruption Commission’s watchdog - should operate this term.
He said he wanted to ensure “that to the fullest extent possible” the committee’s meetings would be held in the public domain.
$135m health bungle: Minister’s apology to affected businesses
Health Minister Steven Miles has apologised to businesses that have suffered delays because of the new Queensland Health payment system.
Hundreds of staff underpaid at Queensland utility
A Queensland Government-owned utility corporation has underpaid hundreds of its senior staff for more than a decade in a bungle that could have ripped off up to a quarter of its workforce.