Revealed: David Crisafulli’s rowdy debut as leader in State Parliament as LNP targets government on jobs
David Crisafulli’s time as LNP leader has got off to rowdy start, with insults hurled during a heated sitting of state parliament that saw another Gold Coast MP ejected from the house.
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LABOR has targeted new LNP leader David Crisafulli on being a Minister in the former Campbell Newman government during a rowdy start to the new Parliament.
The Government has shown its tactics early in dealing with the Broadwater MP, bringing up his past political record as a Local Government Minister in the former LNP government.
But Mr Crisafulli, the new leader after Deb Frecklington stepped down after the election loss, equally showed his hand by focusing on Labor’s economic record on jobs as all MPs returned to what quickly became a noisy chamber with COVID restrictions lifted on numbers.
Mr Crisafulli at Question Time, on his feet for the first time asked: “A question to the Premier about jobs. Will the Premier commit to a jobs target to ensure Queensland is safe and strong.”
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was “more than happy to talk about jobs, jobs, and more jobs”.
The House was in uproar as the Premier responded to the question.
“What we have seen is the number of jobs lost by COVID have been restored in this State. This is a remarkable achievement,” she said.
She said the government’s economic recovery plan would create 50,000 jobs and election commitments another 50,000.
“We want to see Queensland become an economic powerhouse,” she said.
“I tell you what, the leader of the Opposition was a member of the Campbell Newman Government. In fact, he was a minister. And what was their record on jobs. Cutting jobs.”
Speaker Curtis Pitt was on his feet, warning MPs to reduce the noise in the House.
“The ghost of members past should not cause such a ruckus in this place,” he said.
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But Mr Crisafulli was not deterred, again focusing on employment, asking the Premier “is it acceptable 214,000 Queenslanders were jobless heading into Christmas”.
His front bench maintained the focus, with MPs asking why tourists could arrive on planes packed with passengers yet charter boats on the Great Barrier Reef continued to face strong restrictions on numbers.
Mudgeeraba MP and shadow health minister Ros Bates clashed with new Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, asking for COVID advice to be made public, leading to her to be removed from the House for an hour. Southport MP Rob Molhoek was also warned.
Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni later, after a question from a northern Queensland Labor MP, used it to take a political shot at Mr Crisafulli, who had relocated from the north to his safe Gold Coast electorate.
“He dumped the Cowboys for the Titans,” Mr de Brenni said. He said a Coast suburb was named after Mr Crisafulli and it was called “Runaway Bay”.
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